Insurance and Actuarial Science Publications

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Now showing 1 - 5 of 11
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    Perceptions of Healthcare Workers on the Attributes of the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response System in Zimbabwe
    (2024) Mteliso, F.; Adalier, A.; Malunguza, N.J.; Chiyaka, E.T.
    Objective: To investigate healthcare workers' perceptions of the integrated disease surveillance and response (IDSR) strategy. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of healthcare workers (HCWs) was conducted from December 2021 to June 2022 to assess their perceptions of the IDSR system attributes. Results: Of the 409 respondents, 12 (2.9%) reported no prior training on disease surveillance. The IDSR was deemed simple, acceptable, useful, and timely by most participants. There were sharp differences in perceptions of flexibility and simplicity between doctors and the other healthcare professionals. However, acceptability, timeliness, and usefulness were uniformly perceived. Healthcare workers with at least 11-years’ experience perceived the usefulness of the IDSR system significantly higher than those with lesser years of experience. However, work experience did not have an impact on HCWs perceptions of the simplicity, timeliness, and flexibility of the IDSR system. Conclusions: Most healthcare workers have positive perceptions of the IDSR approach. However, there are reservations about how well the system can adapt to changing conditions and demands (flexibility) and how well it simplifies the implementation processes. These findings demonstrate the necessity of adopting cutting-edge strategies for capacity building as well as ongoing professional development of healthcare professionals responsible for the implementation of the IDSR strategy.
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    An Analysis of Factors Affecting the Performance of Insurance Companies in Zimbabwe
    (2017) Mazviona, B. W.; Dube, M; Sakahuhwa, T.
    The study sought to examine factors affecting the performance of insurance companies in Zimbabwe. We utilized secondary data from twenty short-term insurance companies. The data was for the period from 2010 to 2014. We used factor analysis and multiple linear regression models to determine the factors affecting performance and identifying their impact. Our findings revealed that expense ratio, claims ratio and the size of a company significantly affect insurance companies’ performance negatively. Whilst leverage and liquidity affect performance positively. We recommend that insurance companies should introduce mechanisms that reduces operational costs such as automated systems.
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    Risk and Concentration of Portfolios on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange after Currency Reform
    (2014) Mazviona, B. W.; Nyangara, D.
    Aims: The objectives of this study are to assess the level and impact of concentration of portfolios on the ZSE and to determine the number of stocks to be held in a concentrated portfolio to achieve effective risk reduction. Study Design: Portfolio Model. Place and Duration of Study: Zimbabwe, Department of Insurance and Actuarial Science and Department of Finance, between February 2013 and March 2013. Methodology: We analysed the level of concentration of portfolios held on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange (ZSE). The market capitalization weights and the daily closing prices of 62 stocks in the industrial index for the four-year period form 19 February 2009 to 31 December 2012. Results: The Herfindahl-Hirschman Index and the Roll measure of concentration were employed to analyse the level of concentration of portfolios mimicking the industrial index and it was observed that portfolios held on the ZSE are highly un concentrated with an approximate measure of 14% under the HHI measure as at 31 December 2012. The daily returns over the period were calculated and used to estimate the risk of the portfolio. The findings indicates that stocks in the industrial index of the ZSE have relatively low correlation due to the small difference in risk between equally weighted portfolios with nocorrelation and equally weighted portfolios with historical correlation. Conclusion: The empirical evidence highlights that an optimal portfolio size averaging 20 to 25 stocks of the Industrial Index stocks will have to be included in order to achieve effective risk reduction.
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    Some Aspects of the New Microfinance Law in Zimbabwe
    (MCSER, 2017-05) Makuyana, Tsanangurai
    This paper analyses the new Microfinance Act [Chapter 24: 29] in order to reveal the shortcomings in the law and to suggest areas of possible improvement. The study was carried out using a purely desktop legal research method wherein a critical review of the piece of legislation was done against the theory surrounding microfinance business principles. The study concluded that the new Microfinance Act in Zimbabwe has a considerable number of shortcomings born out of both drafting loopholes and outright lack of thrust of principles promotive of the growth of the microfinance sector in the country.
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    An Examination of the Impact of Total Quality Management on Customer Satisfaction in the Zimbabwean Insurance Industry
    (IAMURE Multidisciplinary Research, 2017-04) Mazviona, Batsirai Winmore
    The subject of total quality management (TQM) is increasingly becoming topical worldwide, chiefly because of current intensified competition in the financial markets. Consumer satisfaction is an important determining factor in a company’s success. Quality frameworks and programs should be dynamic to meet the ever changing customer expectations and preferences. The Zimbabwe insurance industry has been labeled as poor and delivering poor services to the insured. Furthermore, insurance policyholders have raised concerns and complaints about the sub-standard services that they are getting from their insurers. Thus the research was aimed at investigating TQM’s impact on customer satisfaction in the insurance industry. Data and information necessary in the achieving of the research objectives involved the use of mainly primary data through the use of questionnaires. The data was gathered in Bulawayo from insurance consumers and insurance companies’ employees. The descriptive research approach was utilized in this study. Chi-square tests were used to examine hypotheses. The fundamental findings from this study are that insuranceconsumers in Zimbabwe are not satisfied with the services they are getting from their insurers. It is concluded that insurers should implement TQM as a holistic approach towards meeting and exceeding customers’ expectations to enhance customer satisfaction.