http://repository.bothouniversity.ac.bw:8080/buir/handle/123456789/136 2026-04-13T10:30:19Z http://repository.bothouniversity.ac.bw:8080/buir/handle/123456789/275 Challenges and Prospects of Work-Integrated Learning in Hospitality Training and Education in Botswana: A Case of Botho University’s Dual Learning Mode Tonderai, Vumbunu,; Chikuta, Oliver; Mogam, Sethunya The study aimed to assess the effectiveness of the Dual Learning (DL) program, an innovative work-based learning approach adopted by Botho University’s Faculty of Hospitality and Sustainable Tourism. The model ensures that students spend half of their study period at work while the other half is spent in class. Being a pioneer programme in the country, there is limited information regarding the effectiveness of this work-integrated learning approach, particularly in Botswana’s context. Data was collected through eight in-depth interviews with representatives of partner hotels where the students are attached and four focus group panels with students from different cohorts that are undergoing the DL program. The study revealed that the dual study program has faced several teething challenges, including a lack of preparedness among students and hotel staff, undefined expectations, burnout among students and unforeseen costs for both students and the industry. It was however evident that the envisaged benefits of this initiative outweigh the challenges in the mid to long term. There is therefore need for the key players (universities, students and industry) to work on the issues identified in order to make this program a success in Botswana. 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z http://repository.bothouniversity.ac.bw:8080/buir/handle/123456789/274 Mainstreaming climate change in policy frameworks for community-based natural resource management in a semi-arid savannah environment: case study of Botswana Oliver, Chikuta, o; Kupika, Olga L.; Ntho, Olivia Communitybasednaturalresourcemanagement(CBNRM)isaconceptthatwas introduced in southern Africa back in the s with the dual aim of biodiversity conservation and poverty reduction in communities endowed with natural resources. Communitybased tourism (CBT), one of the major forms of CBNRM, depends on natural resources, particularly wildlife, and weather and climatic conditions. However, natural resources are under threat from climatic changes and other anthropogenic and natural disturbances. This calls for the need to interrogate the extent to which CBNRM initiatives mainstream climate change in their agenda. The main aim of this article is to assess the extent to which the climate change agenda has been mainstreamed into the policy framework of Botswana’s CBNRM program. The specific objectives are to ( ) document the impacts of climate change on CBNRMrelated initiatives in Botswana; ( ) determine the relationship between climate parameters (temperature and rainfall), extreme events (drought and extreme heat), and visitor trends in Botswana and the Okavango Delta; ( ) establish a historical correlation between evolution of climate change policy and CBNRM policy and vice versa, policy initiatives, programs, strategies, and projects in Botswana; ( ) explore the extent to which international, regional, national, and local climate policies mainstream CBNRM and tourism issues and vice versa; and ( ) explore the challenges and opportunities related to climate change and CBNRM, with a particular focus on adaptation and mitigation initiatives. This study mostly used qualitative approaches(desktopreviewofpolicydocumentsandscholarlyarticles)aswellas secondaryquantitativedata(timeseriesdata)toexploretheevolutionofCBNRM in Botswana, providing an overview of its structure, policy initiatives, programs, and projects and how these correspond with climate change issues. A scoping review was conducted to identify relevant studies on the impacts of climate change on CBNRM initiatives published between and . A total of articles wereidentifiedtoanswerthefollowingresearchquestion:Whatevidence is available regarding the impacts of climate change on CBNRM initiatives? The article further looks at how climate change–related extreme events, particularly drought, has a ected tourism performance over the years. The article then zeros down on the e ects of climate change on CBNRM initiatives and the challenges, threats, and opportunities, as well as the mitigation and adaptation strategies adopted by the CBNRM projects in Botswana. The findings indicate FrontiersinSustainableTourism frontiersin.org Chikuta et al. . /frsut. . that climate change–induced events, particularly drought, have a ected naturebased tourism products in Botswana. However, it was revealed that although there is no statistically significant correlation between drought and tourism performance, evidence from the literature reveals that drought has impacted tourism in Botswana. The findings from policy analysis indicate that the climate change agenda is woven into more recent key legal and policy documents on CBNRM, on one hand, while the climate change policy documents also include components that speak to CBNRM, on the other. This implies that the tourism sector can leverage these provisions to strengthen climate resilience through transformative adaptation and mitigation action. 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z http://repository.bothouniversity.ac.bw:8080/buir/handle/123456789/252 Employment of People with Disabilities in the Hotel Sector in Zimbabwe: Challenges and Opportunities Oliver, Chikuta; Chitambara, Lovemore; Matura., Phanos This study sought to establish the extent to which people with disabilities (PWD) are employed in the hotel sector in Zimbabwe. The study was motivated by the continued emancipation of PWDs globally and industry’s increasing acceptance of the contributions PWDs can make. Using a qualitative approach (interviews with hotel managers), this study revealed that PWDs are not employed in Zimbabwe’s hotel sector. Stigma, lack of information/knowledge about disabilities, and supposed costs related to accessibility are the main challenges to the employment of PWD in the hotel sector. 2022-01-01T00:00:00Z http://repository.bothouniversity.ac.bw:8080/buir/handle/123456789/238 Indigenous Culinary Claims and Cultural Heritage Preservation: A Viewpoint Margaret, Nyarota,; Chikuta, Oliver Knowledge about cooking was traditionally shared orally and handed down through generations in written form or as an oral recipe. These specifications or instructions are a society’s claims that provide a unique arena between science and society. This research is an overview of a destinations’ cultural heritage preservation of indigenous cuisine through culinary claims using the examples from Africa and Zimbabwe and particularly from the Karanga, Korekore and Manyika ethnic groups and other destinations like France, Japan, Croatia, China and Australia. Using content analysis from secondary sources this paper argues that culinary claims have significance in sustaining cultural heritage and must not be set aside. These claims describe the procedural information present in a recipe (oral and written), which provides added value in terms of improved quality and greater chance of a successful product. Many destinations are striving to preserve indigenous cuisine as a unique and competitive advantage for many benefits. Thus, using local resources such as indigenous food has made destinations more competitive globally. The findings of this study reveal that culinary claims are being used by destinations and renowned chefs, increasing their expertise and passion in the kitchen. These claims have also increased tourist confidence in trying new foods and tastes that are deemed authentic. KEYWORDS: culinary claims, indigenous food, indigenous cuisine, cultural heritage, pre 2022-01-01T00:00:00Z