Savings are current income not spent but kept for future use or the accumulation of financial and non-financial assets. They are mobilized by the financial sector, which allocates them for productive use in the economy. This paper sought to examine the impact of saving practices on the performance of the economy in Zimbabwe from 1980 to 2015. A mixed research approach was used to establish the effect of saving practices on the performance of the economy. Both primary and secondary data were employed for analysis and testing of hypotheses. Hypothesis testing, correlation analysis and regression analysis were used to examine the impact of saving practices on the performance of the economy using some macroeconomic variables. Two hundred depositors randomly selected from various banking institutions from the ten provinces and 114 key informants were used in the investigation. Secondary data on gross domestic product (GDP), total deposits, total liabilities, gross capital formation and net exports were used in the examination of saving practices. The study found that savings were always below the average and the Zimbabwean majority across genders had a formal bank or mobile account. Predominantly, savings are used for transactional purposes, thus creating a wasteful economy. Apart from product/service broadening and deepening, there is a need for robust legal and policy frameworks that will promote a savings culture. Contribution/Originality: This study was carried out to examine the relationship between saving practices and Zimbabwe's economic performance due to the scarcity of extant studies in this area on Zimbabwe. Also, the relationship between savings practices and economic performance in Zimbabwe is not well known.

The study investigated mobile banking and commercial banks’ performance nexus in Zimbabwe for the period 2011-2021. The investigation employed a pragmatic approach and a descriptive design. Primary data as well as secondary data were used to achieve the study objectives. Questionnaires, interviews and documentary guides were used to collect primary and secondary data respectively. There were 108 questionnaires distributed to staff members and customers of 6 sampled commercial banks in Zimbabwe having mobile banking experience. The interview guide was administered to bank managers to get a deeper understanding of the topic under research and as a mitigation strategy for addressing the flaws of the questionnaires. Analysis of quantitative data utilised descriptive analysis tools, correlations analysis tools as well as regression analysis tools whereas theme analysis was used for qualitative data. SPSS version 26 was used for this purpose. The study implications established that mobile banking and commercial banks’ performance nexus in Zimbabwe was significant and also enhanced mobile banking security capabilities and strengthened commercial banks’ performance. The investigation concluded that mobile banking’s success in enhancing commercial banks’ performance hinged on its ability to allow the user to get easier, cheaper and timely access to services. However, the study results showed that the cost of mobile banking services, government policies and intense competition inhibited the uptake of banking services. Commercial banks are recommended to continue strengthening the security of mobile banking services and to boost their uptake by bank customers in Zimbabwe.

The research was self-funded and is one of the expanded objectives of my PhD thesis. Abstract Savings are part of the current income for use in the future or the accumulation of financial and non-financial assets and are mobilised by the financial sector which allocates them for productive use in the economy. The study examined the determinants of savings practices among Zimbabweans. A mixed approach was used to establish the drivers of savings among Zimbabweans. Both secondary (Bank deposits and liabilities) and primary data were employed for analysis and testing of hypotheses. A linear regression model was used to explain the savings practice among Zimbabweans and the determinants of savings. 200 depositors randomly selected from the ten provinces as well as 114 key informants were used in the investigation. Although the Zimbabwean majority across gender had a formal bank or mobile account, the predominant are savings for transactional purposes. Savings motivation was related to the selected banker although the provincial residence of accounts was independent to the savings practice. Zimbabwean savings culture has been affected by economic fundamentals, political factors and the credibility of the financial system. There was low financial literacy and depth of the financial system products and services. The savings costs were too high and there was low confidence in the financial system. This called for financial deepening and product development to meet the diverse population needs. This could be supported by broadening the scope of the financial institutions' operating licences. A cost reduction and framework of rewarding savers as well as confidence restoration by providing guarantees against future losses was necessary. Monetary and fiscal policy reforms could also help long term savings.

The investigation sought to assess the connection between the exchange rate fluctuations and property sector performance in Harare. Zimbabwe’s real estate sector is undergoing a dip in terms of sales and vacancy levels. The real estate sector in Harare has been growing at a very slow rate in recent years resulting in thousands of jobs and the viability of the whole economy being threatened. A pragmatist approach and descriptive research design was applied in the investigation. A stratified random sample of 171 respondents was used in the administration of survey questionnaires were used. Primary data was collected by using survey questionnaires while secondary data was obtained from past researches, journals, reports from the Real Estate Institute of Zimbabwe (REIZ) and other exiting literature. Data was analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20. The major findings of the study were that from the research overwhelmingly confirm to the hypothesis that exchange rate fluctuations had a negative impact on real estate sector performance in Zimbabwe and from the correlation tests done in the study, it was concluded that there was a strong negative correlation between exchange rate fluctuations and real estate sector performance. This implied that a stable exchange was key to the growth in real estate sector and was an imperative deliverable by the monetary authorities.