Reniko Gondo

• PhD (NRM); Msc (NRM) Bsc(GES);DipEdu; DipTM
• Senior Researcher at University of Botswana

The imposition of targeted sanctions on Zimbabwe brought with it bad publicity, a record low credit rating and a pariah state tag. Investors willingly pulled out of the country, avoided making new investments, or were commandeered by their countries not to make new further investments. The targeted sanctions led to sustained disinvestments and dein...

This chapter reviews the impact of climate change on ecosystem goods, services, and livelihoods in semi-arid savannahs, focusing on nature-based tourism. A systematic and bibliometric review of studies from 1992 to 2023 and case studies from southern Africa Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCAs) was used to: (a) analyse literature trends on clima...

While the literature on gender and tourism in Africa has explored aspects of gender mainstreaming and women’s participation, some gaps remain in comprehensive assessments of tangible outcomes and the sustainability of gender mainstreaming initiatives. Drawing on gender mainstreaming and empowerment theories, this chapter discusses the trends and ch...

The loss of forests to suburbanisation continues to present a challenge to environmentalists. Lately, the analysis of remotely acquired data in Geographical Information Systems (GIS) for monitoring the changes in vegetation cover has proved efficacious. The most practical technique in this context is the normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI...

The ecological footprint of humans continues to negatively impact Earth’s biological compositions, leading to a progressive decline in biodiversity. While nature-based tourism (NBT) is acknowledged as an important sector that relies on nature and wildlife resources, its role in biodiversity loss is indisputable. Tourism development is characterized...

Analysis of the dynamics of land use and land cover change (LULCC) along rivers that supply water to settlements provides crucial information to decision-makers; it offers information for planners and water supply authorities on water management issues in general. The paper analyzed LULCC along Boteti and Thamalakane rivers and predicted the probab...

The potential of agrotourism for livelihoods diversification in remote (peripheral) and extremely remote (ultraperipheral) traditional, agrarian communities is indeed a testament of its uniqueness to enhance rural entrepreneurship development, employment creation and poverty alleviation. In an arid environment such as Botswana's where traditional a...

The impact of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) farming on the survival of honeybees (Apis mellifera) was investigated through the documentation of mortality of honeybees, the number of trees cut and planted, and agrochemicals used in tobacco farming in Nyamakate Communal Area, Hurungwe District, northern Zimbabwe. The study was conducted in the wet seas...

Whilst the virtual classroom has become the most tenable alternative to address educational needs under the circumstances of the Covid-19 crisis, most universities in Zimbabwe have been found wanting-lacking responsive information communication technology (ICT) infrastructures and techno-savvy human capital. This exploratory study employed in-depth...

Water is a crucial resource in the fight against coronavirus disease (COVID-19), which was first discovered in late 2019 in Wuhan, China, and which has since become a pandemic. Thus, clean water unavailability constitutes a risk to people's wellbeing as the chances of contracting the disease is high without it. The World Health Organisation (WHO) p...

The pervasive entrenchment of Western traditions in Africa continues to fuel the contradiction existing between customary and statutory water institutions on the continent. The paper addresses factors promoting the discord between customary and statutory institutions in water access in the Shakawe, Tubu and Shorobe in the Okavango Delta. Adopting a...

The pervasive entrenchment of Western traditions in Africa continues to fuel the contradiction existing between customary and statutory water institutions on the continent. The paper addresses factors promoting the discord between customary and statutory institutions in water access in the Shakawe, Tubu and Shorobe in the Okavango Delta. Adopting a...

Demographic and socioeconomic factors influence water resources governance at the household level particularly in rural areas of developing countries where culturally assigned gender roles in water governance hold sway. Rooted in the mass-elite theory and the legal pluralism conceptual frameworks this paper analyses demographic and socioeconomic fa...

The pervasive entrenchment of Western traditions in Africa continues to fuel the contradiction existing between customary and statutory water institutions on the continent. The paper addresses factors promoting the discord between customary and statutory institutions in water access in the Okavango Delta, Botswana. Adopting an expert and homogeneou...

Even though solid waste management is widely researched, there is scanty literature addressing the influence of physical environmental attributes on solid waste management service provision in informal settlements. The aim of this study was to investigate the nexus between physical infrastructural planning and waste management service. To obtain re...

The current trends in water resources management underscore management of the resource as an economic good. Consequently, management strategies overlook demographic and social factors that influence domestic water consumption. Adopting water as an economic good conceptual framework, in a case study approach, a total of 120 household heads and two o...

City and town administrators in Zimbabwe continue to push for the installation of prepaid water meters (PWMs). This is despite the residents' objections to the proposal. The merits and demerits of PWMs continue to be debated, and more empirical information will help chart a new course especially in smaller cities in poor countries. The paper adopts...

In the recent times, there is an increased awareness about the importance of water management as population growth, new technologies, increased food consumption, land use and economic activities, among others, continue to exacerbate competition among water users in their bid to access natural resources. Thus, water governance encompasses the alloca...

Cultural perceptions are an integral part of rural water resources governance, which ostensibly conflict with urban water resources management. Issues of access to water and culturally embedded gender roles are rife in water governance debates. Notwithstanding the importance of cultural perceptions in water management, no study has been undertaken...

Customary institutions have existed in parallel with statutory institutions for many years in Africa. These traditional water management systems were employed to manage the use of water resources and resolve conflicts associated with them. Although national governments introduced conventional water management approaches, which operate more effectiv...

In 1999, the Nziramasanga Commission of inquiry into the Zimbabwean education system was tasked to look into the issues surrounding the education system. While the commission came up with recommendations, however, political and economic challenges could not allow such transformations. Thus, this paper discusses concerns surrounding the updated scho...

The goals of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) can be achieved by embracing the principles of distributive governance, which places both customary and statutory water institutions on the same pedestal in the governance of water resources. As culture and traditions constitute intangible aspects of water resources management in rural Afric...

The study explores the Korekore culture in a bid to show its relevance to modern society's natural resources management in Zimbabwe. The main argument of the article is that the Korekore people have indigenous knowledge systems (IKS) that need to be tapped and integrated in modern-day natural resources management in Zimbabwe and elsewhere. The arti...

Cultural heritage does not have direct economic benefits. However, if properly managed it can stimulate social cohesions, improving the environment and have beneficial economic spin offs for the local communities. This paper discusses the role of communities in the formulation of the policies concerning their local environment. It argues that commu...

The goals of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) can be achieved by embracing the principles of distributive governance, which places both customary and statutory water institutions on the same pedestal in the management of water resources. As culture and traditions constitute intangible aspects of water resources management in rural Afric...

Worldwide, the supply and quality of water in rural areas in developing countries is inadequate and sub-standard, respectively. This is in spite of the importance of water as a vital resource for human existence. This paper mainly focuses on water quality and supply in rural Zimbabwe. Whereas, all urban areas in Zimbabwe could boast of potable wate...

Plastic bags are versatile, lightweight and flexible, and this has led to consumers having an insatiable appetite for the consumption of plastic shopping bags. To influence consumer behaviour, the Government of Botswana introduced a plastic bag levy. This study analyses the use of plastic bags among the youth of Botswana in order to determine the y...

The study investigates the causes of high failure rate in Advanced level Geography in four high schools in Hurungwe district, Zimbabwe. A multi-stage procedure was used to sample a total of 4 high schools, 100 high school pupils, 17 teachers, 4 Heads of Departments and 4 Heads for the study. Adopting a qualitative research design and case study app...

In the recent times, there is an increased awareness about the importance of water management as population growth, new technologies, increased food consumption, land use and economic activities, among others, continue to exacerbate competition among water users in their bid to access natural resources. Thus, water governance encompasses the alloca...

Culture is a way of life which pervades all aspects of people’s existence wherever they are situated. Thus the study explores the Korekore culture in a bid to show its vitality and relevance to modern society’s water management in Zimbabwe. The article posits that the Korekore people have indigenous knowledge systems (IKS) that can be tapped and in...

The aim of this study was to assess the quality of source water used for domestic purposes in the town of Karoi. The objectives were: to determine the quality of surface water in the study area; and to characterize point and non-point sources of pollution. The study examined physical and chemical surface water quality parameters that may indicate p...

Governance of natural resources includes issues of power, use, access and most importantly, responsibility. While many people assume natural resources to be free and open for all, most natural resources are in fact under form of governance, be it official or unofficial. Available studies are generally critical about the overall management and inter...

Globally, water is critical for the survival of humans and biodiversity conservation. This natural resource is pertinent for the enhancement of social and economic development in southern Africa. However, studies have shown that water supplies continue to dwindle in the region because of resource depletion and pollution due to population growth and...