Global research attention appears to be focused predominantly on self‐reported than observed food safety practices. The purpose of this study was to determine the food safety knowledge, attitudes, and self‐reported and observed practices of food handlers in 22 urban restaurants in Zimbabwe. A piloted questionnaire was used to gather qualitative data regarding socio‐demographic variables, food safety knowledge (FSK), attitudes, and self‐reported food handling practices (SRFHPs). A predesigned checklist was used to observe the food handling practices. FSK scores were significantly higher in food handlers who received basic food safety training compared to those who did not (p < .05). No differences in food safety knowledge and attitudes were noted based on the socio‐demographic characteristics of the food handlers (p > .05). A significant positive correlation was observed between FSK and attitudes (rs = 0.371, p < .05), FSK and SRFHPs (rs = 0.242, p < 0.05), FSK and observed food handling practices (OFHPs) (rs = 0.254, p < .05), attitudes and SRFPs (rs = 0.229, p < .05), and attitudes and OFHPs (rs = 0.263, p < .05). About half of the food handlers washed their hands in sinks meant for washing cutlery, 57% did not use approved hand drying methods, and 19.8% did not adequately thaw frozen foods. Food was commonly defrosted either under room temperature or using hot water (>45°C). Results suggest a need for mandatory basic and advanced training to improve the food safety knowledge, attitudes, and practices.

Veld fires are a common phenomenon in the predominantly savanna ecosystems of Zimbabwe. Until now no studies have investigated the causes, and socio-economic and environmental impacts of veld fires in Zimbabwe. Yet such information is crucial for planning and implementation of fire prevention and control practices. The present study uses multiple sources of information including review of published literature, reports from regulatory agencies, informal interviews and field observations to address the following objectives; (1) to identify the key causes of veld fires in Zimbabwe, (2) to investigate the socio-economic and environmental impacts of veld fires, (3) to highlight management practices for the control of veld fires and (4) to identify research gaps on causes and management of veld fires in Zimbabwe. This review showed that the main causes of veld fires are anthropogenic. The impacts of fires are multifaceted and are a threat to the bio-physical, social and economic environment because of their trail of destruction and they directly impact all sectors of the economy. Impacts range from loss of livelihoods and income, psychosocial impacts associated with fatalities and family bereavement, loss of biodiversity and disturbance of the hydrological balance. It is very difficult, if not impossible, to prevent veld fires because, besides the negative impacts of veld fires, fire also play an important positive role in many Zimbabwean ecosystems. In view of this, fire management should move away from fire fighting to management practices such as early burning that reduces the negative impact, and enhance the positive effects of veld fires.

This article addresses three key issues. First, the commonalities, differences, strengths, and limitations of existing occupational safety and health (OSH) legislation of low- and middle-income countries were determined. Second, required revisions were identified and discussed to strengthen the laws in accordance with the best international practice. Finally, proposals for additional OSH laws and interventions were suggested. A literature search of OSH laws of 10 selected low- and middle-income countries was carried out. The laws were subjected to uniform review criteria. Although the agricultural sector employs more than 70% of the population, most of the reviewed countries lack OSH legislation on the sector. Existing OSH laws are gender insensitive, fragmented among various government departments, insufficient, outdated, and nondeterrent to perpetrators and lack incentives for compliance. Conclusively, the legal frameworks require reformation and harmonization for the collective benefit to employees, employers, and regulatory authorities. New OSH legislation for the agricultural sector is required.

Gravel road dust has significant health effect. The study was conducted to assess road dust suppression effect of molasses stillage in gravel at a Sugarcane Estate in Zimbabwe. Three, 2 km long gravel road sections (steep, sloping and gentle) had the following dust suppression treatments applied to 500m long segments: (i) molasses stillage, (ii) water and (iii) control. Data on dust deposition rates were subjected to Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) to compare treatment means. Mean road dust deposition rates ranged from 998.46±50.04 to 6184.02±257 mg/m 2 /30 days between January and June 2012. Road segments treated with molasses stillage had the lowest (P = .05) dust deposition rates compared to other treatments. Dust deposition rates were reduced by 77-83% and by 18-39% for molasses stillage and water treatments respectively. The sloping road segments had consistently the highest (P=.05) mean dust deposition rates. It was concluded that molasses stillage outperformed water as a road dust suppressant but variations were caused by type and volume of vehicular traffic together with meteorological factors at the Estate.

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Trace elements released by human activity are ubiquitously detected in surface soil. The trace element contamination statuses of 20 sampling stations at two busy informal industrial sites of Harare city, Zimbabwe, were evaluated using geochemical indices. Spectrophotometric determinations of concentrations of trace elements in surface soil indicated generally higher values than the reference site and the average upper earth's crust. High contamination factors were observed for trace elements across sampling stations at Gazaland and Siyaso informal industrial sites. Concentrations exhibited heterogeneous distribution of trace elements in surface soil varying with the nature of activity at a sampling station. The pollution load index and degree of contamination suggested highly contaminated surface soil with Cd, Cu and Pb particularly where the following activities were done: (1) welding, (2) automobile maintenance and (3) waste dumping. These results may be very important to reduce soil contamination. Paving surfaces may help to reduce dispersal of trace elements deposited on surface soil to other stations and minimise human exposure via inhalation and contact.

Hand hygiene is one of the most effective and efficient ways of controlling faecal–oral diseases. However, little is known about the predictors of hand hygiene behaviours among school children. A predesigned checklist guide was used to observe hygiene behaviours of 460 pupils from four rural schools in Shamva South district, Zimbabwe. A pretested questionnaire was administered to obtain demographic data of the observed school children. Membership to a Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) club, age, gender and the level of education were associated with hand hygiene practices (p &lt; 0.05). The findings indicated that investing in hand hygiene behaviour change processes among school children using the promotion, formation, resuscitation and empowerment of WASH clubs in schools is important in disease prevention among communities in developing countries.

Limited information is available on trace element-water contamination and health risk assessment of small-scale intensive fish farming in low-income settings. Such information creates awareness among fish consumers, policy makers and the scientific community, regarding dietary exposure and health risks for not well-reported settings. The concentrations of potentially toxic trace elements in water, sediment and fish (T. rendalli, O. nitloticus and M. salmoides) were determined by spectrometry. The ecological and potential human health risks were assessed for Magobo dam, NE Zimbabwe, using the Hakanson ecological approach and the United States Environmental Protection Agency risk-assessment model, respectively. Concentrations in water and sediment appeared to increase in the order: cadmium < arsenic < lead. They restricted water use for irrigation and human consumption. The potential ecological risk factors for individual trace elements were below the index range for low risk. The potential ecological risk index for the dam (7.20) did not constitute ecological risk. The concentrations of trace elements in fish significantly varied with species, length and tissue (p < 0.05). The concentrations of arsenic and lead in gills, liver and muscle for O. niloticus and arsenic in M. salmoides were greater than international maximum permissible limits for fish. The target cancer risk due to dietary exposure to arsenic in the three fish species was in the range 10-6. There is no obvious cancer risk to the exposed population.