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Research 4.0 and the ontological turn: Implications for researching the radical alterity of witches’ familiars in the twenty-first century
No full textThis paper argues that for researchers to access and
immerse themselves in the umwelt (or subjectivities) of nonhuman animals
they have to become animals. Similarly, for researchers to access and immerse
themselves in the world of spirits they have to become spirits, and for researchers to access and immerse themselves in the world of witches’ familiars they
have to become witches’ familiars so that they understand matters from the
emic positions of each worldDrawing on the term ‘Research 4.0’ to describe research that relies on twenty-firstcentury convergent technologies that are defining industry 4.0, including human
sensory enhancements, this paper interrogates the ontological turn to interface spirituality and technology. Drawing on fieldwork in Zimbabwe, this paper contends that
Research 4.0 enhances relational fieldwork, which is an aspect of the ontological turn,
but it cautions that African ontologies should not be mistaken for relational ontologies that presuppose that humans and nonhumans are on the same ontological plane.
The paper contends that with the human enhancements that come with Research 4.0
it would be possible to consider research on both human subjectivities and nonhuman umwelts, including those of animal familiars. And when humans begin to share
genomes of nonhuman witches’ familiars, in chimera-hood, it becomes possible to
study the visible and invisible of quantum anthropology in ways that obviate the pitfalls of the speculative tur
The nature of China’s relations with Africa: A comparative analysis of Sino-Botswana and Sino-Namibia relations
No full textA Dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Political ScienceThis study systematically analyses the nature of China’s relations with Africa from a
comparative perspective. It uses Sino-Botswana and Sino-Namibia relations as
specific case studies. The necessity of the comparative approach is to draw out
similarities and differences of factors that influence the nature of Sino- African
relations, with a specific focus on these two southern African states. The systematic
study is grounded in the constructivist theoretical paradigm. Constructivism claims
that core issues of international relations, national interests, security, identity, norms,
and ideas are socially constructed. The foregrounding of the study in constructivism
necessitated the adoption of the qualitative research methodology which allowed for a
comprehensive data collection, thus advancing the reliability and trustworthiness of
data and findings. Botswana and Namibia were found to share several commonalities
in terms of foreign policies and relations with China. The two southern African states
have established strong and effective foreign policy principles which guide their
engagement with other states in general, and with China in particular. Empirical
evidence emerging from this study suggests that both Botswana and Namibia are
driven by specific foreign policy principles. Despite these commonalities, the
dissimilarity of factors influences positive economic and political outcomes for
Botswana and Namibia in their ties with China.
Firstly, history plays a vital role in the relations between China and Namibia but plays
less role in the Sino- Botswana relations. The nature of the Sino-Namibian ties has
been constant since the 1950s and is driven by historical linkage, specifically China’s
role in Namibia’s liberation struggle. China was not largely involved in Botswana’s
struggle for independence. Therefore, Botswana’s relations with China are not largely
politically motivated but are economically determined. Secondly, results indicate that
a change in political leadership and governance architecture has not entirely influenced
the overall nature of relations China has with Namibia and Botswana. The principles
of the relationships remain unchanged, however, approaches to the relations differ
practically from one leader to another and these diverse foreign policy postures
essentially influence the nature of Chinese presence in Botswana and Namibia in
general and more so for Botswana. Also, stable and sustainable political leadership is
essential in the bilateral relations China shares with Botswana and Namibia.
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Thirdly, Developmental State behaviour is noted. It has been established that while
Botswana and Namibia are democratic developmental states, China is largely regarded
as an authoritarian developmental state. However, the extent to which the Botswana
and Namibian governments exert power and influence to achieve economic
development goals in their relations with China vary. Motivated by economic
determinism, Botswana exercises significant control and ownership of its natural
resources and the mining industry. Motivated by political considerations, Namibia’s
natural resources and the mining industry are largely owned by foreign entities, with
China particularly in full control of the uranium mines in the Namibian state.
Evidence which emerged from this comparative study suggests that patterns of the
Sino- African relations duplicate those of neo-colonialism or rather demonstrate a
“partially neo-colonising power”. The Asian state tends to take advantage of
weaknesses inherent in the political economic system of different African states, as
exemplified by Botswana and Namibia case studies. As a result of the historical past,
the form of international neo-patrimonialism comes into play, particularly in the case
of Namibia. The structure of the Forum of China -Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), in
which African states are meant to sign documents containing what China has already
decided to offer in terms of development to Africa, is brought forward. This happens
without due consultation with African states and the priorities of such offerings in
terms of Africa’s development agenda. This is indicative of a tendency of neo colonialism. The study suggests that for Namibia to benefit greatly from the relations
with China in terms of economic development, there is a need for a clear distinction
between political ties and economic ties, and a break from historic bondag
Exploring factors affecting the adoption of financial technology services: A case study of Tukondjeni Open Market
No full textA thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Development FinanceThe study focused on exploring factors affecting adoption of financial technology
services: a case study of Tukondjeni Open Market. The study employed a
constructivist paradigm with an exploratory and case study research design under
qualitative approach. The target population for the study was a total of 181 respondents
who were Tukondjeni Open Market traders. The study employed purposive sampling,
as such the study conveniently interviewed 20 participants for the study’s final sample
size. To address the current study’s objectives, open-ended interviews were used. The
data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Thematic analysis revealed that the key
enablers include the perceived convenience and efficiency of FinTech services,
alongside their potential for enhancing transaction safety. However, these positive
aspects are counterbalanced by significant barriers, such as security concerns,
particularly fears of fraud and scams, technological and infrastructural limitations, and
the lack of awareness and understanding about these services among traders.
Educational challenges and the compatibility of FinTech solutions with diverse
business models also emerged as critical factors. The findings suggest that while there
is an apparent readiness and interest among traders to adopt FinTech services, their
effective uptake is hindered by a combination of infrastructural, educational, and
security-related challenges. Addressing these barriers could significantly enhance the
adoption and utility of FinTech services in such informal market setting
Impact of public procurement act 15 of 2015 on service delivery: A case study of the Ministry of Health and Social Services
No full textA thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Accounting and FinanceThis study evaluated the effects of the Public Procurement Act 15 of 2015 on service
delivery in the Namibian public sector and focused on the Ministry of Health and Social
Services (MoHSS) as the case study. The study determined the challenges the Ministry is
currently facing due to Act 15 of 2015; identified the potential bottlenecks or barriers to
effective procurement and service delivery that may arise as a result of the procurement
Act and proposed recommendations for improvement. It also evaluated the impact of the
procurement act on cost savings and budget utilisation within the Ministry, with a focus
on achieving value for money in procurement. A mixed research method and pragmatism
research philosophy were used with a sample size of 55 respondents. In total, 55
questionnaires were distributed across the MoHSS departments and 3 in-depth interviews
were conducted. Regression analysis (Ordinary Least Squares) was used to determine the
effect of the Public Procurement Act 15 of 2015 on public service delivery. The study
found that Public Procurement Act 15 of 2015 was deemed to have a significant positive
impact on the provision of public services. Service delivery and the execution of the Public
Procurement Act 15 of 2015 are significantly correlated, as indicated by the strong
positive correlation (R =.733). Procurement delays, lack of procurement specialists and
inadequate budgetary and fiscal resources were the main challenges affecting the MoHSS.
The study further found that the procurement Act has an effect on cost savings and budget
utilisation. The findings suggest a moderate-to-strong explanatory power of the
Procurement Act on service delivery. The study recommends that audits must be carried
out by the MoHSS to ascertain the effectiveness of the implementation and identify any
emerging problems within procurement. Decentralisation of medical supplies and related
essential services at regional level should be implemented to shorten the waiting period of
procurement processes. For future research, this study recommends that more attention
should be on the challenges that arose due to the implementation of the public procurement
Act in Offices, Ministries and Agencies (OMAs). A thorough investigation in the
challenges would be required to help come up with tangible solutions that policy makers
would use to improve the implementation of the Procurement Act. The study further
recommends that a qualitative study and the use of in-depth interviews would be more
suitable for future studies to obtain more detailed insights from the respondent
Effectiveness of maternity waiting homes in improving maternal and child health outcomes in Africa: A scoping review
No full textThis review aims to provide a complete assessment of the methodologies
and scope of research in the field of MWHs by synthesizing the existing body of materialThere is a strong correlation between the African continent's high maternal mortality
rates and the lack of access to birthing facilities. Maternity Waiting Homes (MWHs) offer
pregnant women in remote areas a secure place to stay near the time of delivery. This
scoping review aimed to systematically analyse the use, implementation, and effectiveness
of MWHs in improving maternal and child health outcomes in Africa. We systematically
searched electronic databases and resources, analysing 30 articles from 2010 to 2023 using
the Joanna Briggs Institute framework, guided by Arksey and O'Malley's 6-stage approach.
For transparency, we adhered to the modified Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic
reviews and Meta-Analyses framework for scoping reviews. MWHs were linked with lower
perinatal mortality and increased facility-based deliveries (adjusted odds ratio, 1.19; 95%
confidence interval [CI], 1.10–1.29) in 30 studies, the majority of which were conducted in
East Africa (relative risk, 0.17; 95% CI, 0.05–0.76). They offer clean settings, which mitigate
the danger of infection. However, they are constrained by socio-cultural obstacles and
a localised impact that lacks community integration, resulting in poor utilisation (10%–
50%). The successful reduction of maternal and perinatal mortality in Africa is contingent
upon the elimination of barriers to proactive utilization prior to labor and the integration
of MWHs with health systems. It is essential to adjust to local settings, such as those in
Namibia, in order to achieve a more extensive influenc
Analysing the emerging trends and patterns of political competition in Namibia’s democratic landscape: Political party systems and political elitism perspectives, 1990-2024
No full textA dissertation submitted in fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Political Studies)Critically analysing the emerging trajectories of political party systems and the
concomitant political elitism that has ensued in Namibia constitutes the objective of
this study. In essence, the study analyses the evolving trends and patterns of political
rivalry within Namibia's democratic framework from 1990 to 2024. Namibia, one of
the relatively newest democracies in Africa, has seen significant changes and
developments in its political environment since attaining independence in 1990. To
examine the dynamics of party systems, the impact of regional and ethnic identities,
and the function of elite actors in forming political narratives and public policy, this
study employed a qualitative approach. Important conclusions drawn from this study
illuminate the emergence of opposition parties, the growing fragmentation of the
political landscape, and the enduring political elitism that prevents wider involvement.
Undeniably, these conditions are disingenuous to democratic consolidation in
Namibia.
To unpack the aforementioned dynamics, the study delves deeper into how historical
legacies and socioeconomic considerations impact these dynamics, offering insights
into Namibia's link between political struggle, political systems, and democratic
consolidation. The study found that while the South West Africa People’s Organisation
(SWAPO) has maintained its dominance since independence, new political parties like
the Landless People’s Movement (LPM), the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC),
and the Affirmative Repositioning (AR) have gained some traction, showing shifting
political allegiances. The study also found that political competition in Namibia
presents both opportunities and challenges. Although political competition has resulted
in broader representation and democratic vibrancy, it is characterised by deep-rooted
political elitism, limited internal democracy, and ethnicised voting patterns within
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parties. Additionally, neo-patrimonialism and clientelistic practices have continued to
undermine competitive multiparty politics in Namibia. The study further found that
the emergence of political parties has had different effects on governance and
democratic institutions. Although elections have largely remained peaceful and
constitutional, the dominance of a few elites has weakened institutional accountability,
undermined political participation, and hindered policy responsivenes
In silico-guided design, synthesis and antimicrobial activity of piperazine-linked 8-hydroxyquinoline-isatin hybrids
No full textA thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in ChemistryDrug-resistant pathogenic bacteria and fungi render existing antimicrobials
ineffective, fuel the global antimicrobial resistance (AMR) crisis, and ultimately serve
as impetus for the discovery of new antimicrobial agents. Hybrid drugs formed by
covalently binding two pharmacophores, have shown promise in combating resistance.
Monomers selected for this study include 8-hydroxyquinoline and isatin. There exist
reports on the versatility of the 8-hydroxyquinoline ring and the antimicrobial,
anticancer, and antifungal activity ascribed to its derivatives, while the isatin scaffold
known for rendering high hit rates, in targeted drug discovery. The aim of the study
was to synthesize piperazine-linked 8-hydroxyquinoline-isatin hybrids, with and
without the thiosemicarbazide unit, and to evaluate their antimicrobial activities. In
silico studies of the hybrids were done using open-source absorption, distribution,
metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET) prediction platforms, SwissADME and
pkCSM, to guide the selection of constructs with favourable pharmacokinetics and
druglike properties. According to the docking studies, compounds 14a-c and 15a-c
showed significant binding energy with Escherichia coli’s outer membrane protein A
(OmpA) and DNA gyrase as the key target enzymes. Both 14c and 15c showed binding
energies of -9.8 kcal/mol with OmpA. In the case of DNA gyrase, a binding energy of
-8.9 kcal/mol was recorded for 14c, whereas 15c showed satisfactory interaction with
a binding energy of -8.5 kcal/mol. Synthesis of the target hybrids began with the
reaction of 5-chloromethyl-8-hydroxyquinoline 10 with piperazine to yield 5-
(piperazin-1-ylmethyl)quinolin-8-ol 11. The Mannich reaction of unsubstituted/5-
substituted isatin with 11, yielded Mannich bases 14a-c with yields ranging between
56 - 60%. Proposed structures of the novel hybrids, 14a-c were confirmed by means
of infrared, 1H- and 13C-NMR spectroscopy. Antimicrobial activity testing of hybrids
14a-c and advanced intermediates, against Klebsiella pneumonia ATCC10556,
Escherichia coli ATCC700928, Candida albicans ATCC13933 and Staphylococcus
aureus ATC12600 was done using the agar disk diffusion method. Hybrids 14a-b as
well as intermediate 10 displayed activity against all four strains. Equipotent activity
with MIC values of 1.25 mg/mL against all bacterial strains was recorded for hybrid
14b and intermediate 10. This study revealed the antimicrobial activity of novel
piperazine-linked 8-hydroxyquinoline-isatin hybrids and that they warrant further
studie
An investigation of challenges that impede the elimination of malaria in Andara district, Kavango east region, Namibia
No full textA thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Public HealthThis study was conducted to identify challenges that impede the elimination of malaria
in Andara District, Kavango East Region, Namibia, so that efforts may be put to address
such. Interventions which have been put in place include universal large-scale
deployment of indoor residual spraying, distributing insecticide-treated bed nets and
treating with artemisinin-based combination therapy and many others. However, cases of
malaria morbidity and mortality in Andara District persisted. So, this research explored
deeper the major challenges faced by the communities in trying to control this endemic
disease in Andara District, Kavango region. This study used a mixed research design,
meaning that both quantitative and qualitative research methods were used in this study
to sufficiently capture the trends and details of the malaria situation in Andara District.
Stratified random sampling method was used to collect 360 respondents from the
population. A self-administered questionnaire and in-depth interviews were used to
collect data. The study found that factors that impede malaria elimination in Andara
District include limited research on traditional malaria prevention methods, uncontrolled
cross border migration, favorable environmental conditions, good climatic conditions,
resistance of mosquitos to insecticides and poor surveillance of malaria transmission
hotspots. The study also found that some barriers to mosquito control and prevention in
Andara District include the resistance of mosquitos to insecticides, shortage of nets and
sprays and shortage of healthcare workers. In light of these findings, it was
recommended that the Ministry of Health and Social Services should conduct
surveillance to collect, analyze, and interpret data related to malaria. The information
gathered should be used to inform the planning, implementation monitoring and
evaluation of malaria cases and fatalities. Surveillance may also help the country to track
evolving trends in malaria-related illnesses. It has also been recommended that the
government of Namibia should implement different interventions such as mass drug
administration, mass testing and treatment and mass relapse prevention in order to
reduce malaria transmission. The government should also implement targeted testing
and treatment, routine testing and treatment at points of entry and testing and treatment
of people coming to or returning from Andara District. Moreover, since this study was
limited to the Andara District, it has been recommended that further studies should be
carried out in all fourteen regions of Namibia in order to obtain findings that may be
applied to the entire countr
The role of school principals as instructional leaders in motivating teachers to enhance the teaching and learning process: A case of selected schools in the Kavango west region, Namibia
No full textA thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Education (Curriculum and Assessment Studies)The main aim of this research was to investigate the school principals’ role in
motivating teachers in the teaching and learning process using a case of selected
schools in the Kavango West Region, Namibia. There is a lack of motivation for
teachers to execute teaching and learning processes in the Kavango West Region. The
observed subpar academic standards in Namibia public schools may be linked to
inadequate motivations and management practices. The researcher made use of a
qualitative design approach, based on a case study. The researcher used non probability sampling which is purposive sampling. The total sample size consisted of
four principals who were interviewed separately, self-administrated open-ended
questionnaires were also used to collect data. From the findings, it was discovered that
the role of a principal in motivating the teachers is to provide them with teaching and
learning materials. Another finding is that teachers should be given verbal praise for
successful progress, competency or accomplishment. It was also revealed by the study
that principals are currently motivating teachers by providing them with teaching and
learning aids. The study showed that principals face challenges in trying to motivate
teachers such as teachers’ negative attitude, a challenge of novice teachers who
cannot copy and adapt to the teaching and learning process easily. The study,
therefore, recommends that principals should share decision-making power with
teachers. Workshops should also be conducted so that principals will be equipped with
strategies for motivating teachers. Schools should ensure that school environments are
conducive enough for teachers to be motivated in their job
Lived experiences of hospital-school teachers in Namibia
No full textA thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Education (Inclusive Education)This qualitative research study aimed to understand the roles and responsibilities of
Hospital-School Teachers in Namibia, and their impact on the support provided by the
Ministries of Education, Arts and Culture, Health and Social Services. The study also
assessed the extent to which establishments comprehend and acknowledge the
contributions of Hospital-School Teachers to both the health and education sectors. The
research involved eight participants, including two principals and six teachers from three
Hospital- Schools in Namibia. Data was collected through in-depth interviews and
journals. The findings revealed the multifaceted roles and responsibilities of Hospital
School Teachers in Namibia, emphasising their significance in providing education to
learners facing health challenges. The study highlighted the need for greater recognition
of the contributions made by Hospital-School Teachers to both the healthcare and
education sectors and identified areas where support could be more effectively aligned
with their unique needs and sacrifices.
The findings shed light on the critical role played by Hospital-School Teachers and the
challenges they face in delivering inclusive education to learners with health-related
issues. Their lived experiences hold valuable lessons for both teachers and teacher
preparation institutions, emphasising the importance of holistic training and support to
meet the diverse needs of learners in hospital settings.
The recommendations include collaboration between the Ministries of Education, Arts,
and Culture, and Health and Social Services, integration of Hospital-School teachers'
experiences into training programs, and further research into the challenges and
opportunities faced by Hospital-School Teachers to continually improve the educational
experiences of learners with health challenge