1. Dr Emely Muguwe, Faculty of Education[click here to view profile]
Awarding Institution : University of Fort Hare
Thesis topic– : A framework for continuing professional development of teachers in regular primary schools: towards the effective teaching of learners with special education needs in Zimbabwe

Thesis summary:

The study focused on Continuing Professional Development (CPD) needs of teachers in regular primary schools for the effective teaching of learners with special education needs in Zimbabwe. The motivation of the study emerged from concerns raised by stakeholders that teachers were inadequately prepared to teach learners with special education needs in general education classrooms. This study was underpinned by the post-positivistic paradigm which takes on both quantitative and qualitative approaches. The study employed the survey design, which utilised the mixed methods approach. Findings of the study are that there is a dire need for knowledge and skills in SEN among teachers in regular schools. Teachers needed to be prepared for a paradigm shift of the inclusive era. Teachers also needed to identify their own needs to ensure that relevant and preferred areas were covered. Most teachers were not availed with the opportunity to attend out-of-school based workshops; and cascading of information led to dilution of original ideas. Teachers preferred the standards-based model for promotion purposes although it was limiting in terms of teachers’ learning. The training model was viewed as a productive way of quickly in-servicing teachers relative to its cost. The communities of practice model and transformative model were not being fully utilised in schools due to national policies that govern teachers. Teachers faced major challenges such as funding of CPD, getting information on CPD opportunities and time to engage in CPD activities. Teachers preferred a framework based on a variety of CPD models, more school-based CPD rather than out of school -based CPD. The study recommends that The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education should put in place provisions to meet the CPD needs of teachers. Teachers should be fully involved in the identification of CPD needs. School heads need CPD on SEN for them to be able to guide teachers properly and to be supportive of the policy. Besides national policy, schools should design CPD policies specifically for their respective schools, in line with the national policy. Andragogy principles, Wenger’s social learning theory and Vygotsky’s perspective among others, should underpin the CPD framework. The study recommends an alternative CPD model which would utilise a combination of transmissive, transitional and transformative models and suggested modes of delivery as lenses in meeting the CPD needs of teachers in the context of SEN.

2. Dr Gift Mehlana, Faculty of Science and Technology Awarding Institution: University of Cape Town
Thesis topic: Crystal Engineering of Dynamic Metal-Organic Frameworks for Applications in Chromic Sensing and Capturing of Small Molecules.

Thesis Summary

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have received great attention due to their useful properties. These materials provide a unique platform for achieving controllable physical properties such as framework flexibility which is normally triggered upon guest absorption. My research focused on preparation and characterization of MOFs for use as storage and sensing devices. Pyridylcarboxylates ligands, in particular 3-(4-pyridyl)benzoate and 4-(4-pyridyl)benzoate, were used to connect metal ions to give 1D, 2D and 3D extended structures which are highly porous. The advantage of using these ligands is that they give rise to compounds which are dynamic and are capable of responding to their environment. The flexibility of the materials arises from the ability of the ligands to rotate about their connecting points as well as the different binding modes that can be assumed by the carboxylate moiety under different conditions. Such materials are ideally suitable for solvatochromic sensing. The materials made were characterized by thermal techniques such as Differential Scanning Calorimetry, Thermogravimetric analysis and Hot Stage Microscopy. Structural elucidation was performed by single crystal X-ray diffraction and powder X-ray diffraction studies was used to check the phase purity and phase transition of the prepared materials. Rietveld refinement and Pawley fitting were perfomed on powder X-ray data to validate unit cell parameters in situations where single crystals were not suitable for data collection. Topological analysis of the structures was performed in TOPOS computer program to have a better understanding of the network connectivity.

3. Dr Action Nechibvute, Faculty of Science and Technology[click here to view profile]
Awarding Institution: Midlands State University
Thesis topic: Enhancement of Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting Using Geometrical Optimisation and Synchronised Switching Techniques

Thesis summary:

The study focussed on improving  power output of piezoelectric energy harvesting system by exploring two approaches of enhancing the power output, namely: (1) geometrical optimisation of the energy harvesting device and (2) application of synchronised switching techniques for electric power conditioning. The motivation for the study emerged from concerns that wireless  sensors which are central cornerstones in technological realisation of wearable medical devices, future transportation, environmental monitoring and smart cities have limitations such as  limited lifespan of batteries and their costly maintenance for embedded applications.  To overcome the limitations of finite-life batteries as power sources, the sensor must be powered by the piezoelectric energy harvesting devices which have the novel ability to convert ambient vibrations energy into usable electricity. The study  was  underpinned by experimental studies with the aid of computational software. Findings of the study revealed that maximum power is generated when the length of piezoelectric layer is 1/3 of the total device length and 2/3 of the total device length is proof mass length. Experimental studies also revealed that the fabricated devices confirmed the superiority of the optimised devices relative to those reported in literature. The designed self-powered synchronised switch harvesting on inductor circuit demonstrated power harvesting ability of  up to 197 % more power to what is currently considered the standard electronic circuit. The designed self-powered synchronised electric charge extraction circuit demonstrated an enhancement of about 70 % relative to the standard circuit. These findings were ground breaking  in the discipline. Eight scientific papers were generated and published in high impact peer reviewed international journals.

The study recommends that vibrations in the environment are reliable energy sources for powering wireless devices and as such,  as a nation we should embrace and utilise the technology.

4. Dr Joshua Chakawa, Faculty of Arts
Awarding Institution: Midlands State University
Thesis topic: Abel Muzorewa’s Security Force Auxiliaries (SFAs) during and after war of liberation in Hurungwe District, Zimbabwe

Thesis summary:

The study examined Bishop Abel Muzorewa’s  Security Force Auxiliaries (SFAs) in Zimbabwe’s war of liberation and how they  have been integrated into society following national reconciliation and healing post Zimbabwe’s 1980 independence. The study sought to establish experiences of former auxiliaries in independent Zimbabwe with a bias towards mechanisms which they have deployed to cleanse their former selves. Findings of the study revealed that the reconciliation processes were successful  as SFAs have been fully integrated though, their former role has inscribed on them a recurring identity of shame and regular suspicions in their communities. The knowledge gained through the study is vital to ongoing government programs geared at promoting reconciliation and integration among grassroots sections of society using localized knowledge systems.

5. Dr Marambanyika T , Faculty Of Social Sciences[click here to view profile]

Awarding Institution: University of Kwa Zulu- Natal

Thesis topic:

An analysis of the impacts of human activities and management strategies on wetland processes in southern Zimbabwe

6. Dr C. Chipfumbu , Faculty Of Education[click here to view profile]

Awarding Institution: Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University

Thesis topic:

Engendering the meaningful use of electronic medical records: A South African perspective

7. Dr Mapuweyi N , Faculty Of Social Sciences [click here to view profile]

Awarding Institution: Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University

Thesis topic:

A social-semiotic engagement with representations of democratisation discourses in Zimbabwean online diaspora-based newspapers, namely, ZimDaily.com, NewZimbabwe.com, theZimbabwean.co and Herald.co.zw.

8. Dr Mugari Z E , Faculty Of Social Sciences [click here to view profile]

Awarding Institution:University of Witwatersrand

Thesis topic:

Rethinking News Values and Newsroom Practices in Postcolonial Contexts and the Construction of Subaltern Identities”.

9. Dr Manyumwa E , Faculty Of Education [click here to view profile]

Awarding Institution:Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University

Thesis topic:

A framework for the inclusion of students with visual impairments: a case study of a Zimbabwe state university.

10. Dr Manyumwa C , Faculty Of Education [click here to view profile]

Awarding Institution:Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University

Thesis topic:

Teaching for criticality: an analysis of the current status at two teacher education colleges in Zimbabwe

11. Dr Gudyanga A , Faculty Of Education [click here to view profile]

Awarding Institution:Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University

Thesis topic:

Participation of Zimbabwean female students in physics: subject perception and identity formation.

12. Dr Mutambara J, Faculty of Medicine[click here to view profile]

Awarding Institution:University of Limpopo

Thesis topic:

13. Dr Muziri T, Faculty Of NRM & Agriculture[click here to view profile]

Awarding Institution:University of Stellenbosch

Thesis topic:

The influence of cell wall bound calcium, cell number and size on the development of mealiness in ‘forelle’ pear.evaluation of x-ray ct and nir as non-destructive techniques for mealiness detection.

14. Dr Gumbo L, Faculty Of Arts[click here to view profile]

Awarding Institution:University of South Africa

Thesis topic:

Term creation : The strategies used in some selected shone specialized dictionaries.

15. Dr Munemo Douglas, Faculty Of Arts[click here to view profile]

Awarding Institution:University of South Africa

Thesis topic:

The search for peace, reconciliation and unity in Zimbabwe: from the 1978 internal settlement to the 2008 global political agreement .

16. Dr Maunganidze, Faculty Of Medicine[click here to view profile]

Awarding Institution: University of Witwatersrand

 Thesis topic:

Left Ventricular Hypertrophy and its Detection in an African Community

17. Dr Zhou N M, Faculty Of NRM & Agriculture

Awarding Institution: University of Zimbabwe

 Thesis topic:

Vegetation and soil relations in arid areas in Zimbabwe