Zimbabwe Teenage Behaviour Survey Report 2009 (Summarized)

The Behaviour

REPORT
The results of a Teenage Behaviour
Survey conducted by Project
Beyond*REBELLION

ISBN: 978-0-7974-3932-0

www.thebehaviourreport.com

COPYRIGHT

ISBN: 978-0-7974-3932-0

WEB: www.thebehaviourreport.com

EMAIL: info@thebehaviourreport.com

ADDRESS: 18 Do Couto Court, 102 Central Ave, Avenues, Harare, Zimbabwe

TEL: +263(4)2918187 OR (733) 417 614

This publication belongs to the research sponsor and the publisher. All reproductions of
publications should be with consent of wither party.

Published by

the communications company

2 www.thebehaviourreport.com The Behaviour Report, © 2009

Table of contents
 Executive Summary  Chapter VII – Knowledge & Learning

 Survey Overview  Chapter VIII – Money,

 Key Findings  Chapter IX – Friends & Lifestyle,

 Chapter I – Personality & Self Image  Chapter X – Sexuality & Addictions

 Chapter II – Decision Making  Sponsors & Team

 Chapter III – Guidance & Accountability

 Chapter IV – Beliefs, Culture &
Traditions

 Chapter V – Media & Entertainment

 Chapter VI – Motivation & Achievement


EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

INTRODUCTION
Whilst Zimbabwe recovers on the economic front, with the corporate, governing,
educational, spiritual, and family institutions chasing after their well defined
goals, there is an area under serious neglect that may cause a regression of
developmental efforts of either institution – the behaviour of the young person.

SITUATION ANALYSIS
Youths are the future of any people or society. How they behave today determines
that future as it shapes certain behavioural patterns. Behaviour trends are set in
high activity communities, and for the Zimbabwean youths it is in the urban areas
– schools, church groups, social communities. Understanding the influences of
current behaviour will equip decision makers in all institutes.

THE BEHAVIOUR REPORT
The Behaviour Report is a publication containing the results of a behaviour survey
conducted in 2009 called Project Beyond*REBELLION. This report is available on
print, CD, and online.


SURVEY OVERVIEW

OBJECTIVES
The objective of the survey was to take a dip stick picture of the urban Zimbabwean teenager’s behaviour in order
to assist stakeholders formulate relevant and effective behaviour reformation programmes, relationships, and
resources. we wanted to understand the following:

1. PERSONALITY & SELF IMAGE - What are the influences of personality and self image?
2. DECISION MAKING & REASONING - Can youths make their own decisions and reason well?
3. GUIDANCE & ACCOUNTABILITY - Does the family unit have strong influence regarding moral guidance?
4. BELIEFS, CULTURE & TRADITIONS - Where are the beliefs of the youth coming from?
5. MEDIA & ENTERTAINMENT - Which entertainment captivates the youth and how far does it go?
6. MOTIVATION & ACHIEVEMENT - What motives the youths and what do they aspire?
7. KNOWLEDGE & LEARNING - How much do they know and want to learn?
8. MONEY - Do the youths have money to spend, how much, and where does it come from?
9. FRIEnDS & LIFESTYLE - How much influence do their friends have on them?
10. SEXUALITY & ADICATIONS - Are there any promiscuous sexual activities, homosexuals, drug addicts amongst the
Zimbabwean youths?

THE METHODOLOGY
The assumptions are primarily that behaviour trends are set in these places in the teenage world, and then filter
down to the other areas. The survey was limited intentionally to the urban teenager, especially those urban
communities with diverse cultures – college students, first year university students, private school students, high
density church youth groups, and so forth.

After a test sample in December 2008, the survey was conducted between March – October 2009, with youths between
the ages 13 – 22 years, from Harare, Gweru, Bulawayo, Masvingo, Marondera, Mutare, Kadoma, Kwekwe, and Chinhoyi.
The survey gathered 630 records of the population building a report presented herein.

The field survey team travelled to these areas spending an average of an hour collecting the data. Each sample record
was filled in by the students, handing them in to the team in an exam format, though casual to enable freedom when
answering.

The data was then captured into a software analysis package developed for the project, used by the analysis team to
come up with the results thereof.


KEY FINDINGS

The questions were mixed on the questionnaire to make them more appealing and easier for the teenager to
answer. Some of the key findings include the following:

PERSONALITY - The majority is Friendly and easygoing (44%), followed by the loud one who always makes the
jokes (21%)

DECISION-MAKING - The majority thinks about situation first then acts (56%), followed by act first and think later
(17%)

GUIDANCE & ACCOUNTABILITY - The majority live with one or more of my birth parents (78%), followed by those
who live with cousins (21%)

BELIEFS, CULTURE & TRADITIONS - The majority is pick and mix (56%), followed by modern thinkers (18%)

MEDIA & ENTERTAINMENT - The majority listen to Gospel (63%), then R&B/Soul (55%) and then Hip Hop/Rap
(49%)

MOTIVATION & ACHIEVEMENT - The Majority are excited about sports (49%), then 46% are excited about
business and would like to be involved in it.

KNOWLEDGE & LEARNING - The majority likes reading mystery or adventure stories (41%), followed by romance
or fantasies (34%)

MONEY - The Majority get pocket money of US$1 (21%), whilst 17% get US$2, though a minority of 1.6% get
US$200 per week.

FRIENDS & LIFESTYLE - The majority is good at cooperating and like to keeping everyone working together (50%),
followed by those that say they are the joker and I like to have everyone laughing (22%)

SEXUALITY & ADDICATIONS - Though the majority (67%) are not homosexual, though 6% are, 13% say other
including bisexual and 14% did not answer. Possibly 19% or 33% are homosexual considering other and
unanswered ones.


CHAPTER I – PERSONALITY & SELF IMAGE

What are the influences
of personality and self
image?


1 - Which of the following statements best describes you:

The majority is Friendly and easygoing (44%),followed by the loud one who
always makes the jokes (21%)

Friendly and easygoing
22%

Shy and take my time
45%

13% Peacemaker and optimist

Loud one
20%

 44% - I am friendly and easygoing
 20% - I am shy and take my time to make friends
 13% - I am the peacemaker and optimist
 21% - I am the loud one who always makes the jokes


14 - When I am with my friends or in a team situation:

The majority is good at cooperating and like to keeping
everyone working together (50%), followed by those that
say they are the joker and I like to have everyone laughing
(22%)
9%
15% Lead

23% Cooperate

Joker

53% Conquence/Thinker

 14% - I’m the one who comes up with the ideas and leads the group
 50% - I’m a good at cooperating and like to keeping everyone working
together
 22% - I’m the joker and I like to have everyone laughing
 8% - I’m the one who usually points out the flaws in the ideas and plans we
9 make
www.thebehaviourreport.com The Behaviour Report, © 2009

CHAPTER II – DECISION MAKING & REASONING

Can youths make
their own decisions
and reason well?


15 - When I am with my friends:

The majority do what they like when they are with their
friends 28%, followed by those that do what’s best for them
2%
(26%).
Fitting in

22%
Our own thing
28%
Cautious

What's best for me

26% Did not answer
22%

 2% - I like fitting in and doing what everyone in the group is doing – its important to have my
friends around me
 28% - I do what I like, we all like to do our own thing and we will always be friends
 22% - I don’t worry about fitting in, but I don’t really like to disrupt things
 26% - I do what’s best for me and I don’t really care what my friends think about my decisions
 22% - Did not answer

16 - Rank yourself here:

90%

80% 78% 77%

70% 68%
63%

60% 56%

50% 48%

42%
39%
40% Strongly Agree
34% 35%
Agree
28% 29%
30% Disagree
Strongly Disagree
20%
20% 18%
15%
10% 9% 10% 10% 9%
10%
5%
2% 2% 3%

0%
I like to make my I like to know what I like to read about I would prefer to do In any situation I I would prefer to do
own decisions other teenagers in celebrities I admire what my friends do will always do what I know from
other countries or and try to do what than do what I what’s best for me my religion and
regions are doing they do have read as long as its safe beliefs is the best
celebrities would and I can afford it thing to do than do
do what my friends
advise me to do


24 - Why are you going to school?

The majority 74% are going to school to get an education, 8% are going to school to learn
how to make money and 94% were forced to go to school.
80.00%
74.00%

70.00%

60.00%

50.00%

40.00%

30.00%

20.00% 16.12%

10.00% 8.00%

0.16% 0.94% 0.78%
0.00%
Get a good education learn how to make hang out with people I was forced Everyone is going Did not answer
money

 74% - To get a good education
 8% - To learn how to make money
 0.16% - To just hang out with people
 0.94% - Because I was forced
 0.78% - Because everyone else is going to school

25 - If you could choose not to go to school would you still go?

The Majority (75%) say if they could choose not to go to
school they would and 16% refuted and said no they would
not.

9%
Yes
16%
No

Did not answer
75%

 75% - Yes
 6% - No
 9% Did not answer


CHAPTER III – GUIDANCE & ACCOUNTABILITY

Does the family unit
have strong influence
regarding moral
guidance?


13 - Which is the most relevant statement?

90%
83%

80% 78%

72%
70%
63%

60%

48% 49%
50%
42%
40% Strongly Agree
35% Agree
32%
Disagree
30% 27%
Strongly Disagree
20% 20%
20%
13% 14%

10% 8% 7%
6%
4%
2% 2%
0%
I don’t want to upset I care about what my My home life affects I would rather do what I care about what my
or disturb my family family thinks of me my mood and actions family wants me to do family thinks of me
even if it’s not in line more than what my
with what I believe in friends think of me
or know to be right
and wrong


CHAPTER IV – BELIEFS, CULTURE & TRADITIONS

Where are the beliefs of
the youth coming from?


5 - Which statement best describes how you feel about culture
and tradition:

The majority is pick and mix (56%), followed by modern
thinkers (18%)

9%
Modern thinker
19%

Traditional and proud

14%
Pick and Mix

58% What’s the fuss

 18% - Modern thinker – I’m all about the here and now that was then and things have changed, it’s important to
keep up with the rest of the world
 14% - Traditional and proud – Culture is important and I am proud of our traditions and where we have come from
 56% - Pick and Mix, Anything goes – I don’t mind a mix of tradition and modern stuff; it’s always good to remember
where you come from but it’s also good to keep up with the times
 9% - What’s the fuss - Who really cares


6 - Which statement best describes how you feel about your
religion or beliefs:

The majority are Christian that care about their faith but
think they don’t need to push it everyone’s face (60%)
3%

17% 20% Christian & care

Christian yet no Fuss

Not Religious, yet actions

No fuss
60%

 20% - I care that people see I am a Christian in the way I act
 60% - I am a Christian and I care about my faith but I don’t think I need to push it in everyone’s
face all the time
 17% - I am not very religious but I have my beliefs about what is right and wrong and I always base
my actions on those beliefs
 3% - I prefer not to make a fuss about these things


7 - I think my beliefs about what is right and wrong come from:

The majority thinks their beliefs about right or wrong came
from the lessons they have learnt in life (47%), followed by
parents and family (32%)
8%
My parents and family

29%
My friends

What I see in my community
42%
6%
Have learnt & seen

15%
Learnt from youth leaders or church

 32% - My parents and family
 7% - My friends
 16% - What I see in my community
 47% - The lessons I have learnt and what I have seen happening to other people
 9% - What I have learnt from youth leaders or church

CHAPTER V – MEDIA & ENTERTAINMENT

Which entertainment
captivates the youth and
how far does it go?


17 - Which of the following modern music do you like?

The majority listen to Gospel (63%), followed by R & B/Soul
(55%) and then Hip Hop/Rap (49%)
Gospel 63%

R&B/Soul 55%

Hip Hop/Rap 49%

House/Kwaito 41%

Urban Grooves 19%

Rock/Contemporary 18%

Ragga 17%

Sungura/Local 11%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%

 49% - Hip Hop/Rap  19% - Urban Grooves
 55% - R&B/Soul  63% - Gospel
 18% -  11% - Sungura/Local
Rock/Contemporary
 17% - Ragga
 41% - House/Kwaito

18 - Which of the following movies do you like?

The majority watch Comedies (73%), followed by
Action/Thriller (51%), and a tie between Cartoons &
Adventure.
80% 73%
70%

60%
51%
50%
41% 41%
40% 37%
29% 27%
30%

20%

10%

0%
Comedy Action/thriller Adventure Cartoon Musical Horror Drama

 51% - Action/thriller  73% - Comedy
 41% - Adventure  41% - Cartoon
 29% - Horror
 27% - Drama
 37% - Musical

19 - Which TV show(s) do you like?

The Majority like watching movies (73%), whilst (65%)
watch comedies and only 24% watch the news.
80%
73%
70% 65%

60%

50%
43%
40%
28%
30% 25% 24%
20%

10%

0%
Movies Comedies Drama/Soaps Educational Documentary News

 24% - News
 43% - Drama/Soaps
 65% - Comedies
 28% - Educational
 25% - Documentary
 73% - Movies

CHAPTER VI – MOTIVATION & ACHIEVEMENT

What motives the youths
and what do they aspire?


26 - Which stage of educational life do you think is better than
the other?

The Majority (39%) think that University or college is
better, 29% believe that high school is best and only 9% say
that primary school was better.
Preschool
1%
Primary school
12% 10%
9% High school

University/College

Working
39% 29%
Did not answer

 10% - Preschool
 9% - Primary school
 29% - High school
 39% - University/College
 12% - Working

27 - What would you say was the best moment in your life?

The Majority say that their best moment was when they passed their exams or test
(40%), followed by 18% being raised at home or at school.

4% 4%
Praised at home/school
18%
Got a lover
Hugged with love
Gained money
13%
40% Won something
Passed exams/test
6%
Trading/Business
12% 3% Did not answer

 18% - Praised at home/school  40% - Passed exams/test
 13% - Got a lover  4% - Trading/Business/Transactions
 6% - Hugged with love
 3% - Gained money
 12% - Won something

28 - What was the worst moment in life for you?

They majority said their worst moment was when they lost something or
someone (29%), whilst some said failing exams or a test (25%)

Lost something/someone 29%

Embarrassed 28%

Failed exams/test 25%

Falsely accused 14%

Abused 6%

Caught stealing 3%

Starved 2%

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35%

 28% - Embarrassed  25% - Failed exams/test
 6% - Abused  29% - Lost something/someone
 3% - Caught stealing
 2% - Starved
 14% - Falsely accused

CHAPTER VII – KNOWLEDGE & LEARNING

How much do they know
and want to learn?


3 - I like reading…

The majority likes reading mystery or adventure stories
(41%), followed by romance or fantasies (34%)

9% Mystery or Adventure

12%
Romance or fantasy
43%

Non-Fiction or biographies

36% Science Fiction

 41% - Mystery stories or Adventure Stories
 34% - Romance or fantasy stories
 11% - Non-Fiction books and biographies
 9% - Science Fiction stories


4 - What do you think about your ideas and decisions:

80%

71%
70% 67%
64%
63%

59%
60%

50%
46%
45%

40% 38%

34%
32% Strongly Agree
29% 29%
30% 27% 27% Agree
23%
22%
Disagree
20% 17%
14%
12%
10% 10%
10% 7%
5%
4%

0%
I don’t think many Everyone else I find it hard to I usually feel I find it hard to I often wish I
people would be seems to come make decisions in foolish talking accept a could be
interested in my up with better case I am wrong about my ideas to compliment someone else
ideas ideas than me my family


CHAPTER VIII – MONEY

Do the youths have money
to spend, how much, and
where does it come from?


29 - Do you get pocket money when you go to school?

The Majority said they get pocket money when they go to school (75%) and
19% said they don’t get pocket money.

6%

19% Yes

No

Did not answer
75%

 75% - Yes
 9% - No


30 - How much pocket money (US$) do you get per week
(include bus fare)

The Majority get pocket money of US$1 (21%), whilst 17% get US$2, though
a minority of 1.6% get US$200 per week.

Did not answer 26.4%
US$200 per week 1.6%
US$50 per week 5.0%
US$20 per week 9.0%
US$10 per week 4.0%
US$5 per week 14.0%
US$1 per week 21.0%
0.0% 5.0% 10.0% 15.0% 20.0% 25.0% 30.0%

 21% - US$1 per week  5% - US$50 per week
 14% - US$5 per week  2% - US$100 per week
 4% - US$10 per week  1.6% - US$200 per week
 17% - US$15 per week  26.4% did not answer
 9% - US$20 per week

31 - Where does your pocket money come from?

The Majority (71%) get pocket money from a local parent or guardian while 15% say they
get money from the Diaspora parent or guardian whilst 2% from a lover.

Lover 2%

Diaspora friend 6%

Diaspora relative 5%

Local relative 3%

Diaspora parent/guardian 15%

Local parent/guardian 71%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%

 71% - Local parent/guardian
 15% - Diaspora parent/guardian
 3% - Local relative
 5% - Diaspora relative
 0.6% - Diaspora friend
 2% - Lover

CHAPTER VIII – FRIENDS & LIFESTYLE

How much influence do their
friends have on them?


14 - When I am with my friends or in a team situation:

The majority is good at cooperating and like to keeping
everyone working together (50%), followed by those that
say they are the joker and I like to have everyone laughing
(22%)
9%
15% Lead

23% Cooperate

Joker

53% Conquence/Thinker

 14% - I’m the one who comes up with the ideas and leads the group
 50% - I’m a good at cooperating and like to keeping everyone working
together
 22% - I’m the joker and I like to have everyone laughing
 8% - I’m the one who usually points out the flaws in the ideas and plans we
37 make
www.thebehaviourreport.com The Behaviour Report, © 2009

15 - When I am with my friends:

The majority do what they like when they are with their
friends 28%, followed by those that do what’s best for them
2%
(26%).
Fitting in

22%
Our own thing
28%
Cautious

What's best for me

26% Did not answer
22%

 2% - I like fitting in and doing what everyone in the group is doing – its important to have my
friends around me
 28% - I do what I like, we all like to do our own thing and we will always be friends
 22% - I don’t worry about fitting in, but I don’t really like to disrupt things
 26% - I do what’s best for me and I don’t really care what my friends think about my decisions

32 - Who or what influences the style of clothes you wear?

The Majority (2%) have their dressing being influenced by a famous person
as well as parents, while 17% are influenced by factors such as pastors
wives ,Christian belief, media and some have their own dressing styles.

Friends
12% 16%
Parents

Brother/Sister
17%
Famous Person
20%
Other

Did not answer
20%
15%

 16% - Friends
 20% - Parents
 15% - Brother/Sister
 20% - Famous Person
 17% - Other (Myself, Pastor’s wives, My background, Season, Style, Christian
belief, Media)

33 - What do you and your friends talk about the most during
breaks or on the way home?

The Majority( 32%)talk about music during breaks or on their way home, 27%talk about
movies while 31%talk of other matters such as girls, clubbing, porn and business

Music 32%

Other 31%

Movies 27%

Love 18%

Other People 17%

Sex 9%

Drugs 3%

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35%

 32% - Music  3% - Drugs
 27% - Movies  31% - Other (Sports , Business, Girls, Everything, Life
 17% - Other People Situations, Clubbing, Sex & Porn, Video
Games, Success)
 18% - Love
 9% - Sex

37 - Do your friends have to like him/her or approve of
him/her?

The Majority say that their friends do not have to approve of him or her
(55%) followed by 30% who agree that their friends should approve, while
15% did not answer the question.

15%
30%

Yes No Did not answer

55%

 Yes 30%
 No 55%
 15% did not answer


CHAPTER IX – SEXUALITY & ADDICATIONS

Are there any promiscuous
sexual
activities, homosexuals, drug
addicts amongst the
Zimbabwean youths?


38 - Are you a homosexual?

Though the majority (67%) are not homosexual, though 6% are, 13% say
other including bisexual and 14% did not answer. Possibly 19% or 33% are
homosexual considering other and unanswered ones.

6%
14%

Yes

13% No

Other

Did not answer
67%

 Yes 6%
 No 67%
 Other 13%,


42 - Do you have a child?

The Majority (62%) did not answer the question, 37% said they do not have a
child, while 1% agreed that they have children.
1%

Yes
37%
No

62%
Did not answer

 Yes 1%
 No 37%


SPONSORS & TEAMS

The survey was built over the years and conducted in 2009, under the auspices of voluntary youth
organisations and colleges, such as Youth Encounter, Scripture Union, Harvesters in Sport, private
colleges, churches, and other technical and financial sponsors that sought to understand teenage
behaviour.

Key Sponsors
Oscar Manduku (Researcher), a media & communications consultant, is author of Beyond*REBELLION
(the book of which the survey is extracted) and other consumer behaviour material, is the former national
director of Youth Encounter Zimbabwe, and an executive committee member of the Advertising &
Publicity Club. He has participated in various key capacities in researches conducted for institutes like
World Vision, Unilever SEA, and ARIPO.

Caleb Musodza (Patron), – General Manager Sales & Marketing for Schweppes Zimbabwe Limited, is a
leader in FMCG marketing strategies in Zimbabwe, has been key in market intelligence for companies
like Schweppes and Unilever SEA. At Unilever SEA he was responsible for the market surveys that
determined consumer behaviour regarding their products.

The Research Team
The survey and analysis team included Rudo Kaposonore (Administration), Pamela Zigomo
(Questionnaire, London), Tafadzwa Muchopa (Questionnaire, Harare), Marylyn Chimombe (Field Project
Manager), Idzai Chaduka (Analysis Co-ordinator), Musekiwa Samuriwo (Analysis), Mandy Sibanda
(Analysis), Fitzgerald Mujuru (Analysis), and a host of field and analysis volunteers from Youth
Encounter, Harvesters in Sport, Scripture Union, churches, and private schools and colleges across the
country.

Financial Sponsors
This survey would not have been possible without the sponsorship of individuals and institutions such
as George Nheweyembwa, Mrs C. Ndlovu, Roselyn Zigomo, Webolutions OS, Cafe Espresso, just to name
a few.


Zimbabwe Teenage Behaviour Survey Report 2009 (Summarized)

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