Communication and Information Science

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Integrating Information Ethics in Library and Information Science Curricula in Zimbabwe: Country Report presented at a Teaching Information Ethics in Africa Conference held at the University of Botswana, 6 – 7 September 2010
(2010) Hikwai, L.
RESEARCH DATA MANAGEMENT SERVICES: AN INVESTIGATION OF RESEARCH DATA MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AT THE NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (NUST)
(2017) Ndlovu, P.; Ngwenya. S.
The study sought to gain a holistic understanding of NUST researcher's data management practices in the Faculty of Applied Sciences and the faculty of communication and information science as they relate to the creation, management, and preservation of research data with a view to introduce research data management services (RDMS).A mixed methods convergent parallel research design employing some elements of the Data Asset Framework (OAF) was adopted for the study. Data was gathered through questionnaires and face to face interviews. Study findings revealed that some data were still being collected in out-dated formats; data management practices were guided by intuition rather than informed by good practice and data were sometimes neglected once a project is complete. The findings of the study also showed a general lack of data sharing through repositories and journals in favour of sharing via personal communication. Concerns among researchers about the amount of time required in preparing data for sharing and the potential for misuse of data hindered them from sharing research data. Researchers also rarely created metadata or other documentation for data. Data storage needs and behaviours varied, with different storage devices being used at different research lifecycle stages. Researchers identified a number of services that they would find valuable including assistance with data management planning and backup/storage services. The findings of the study may be used to inform development of research data management services at NUST Library.
The State of Preparedness for Digital Curation and Preservation: A Case Study of a Developing Country Academic Library
(2018) Ndhlovu, P.; Matingwina, T.
Digital technologies have allowed libraries to create, manipulate, store and make accessible vast amounts of digital content. However, they endanger the longevity of the very objects they produce and require very different management than the traditional paper-based world. Despite the fact that the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) Library in Zimbabwe has amassed a huge body of digital collections, there are no formal mechanisms to ensure accessibility and long-term preservation of digital content. The study assessed the state of preparedness of NUST Library for digital curation and preservation of its digital collections. The conceptual framework was based on Sinclair et al. (2011) and Boyle, Eveleigh, and Needham’s (2008) formulations. NUST Library preparedness for digital curation and preservation was assessed by examining awareness, competencies, technology infrastructure, digital disaster preparedness and challenges to digital curation and preservation. A mixed methods research design employing a case study research strategy was adopted for the study. The findings revealed a low level of awareness of digital curation and preservation. Challenges to digital curation are mainly lack of policies, lack of expertise by library staff and lack of funding. It is recommended that the Library should consider digital curation and preservation as one of the primary responsibilities and take staff members’ training in this area seriously in order to ensure current and future access to digital collections.
Connecto ergo sum': a hyperlink analysis of national archives in the Eastern and Southern African regional branch on the International Council on Archives
(2019) Phiri, C.; Onyancha, O.B.; Ngulube, P.; Chabikwa, S.
Lennart Björneborn’s famous tweet, ‘connecto ergo sum’, which means, ‘I link, therefore I exist’, puts forward the intriguing dimension of the web as a platform for link-based research, a major tenet of webometrics. Webometrics, as discussed in this study, explored the web presence, web visibility, web-impact and linkage of archival institutions in the ESARBICA region; examining the types of institutions that provide links to archival institutions in the ESARBICA region; establishing the links pointing to national archival institutions in the ESARBICA region; and examining the type of institutions that provide these links. Google Search engine and Alexa metasearch engine were used to collect data. Additionally, the formulas derived from the Statistical Cybermetrics Research Group (2016): ‘Impact=Inlinks/page’ and ‘site:Domain’ were used to collect data on the impact and web pages linking to the archival institutions. The study was underpinned by the Citation Analysis theory. Search engines, metasearch engines and web content analysis were used to collect webometrics data from ESARBICA archival websites. The findings of the study revealed that the web-impact of ESARBICA archival institutions is generally low as evidenced by the low impact factors attained. This may lead to the minimal usage of the information on the websites, undermining the importance of archival institutions. The low impact can be increased through such measures asredesigning websites to increase visibility, posting rich files on websites, and interlinking the websites to key archival associations and institutions, among others. Other findings showed that some websites were hosted by institutions other than the archival institutions The impact results further revealed that in the ESARBICA region, Southern Africa was more represented with the archival institutions from six countries (Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland and Zimbabwe), while the Eastern African region had archival institutions from two countries (Kenya and Tanzania). The findings further showed that not all archival websites attained web presence in the form of accessible websites. The link classification results revealed that the ESARBICA websites mostly attracted industry links with extensions .com and .co as the most popular Top Level Domains (TLD). A strong link relationship was noted between archival institutions and research-based activities in universities, as well as evidence of openness as archival institutions published documents with archives-related discussions on Google Scholar. The study showed that ESARBICA archival websites are not interactive in nature and have not yet embraced Web 2.0 tools on their archival websites. The implications of the study included that archival institutions without websites might consider attaining web presence through constructing websites, establishing link relationships by archival institutions, and making efforts to avail more data to enhance web presence in ranking. The study recommended that ESARBICA archival institutions host standalone websites and establish links with archives related research sites. The practical implications of the paper include: revealing the specific ways in which archival institutions can conduct web-link assessments and web-impact assessments, ways of interpreting results from web-impact assessments and link-impact assessments, assessing alternative methods of link counts.
Applying interpretive phenomenological analysis to library and information science research on blended librarianship: A case study
(2020) Dabengwa, I.M.; Raju, J.; Matingwina, T.
Although interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA) has value in library and information science (LIS), it has low uptake in Africa. The methodological and theoretical approaches to using IPA in LIS and other disciplines are outlined, including a critical analysis of applying double hermeneutics and horizontalization to construct a hermeneutic interpretation. A blended librarianship thesis conducted in Zimbabwe is compared with LIS-based IPA studies and blended librarianship research to reflect the value of IPA methods. The illustration narrates how IPA was implemented within the context of phenomenology to analyse the complexity of academic librarians' views, taking into consideration social and historical environments. The weaknesses of the study are discussed, including the use of quality criteria of credibility, dependability, and transferability. The guided analysis of the study encourages the use of IPA in LIS as it can solve research problems and generate new theories to inform practice, services, philosophy, theory, and institutions.
Immortalizing “Buried Memories”: Photographs of the Gukurahundi Online
(Journal of Genocide Research, 2020-11-10) Tshuma, L.A.; Ndlovu, M.
This article examines how photographs displayed online preserve, mediate and circulate memories of the Gukurahundi “genocide.” The Gukurahundi denotes mass killings of more than 20,000 predominantly Ndebele-speaking people in Matabeleland and Midlands provinces orchestrated by the Zimbabwean government between 1983 and 1987. Many of the victims consider this to be a genocide, but their memories are subject to repression under the current regime. In this context, online news sites serve as alternative spaces in which knowledge of this traumatic past is transmitted through photographs. Anchored in an understanding that photographs constitute a “mirror with a memory,” this article uses critical discourse analysis to analyse selected images from Bulawayo24.com news website. It finds that Bulawayo24.com serves as an arena for preserving and circulating Gukurahundi memories by enabling audiences to bear witness to their experience-as-genocide. The images reinforce human rights discourses, contributing to the growing calls for justice, commemoration, and memorialization of Gukurahundi victims.
The Fifth Estate: Analyzing Climate Change Punditry in the Zimbabwean Newspaper Columns
(Taylor and Francis, 2020-12-08) Ndhlovu, M.P.
Media and climate change scholarship in Zimbabwe has mainly focused on news stories. However, news stories are dependent on news values, which science, including climate change, performs badly against. Besides, news stories are written by journalists, some with limited understanding of science, resulting in misrepresentation of climate change. However, unlike previous studies, this article uses qualitative content analysis and rhetoric analysis to interrogate arguments on climate change advanced by newspaper columnists – also referred to as pundits. This article analyzes columns written by Jeffrey Gogo (The Herald) and Peter Makwanya (NewsDay) from 2017 to 2018 to assess the rhetorical and argumentative techniques they use to argue their positions on climate change. It concludes that the two columnists use their proximity to the news media and their knowledge of science communication to argue for urgent climate change action. Such arguments demonstrate the fifth estate function of columnists in not only holding to account power holders and scientists but also highlighting the shortcomings of the news media.
Preparedness of the book sector in Zimbabwe for the development of e-learning materials for the new curriculum
(Southern Africa Journal of Communication and Information Science, 2021) Dzache, K.; Tapfuma, M.M.
Purpose: In January 2017, the Zimbabwean government implemented a new curriculum for the primary and secondary school education level emphasizing e-learning. This has implications on the publishing sector, producing the new curriculum's necessary teaching and learning resources. However, there is no e-learning policy in Zimbabwe and the availability of infrastructure for elearning is of concern. The study sought to explore the e-readiness of the local textbook publishers for the new curriculum by establishing the availability of e-content, ascertaining schools’ capacity to implement e-learning and ascertain the availability of skilled e-content producers. Methodology: This was a qualitative case study that adopted open-ended questionnaires and interviews for data collection. The study participants were purposively drawn from educational publishers and primary schools in the Bulawayo Metropolitan Province. Findings: The findings revealed a lack of stakeholder preparedness to implement the e-learning initiative and inadequate e-learning infrastructure. Implications: The study will influence policy and practice in developing textbooks and other teaching and learning materials for the new curriculum, emphasising e-learning. Originality: The unplanned implementation of the new curriculum for the primary and secondary education system in January 2017, coming on the heels of the curriculum review consultations which had just ended in the mid-year of 2016, prompted the need to establish the preparedness of developers of textbooks and other learning materials for this move.
The why of humour during a crisis: An exploration of COVID-19 memes in South Africa and Zimbabwe
(Journal of African Media Studies, 2021-02-26) Msimanga, M.J.; Tshuma, L.A.; Matsilele, T.
This article inquires why humour flourishes in face of tragedy. Memes, as we argue, give people a sense of power as they offer commentary that critiques and mocks the government policies and ineptness, simultaneously offering a sense of hope and relief in face of the pandemic. With a focus on the COVID-19 pandemic, this study probed the nature, character and the why of humour in two southern African countries: South Africa and Zimbabwe. Findings show that memes were used to comment on lockdown regulations and speak against public authorities, to raise awareness of COVID-19 and expose poor health delivery systems. Our findings show that memes in South and Zimbabwe were used to bring dialogue about the COVID-19 pandemic and communicate health-related issues.
The Framing of Devolution of Power Debates in the Newsday (Southern Edition) During Zimbabwe’s Constitution Making Process
(Taylor and Francis Group, 2021-07-12) Tshuma, B.B.
Journalists are unable to provide reports that are entirely true and objective as they deploy rhetorical strategies aimed “at persuading others to adopt [their] same point of view” (Thomson 1996 cited in Richardson [2007]. Analysing Newspapers: An Approach from Critical Discourse Analysis. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 65). Using one of Zimbabwe’s leading daily newspapers, NewsDay (Southern Edition), this article analysed the framing of the contentious issue of devolution of power provided in the country’s constitution drafted in 2012. The underlying assumption being that understanding how the issue of devolution was framed “is of vital importance to how the public and policy makers will respond to this kind of governance” (Agwu and Amu [2013]. “Framing of Climate Change News in Four National Daily Newspapers in Southern Nigeria.” International Conference on Climate Change Effects, 1–8, Impact World 2013, Potsdam, 1). The paper used discourse analysis to analyse the 10 purposively selected stories published between June 2010 and July 2012. Positioned within qualitative approach, the paper concludes that the NewsDay Southern Edition actively participated in the debates on devolution as a political actor through various techniques such as argumentation and rhetoric, thereby putting it on the public agenda. In particular, the publication pursued a pro-devolution agenda to galvanise readers to embrace this administrative framework as the best available model in the place of a unitary system, which was blamed for stifling development and democracy.
Digital Technologies and the Changing Journalism Cultures in Zimbabwe: Examining the Lived Experiences of Journalists Covering the COVID-19 Pandemic
(Digital Journalism, 2021-09-15) Ndlovu, M.; Sibanda, M.N.
New Information and Communication Technologies (NICTs) are transforming newsmaking practices and journalistic cultures across the globe. Although factors such as lack of Internet access and prohibitive costs are constraining the adoption of these interactive digital technologies in most African countries, journalists are creatively appropriating these digital tools in their everyday professional work. Informed by the concept of journalism culture and the social constructionist approach to technology, this article examines the lived experiences of Zimbabwean journalists covering the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Drawing upon the first-hand accounts of 21 journalists covering this pandemic, this study explores the adoption and appropriation of digital technologies in their newsmaking practices. Despite challenges of resources such as finances, internet access and lack of protective gear, Zimbabwean journalists increasingly relied on interactive digital tools such as WhatsApp and Twitter to generate story ideas, conduct diary meetings, and for virtual sourcing.
Building Assistive Technology (AT) competency in academic librarians: Perceptions of library personnel and students with visual impairments from three Zimbabwean universities
(Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal), 2021-12) Munyoro, J.; Machimbidza, T.; Mutula, S.
This qualitative study reflects on the perceptions of library professionals and students living with visual impairments from three Zimbabwean universities about the need for and ways of creating Assistive Technology (AT) competency in academic librarians. Some of the measures that may be used to increase the AT competencies of academic librarians are discussed. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data from 19 participants comprising 13 library personnel and six students living with visual impairments. The study highlights important types of AT for individuals living with visual impairments, emphasises the importance of competencies in AT for academic librarians and suggest appropriate measures for enhancing the AT skills of academic librarians in the context of participants’ views. It is hoped that the study’s recommendations will generate an urgent need to address AT competencies of academic librarians to drive effective adoption and usage of AT in the studied institutions of higher learning.
Ethnic minority media as counter-hegemonic and agents of participation for minority communities
(Journal of Arab & Muslim Media Research, 2021-12-26) Ncube, B.J.
This article interrogates the extent to which ethnic minority media acts as tools for preserving minority cultures and identities and as counter-hegemonic to mainstream media’s representations of migrants in South Africa. It also discusses how diasporic ethnic media function as agents of participation for diasporic communities that are struggling to find a ‘home’ away from home. Mainstream media in South Africa, particularly tabloids, tend to represent the diasporic communities as petty criminals, prostitutes, robbers and accuse them of stealing the locals’ jobs. Most of these communities comprised by people of Asian descent – Pakistan, India – and the majority from African countries like Zimbabwe, Malawi, Ethiopic, Nigeria, Somalia and Mozambique. Migrants are often labelled as ‘aliens’, and the entrepreneurship associated with these minority migrants is rarely reported by South Africa’s mainstream media. The article deploys the digital public sphere theory and the four models of alternative journalism. Using textual analysis of purposively selected stories and programmes of an online radio station, Radio Mthwakazi, this article concludes that ethnic minority media in South Africa challenges the hegemonic tendencies of mainstream media and, in the process, constructs multi-ethnic subaltern public spheres and acts as agents of participation.
Records and Information Management (RIM) Practices in Pentecostal Churches in Zimbabwe
(2022) Chitima, Simbarashe S.; Ndlovu, Heather; Phiri, Calvin
Zimbabwe has, for the past five decades, experienced a proliferation of Pentecostal churches. Some Pentecostal churches or prophets own television channels and social media accounts, which they have used for communication and preaching. In some instances, Pentecostal churches run several projects and church activities. All these activities and operations have resulted in the creation of financial, personal, prophecy and project records, among others. Although Pentecostal churches are not archives or records centres, they stand to benefit if they engage in Records Information Management (RIM). The Apostolic Faith Mission in Zimbabwe (AFMZ) and the United International Apostolic Faith Church (UIAFC) both experienced splits in 2018, and this has contributed to information loss and the destruction of vital records. This study investigated the efficacy of RIM practices in the AFMZ and UIAFC and was grounded on qualitative and phenomenological research methods. The target population included pastors, secretaries and treasurers from the AFMZ and UIAFC who are part of the RIM chain. The study found that the lack of a RIM policy, trained personnel and physical as well as technological infrastructure contributed to records and information loss. Pentecostal churches are susceptible to splits. Records or information is usually managed by lay workers (volunteers) with less knowledge of RIM; hence this has attributed to information loss and records destruction. It is thus concluded that RIM in Pentecostal churches remains an afterthought. This study established critical RIM factors that Pentecostal churches may find useful, and which can increase their efficiency and effectiveness in operations and business.
Records and Information Management (RIM) Practices in Pentecostal Churches in Zimbabwe
(2022) Chitima, S.S.; Ndlovu, H.; Phiri, C.
Zimbabwe has, for the past five decades, experienced a proliferation of Pentecostal churches. Some Pentecostal churches or prophets own television channels and social media accounts, which they have used for communication and preaching. In some instances, Pentecostal churches run several projects and church activities. All these activities and operations have resulted in the creation of financial, personal, prophecy and project records, among others. Although Pentecostal churches are not archives or records centres, they stand to benefit if they engage in Records Information Management (RIM). The Apostolic Faith Mission in Zimbabwe (AFMZ) and the United International Apostolic Faith Church (UIAFC) both experienced splits in 2018, and this has contributed to information loss and the destruction of vital records. This study investigated the efficacy of RIM practices in the AFMZ and UIAFC and was grounded on qualitative and phenomenological research methods. The target population included pastors, secretaries and treasurers from the AFMZ and UIAFC who are part of the RIM chain. The study found that the lack of a RIM policy, trained personnel and physical as well as technological infrastructure contributed to records and information loss. Pentecostal churches are susceptible to splits. Records or information is usually managed by lay workers (volunteers) with less knowledge of RIM; hence this has attributed to information loss and records destruction. It is thus concluded that RIM in Pentecostal churches remains an afterthought. This study established critical RIM factors that Pentecostal churches may find useful, and which can increase their efficiency and effectiveness in operations and business
Digital Technologies and the Changing Journalism Cultures in Zimbabwe: Examining the Lived Experiences of Journalists Covering the COVID-19 Pandemic
(Digital Journalism, 2022) Ndlovu, M.; Sibanda, M.N.
New Information and Communication Technologies (NICTs) are transforming newsmaking practices and journalistic cultures across the globe. Although factors such as lack of Internet access and prohibitive costs are constraining the adoption of these interactive digital technologies in most African countries, journalists are creatively appropriating these digital tools in their everyday professional work. Informed by the concept of journalism culture and the social constructionist approach to technology, this article examines the lived experiences of Zimbabwean journalists covering the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Drawing upon the first-hand accounts of 21 journalists covering this pandemic, this study explores the adoption and appropriation of digital technologies in their newsmaking practices. Despite challenges of resources such as finances, internet access and lack of protective gear, Zimbabwean journalists increasingly relied on interactive digital tools such as WhatsApp and Twitter to generate story ideas, conduct diary meetings, and for virtual sourcing.
Exploring the feasibility of Research Data Management services in Zimbabwean academic libraries: the case of Zimbabwe School of Mines
(Library Philosophy and Practice, 2022) Machimbidza, T.; Mutula, S.; Ndiweni, M.
The study applied an adapted Technology, Economic, Legal, Organisational, and Schedule (TELOS) model to explore the feasibility of Research Data Management (RDM) at the Zimbabwe School of Mines (ZSM). The study employed a qualitative approach. Data were collected through interviews that were held with purposively chosen professionals at ZSM in the form of the Information Technology (IT) manager, the Librarian, and three (3) Assistant Librarians. Findings show that ZSM does not currently meet the TELOS model feasibility test. ZSM lacks a robust technological system to support data creation, data collection and description, data storage, archiving and preservation, data access, data discovery and analysis, and data reuse and transformation. ZSM has not yet created a legal environment conducive for the introduction of RDM. It does not have policies and standards in place to handle issues such as intellectual property, copyright, data licensing, ethics, data protection, freedom of information, and confidentiality. While librarians at ZSM possess basic IT and computer skills they lack skills specific for RDM. The study informs the shaping of policies, practices, and strategies regarding the introduction of RDM services in Zimbabwean academic libraries.
Factors influencing library use by students with disabilities in Zimbabwe: The case of United College of Education (UCE)
(Library Philosophy and Practice, 2022) Ndiweni, M.; Machimbidza, T.; Mutula, S.
The study investigated the factors that influence library usage by students with disabilities at United College of Education in Zimbabwe. The study employed a qualitative approach. Interviews were held with sixteen students with disabilities, the chief librarian, two library assistants, and one library intern. Data were also collected through observations. Results reveal that great effort has been made to provide inclusive library services to students with disabilities; however, challenges remain. These include: physical inaccessibility of the library to students living with disabilities, lack of infrastructure to support available assistive technologies, information resources that do not accommodate students living with disabilities, and staff that is not adequately trained to handle users with disabilities. The study contributes to global debate about provision of library services to people living with disabilities from a Zimbabwean perspective. The study’s recommendations provide ideas that can be adopted by libraries to improve inclusivity.
Prevention of Library Collection Security Breaches in Ohangwena and Oshana Regional Libraries, Namibia
(IJFMR-International Journal For Multidisciplinary Research, 2022) Tobias, E.N.; Guvava, N.
This paper focused on the prevention of library collection security breaches in Ohangwena and Oshana Regional Libraries. A qualitative research design was employed and a case study strategy was adopted for the study. The population consisted of 12 staff members from Ohangwena and Oshana Regional Library who were selected through purposive sampling. Data was collected through telephone interviews and presented qualitatively in form of descriptive narratives. The study revealed that most of staff members working in these libraries held qualifications which were not related to librarianship. The findings revealed that over borrowing of books, theft and vandalism of library collection were very common in these libraries and occurred on a weekly basis. Further findings showed that measures such as the use of 3M library security system, CCTV, security personnel and lockers to keep users’ bags were in place to address security issues. Penalties such as replacement of lost or damaged items, suspension of offenders, fines for over borrowing were imposed upon users in these libraries. A major recommendation was that libraries should formulate national policies and guidelines to guide library staff on how to handle security breaches. Additionally, the government should recognize theft and vandalism of library materials as a crime because currently, users tend to commit these ill-acts since no criminal case is opened against them.
Fostering Assistive Technology (at) Education and Training of Academic Library Professionals in Zimbabwe
(International Information & Library Review, 2022-05-19) Munyoro, J.; Machimbidza, T.; Mutula, S.
The study examines the forms of structured Assistive Technology (AT) education and training available to library professionals in Zimbabwe, focusing on in-service training delivered within organizations, pre-service training offered in colleges/universities and technologybased training delivered by AT vendors/suppliers. The study employs a qualitative research design. Data were collected using interviews conducted with a sample of 13 academic library staff drawn from selected universities in Zimbabwe. The websites of institutions of interest also provided vital data to supplement interview data. The study draws attention to key intervention areas in the fostering of AT education and training of library professionals in Zimbabwe. It contributes to ongoing discussion on the improvement of AT provision in developing countries’ academic libraries.

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