Theses and Dissertations

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Browsing Theses and Dissertations by Author "Gondo, Tendayi"

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    Small town rural revitalization through smart energy systems: case study of Elim, Limpopo Province
    (2026-05-19) Morobi, Mphagi Fortunate; Chakwizira, James; Gondo, Tendayi
    This study investigates the relationship between smart energy systems (SES) and rural revitalization in the context of a persistent energy crisis and deep socio-spatial inequality in Elim Town, Limpopo Province. The study addresses the central problem of Residential Energy Inequity, which is driven by the systemic failure of centralized power supply (Universal Dissatisfaction Mean = 1.73) and a historical planning bias that favours economic functionality over universal household access. The research aimed to spatially map energy profiles, describe existing energy system usage across land-use activities, explore the potential for SES uptake, and recommend a spatially tailored revitalization strategy. A Sequential Explanatory Mixed-Methods Design was employed, integrating structured household surveys (N = 350) with advanced spatial and predictive statistical analysis. Kruskal-Wallis H tests and Dunn's Pairwise Comparisons were used to validate the core premise of spatial heterogeneity in energy deployment, confirming statistically significant disparities across seven of eight land-use sectors. Ordinal Logistic Regression (OLR) and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) were employed to quantify the likelihood of adoption, identifying the primary constraints as the Sustainability Risk Barrier and the Upfront Economic Barrier. The qualitative phase provided the contextual depth needed to align governance models with empirically validated local Institutional Trust profiles. The study established three major findings: (1) The energy transition is driven by a strong, desperation-led demand for Solar PV and aspirational Hydrogen Gas, with adoption intent concentrated in the commercial core of Elim Mingard, which acts as an Advanced Technology Pilot Zone. (2) Energy investment is spatially discriminatory, with statistically confirmed systemic bias favouring economic activities and simultaneously confirming the deepest neglect in residential Energy Use. (3) The dominant constraint to scalability is the Sustainability Risk Barrier, necessitating a policy shift from solely funding capital expenditure to guaranteeing long-term operational expenditure (OPEX). The research concludes that the successful scalability of SES in Elim Town is fundamentally dependent on achieving spatial justice and requires moving beyond uniform, technocratic solutions. The resultant Five-Pillar Geographically Differentiated Revitalization Strategy (GDRS) (see Chapter 9) provides the necessary roadmap, operationalizing place-based development principles by aligning technology, subsidies, and leadership with local trust dynamics. This strategy, validated by high community consensus, provides actionable policy recommendations to the Makhado Local Municipality, ensuring that future energy investments correct historical inequities and transform the energy crisis into a catalyst for equitable, self-sustaining rural revitalization across all geographic sectors.
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    Spatio-temporal analysis of Mopane Worm utilisation in South-Western Zimbabwe
    (2025-05-16) Gondo, Tendayi; Adeboyejo, Aina Thompson; Chakwizira, James
    Rural areas of developing countries such as Zimbabwe and other emerging economies have in recent years become a source of several pertinent international concerns. Major areas of concern include extreme poverty and hunger, and rising spatial and interpersonal disparities, challenges that the concerned national governments and the wider international community have failed to make meaningful headway in addressing. With the share of traditional sectors of agriculture, mining and manufacturing declining, many rural households in southwestern district of Matobo District in Zimbabwe Mopane Worms (MWs) have emerged as an alternative resource that can be harnessed for the betterment of their local economies. Such attention have been complement by efforts from international development partners such as the International Labour Organization (ILO), Department for International Development (DFID), Global Environment Fund (GEF) and local development agencies such as Southern Alliance Fore Indigenous Resources (SAFIRE), Institute of Environmental Studies (IES), and local academic institutions among others who have invested their efforts in trying to optimise local gains from MW utilisation. Such efforts have unfortunately missed the fundamental knowledge deficiencies associated with MW utilisation, that makes it currently difficulty to craft a MW oriented LED strategy. There is currently dearth of research scholarship on the spatiotemporal dynamics associated with MW resource dependency. We also lack data on spatio-temporal factors that shape successful territorial dynamics that would lead to situations of growth in the MW industry and the local economy. We lack a complete understanding of resilience dynamics associated with MW territories and how such may limit or enhance capacities of concerned communities when faced with adversity. Finally, no single study has drawn important connections between MW utilisation and the local economy. The present study sought to bridge this knowledge gap by addressing these shortcomings using a case study of five villages drawn to the southwestern rural district of Matobo, in Zimbabwe. Using a combination of household survey data and a series of PRA studies conducted, the study employed a variety of statistical tools and calculation of partial LED indices such as The Gini Coefficient, Successfully Territorial Dynamic Index, Rural access index, Resilience capacity among others to estimate the impact of MW utilisation on the local economy. Logistic regression analysis was employed to understand MW resource dependency. Other approaches such as Data Envelop Analysis (DEA) were also used to assess the contribution of MW use towards addressing territorial imbalances. Our findings reveal that in addition to widely mentioned socio-demographic variables, MW resource dependency is heavily influenced by many special variables including rural access, distance to markets, market efficiency. A combination of results from DEA and use of clustering algorithms revealed that a MW territory’s capabilities in terms of social, economic, institutional, ecological and engineering capability attributes is crucial in determining territorial success. The study also revealed important positive differences between the partial LED indices of communities where the intensity of trade measured by the Household commercialisation Index (HCI) was high. We found out that MW are reducing income inequalities, territorial imbalances, and in enhancing the resilience capacities of communities. We conclude by proposing a MW-oriented LED strategy that strikes a balance between pro-growth and pro-poor interventions. We proposed the implementation of both an input-oriented and output-oriented LED strategy that is place sensitive. A progressive entrepreneurial ecosystem frame is developed that may lead to situations of growth in the