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Given that many local authorities specifically in rural areas struggle to strengthen and boost their local economies despite having vast natural resources and as such ecotourism can be a potential backbone of Local Economic Development (LED). The research examines the role of tourism as a vehicle for improving and strengthening Local Economic Development Initiatives for Rural Local Authorities in Tsholotsho District, Matabeleland Province, Zimbabwe. The sample of the study consisted of 296 participants ranging from community members and selected stakeholders in ecotourism. Data were gathered through interviews and questionnaires. The data were analysed using the Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 16.0 and STATISTICA. Safari was the dominant tourism activity in Tsholotsho. There were significant variations (p < 0.05) in terms of incomes generated from ecotourism activities with craftwork selling being the most dominant. Results of the study showed that there is significant association (p < 0.05) between local economic development and tourism. The challenges faced in initiating LED are lack of funds, politicisation of natural resource governance and lack of community and traditional leadership engagement in key decision making by the Tsholotsho Rural District Council (RDC) and Safari Operators. The study recommends a grassroot-based approach to ecotourism development and strengthening of problem animal control by the RDC and that there is decentralisation and inclusivity in natural resource governance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the distribution and densities of crimes is of importance in order to facilitate the development of investigation preference strategies for policing. Within the Zimbabwean context, less attention has been given to the applicability of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in crime mapping. In this study, we determined crime densities and crime hotspots and clusters in rural Zimbabwe using Geo-spatial technologies. Data were collected using mobile Global Positioning Systems and interviews. Moran's I was used to determine crime clustering and Gertis~Ord statistic was used to determine crime hotspots in Chivi district. Results show that crime densities of 4.6 were located at Chivi growth point and low crime densities (1.15) were found as distance from the growth point increases. Significant high-high crime clusters were located in wards 11, 15 and 30 (Chivi growth point). Crime hotspots at 99% confidence level were located in ward 11, 12, 15 and 30. The results of the study indicated that crime hotspots and clusters were distributed around Chivi growth point and this will help the law enforcement agents in establishing beat patrols in the problematic areas to curb crime and safeguard life and property. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]