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Mathematical analysis of foot and mouth disease with optimal control: a case study of FMD in Namibia.
No full textA PROJECT SUBMITTED IN FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT
FOR THE AWARD OF THE DEGREE OF
MASTER OF SCIENCE (MSc.)This study aims to comprehensively analyse Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) by formulat ing two mathematical models specifically tailored for confined and unconfined environments
in Namibia. The models composed for this research incorporate essential compartments that
capture the intricate dynamics of livestock populations, including their susceptibility to FMD,
latent exposure, infectiousness, and recovery. Furthermore, the models account for the imple mentation of optimal control measures by farmers and the disease control mechanisms em ployed by national institutions such as the vaccination campaign, culling and quarantining of
livestock.
To ensure the stability and equilibrium of the proposed models, well-established mathemat ical principles such as the LaSalle Invariance principle, Lyapunov function and Routh-Hurwitz
stability analysis are utilized. These methods assist in determining the equilibrium points of
the models and assessing their stability properties. In addition, historical data on FMD reported
cases within the country is also incorporated to enhance the accuracy and applicability of the
models analyses.
The study utilises numerical simulations with an Ordinary Differential Equation (ODE) solver
in Python to demonstrate the impact of various scenarios of FMD progression. Furthermore,
an excel-input data sheet is created to facilitate basic analysis and to showcase the variability
range resulting from modifications in FMD dynamics.
By employing a combination of mathematical modelling, stability analysis, historical data
integration, and numerical simulations, this research provides significant insights into the be haviour and control of FMD in confined and unconfined environments in Namibia. The findings
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contribute to the existing knowledge of FMD in Namibia and provide insights that can inform
decision-making and policy formulation in combating this economically significant disease
A cognitive stylistics study of Ndinaelao Moses' Masked Warrior and Malakia Haimbangu's Complicated
No full textTHESIS PRESENTED IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ENGLISH AND APPLIED LINGUISTICS AT THE NAMIBIA UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
SUPERVISOR: PROF. HAILELEUL ZELEKE WOLDEMARIAMThe purpose of this study was to examine two Namibian authored texts titled Masked warrior by Ndinaelao Moses (2019) and Complicated by Malakia Haimbangu (2021) through cognitive stylistics. The study evaluated the language used to present anger in the novels. Lexical expressions of anger, figurative expressions, and features of discourse were also evaluated. The study applied the textual world theory as a theoretical framework for understanding and analysing the texts. A qualitative approach was used for data collection and analysis. The study findings revealed that anger has been used to manipulate and keep the readers interested in continuing to read the texts. It was further revealed that texts use dysphemism, euphemisms, repetition, personal pronouns, and other forms of derogatory language contributed to the building of the lexical expressions produced by the main characters. The study revealed that figurative expressions of language enhance anger statements to make them more provocative. Furthermore, the study revealed that anger discourse can be used to demonstrate arrogance, defensive actions, or remorseful attitude. The authors of both texts used various discursive techniques to propel the themes, linguistic elements, and characters as a way of producing texts that are relevant and more enjoyable to read. The study concluded that incorporating anger in writing texts engages readers as it relates to real-life situations. This was achieved through the roughening of characters. It was concluded that figurative expressions convey and simplify complicated messages that are difficult to understand. The study concluded that discourse plays a role in the construction of anger texts. The study recommends the use of other forms of language and grammatical expressions that align with Text World Theory, which emphasises the importance of creating a coherent and immersive fictional world through the use of linguistic and cognitive techniques. By using various linguistic expressions, authors can construct a text world that engages the reader's imagination and creates a vivid and memorable reading experience. In particular, the use of lexical expressions of anger can serve as a powerful tool for creating a narrative that entertains and captivates readers, while also conveying important social and moral messages
DESIGNING A BRING YOUR OWN DEVICE SECURITY AWARENESS MODEL FOR MOBILE DEVICE USERS IN NAMIBIAN ENTERPRISES
No full textThe phrase Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) also known as Dual-Use Devices is a mutual practice which has increased employees’ access to new mobile technologies and a rising trend within many organisations. The concept refers to employers allowing their employees to bring their personal mobile devices to workplaces and use them as their workstations. Enterprises are enjoying the benefits of BYOD, which allows them to cut operational costs as they do not need to purchase computers for their employees. Employees are enjoying the comfort and convenience offered by BYOD; however, this exposes organisations to security breaches. There is currently a lack of security awareness among mobile device users within enterprises against BYOD cyber threats. The situation has made it difficult for organisations to monitor the usage of resources among the mobile users towards protecting the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of corporate data. Moreover, cyber attackers see more potential with mobile devices as company and personal data get mixed up on such devices. Although the BYOD concept has not been formally implemented within the enterprise, it does not mean that the enterprise data is not prone to attackers. This study presents a BYOD Security Awareness Model designed following Design Science Research methods based on findings of a single case study conducted in one of the enterprises in Windhoek, Namibia. Qualitative research following the interpretivism philosophy was used. To select participants, purposeful random sampling method was used for this study. Data was collected using interviews, a questionnaire and through literature review. Furthermore, the study implemented the qualitative content analysis as the data analysis technique. The study identified malware and network spoofing as some of the BYOD related threats affecting the case enterprise. The researcher observed lack of end user awareness on BYOD security as a cause of BYOD related security threats. The study identified four main components of the model namely: BYOD threats, security awareness, policy and access control. The BYOD security awareness model will be a guideline to Namibian enterprises in creating BYOD security awareness among their mobile devices with the aim to safeguard the organisational data. Furthermore, the findings will also contribute to the new technology horizon of Namibia’s future BYOD security awareness by motivating enterprises to implement mechanisms that will protect the enterprise confidential information. Since Namibia is reported as one of the least ranked countries in Africa in terms of cyber security, the model is a guideline on how enterprises can create BYOD security awareness among users within their enterprises and improve their security posture as well as that of the nation. Additionally, the model will also contribute to the BYOD security awareness knowledge to researchers and practitioners through conference papers and thesis publication
An investigation into the pragmatic competence of the front-office trainees of Valombola Vocational Training Centre
No full textTHESIS PRESENTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR
THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ENGLISH AND APPLIED LINGUISTICS
AT
THE NAMIBIA UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOGY (NUST)
BY
FREDRICK MACGYVER NGHILINGANYE
STUDENT NUMBER: 219003440
JUNE 2023
SUPERVISOR: PROF. HAILELEUL ZELEKE WOLDEMARIAMThis investigation into the pragmatic competence of front-office trainees of Valombola VTC was conducted to analyse the trainees’ competence on formulation and realisation of request strategies, to evaluate their application of politeness principles in the speech act of refusal and apologetic responses and to examine the factors that influence their pragmatic competence. Systematic random sampling was utilised to select the study sample of 15 out of 30 front-office trainees from the Hospitality Department’s 2022 academic year’s intake. Two sets of instruments were used to collect data – a Written Discourse Completion Tasks (WDCT), and a questionnaire. Data on the students’ pragmatic competence was qualitatively and quantitatively analysed. The findings of the study suggest that, in terms of the speech act of refusal, the trainees’ pragmatic competence was at 30%, a significantly low level. This means that, the front-office trainees demonstrated a lack of pragmatic competence in terms of the speech act of request responses, apologies and refusal strategy. Considering the three speech acts of request, apologies and refusal results, their levels of pragmatic competence was observed to be somewhat low, as they also indicated even in the questionnaire that they preferred using their vernacular language when socialising. In addition, the findings indicate that the trainees use different refusal responses, and apology strategies that lack politeness. Lastly, the findings demonstrate that there are some underlying factors that influence pragmatic competence, and these include misinterpretation of pragmatic implicature, educational background, low level of daily activities using English. Ultimately, English for Specific Purposes focusing on pragmatic competence was recommended for the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector in general and for front-office trainees in particular
Language as an instrument of hegemony in selected Namibian plays written in English
No full textJournal articleReproducing hegemony and strengthening patriarchy, Namibian playwrights present women who are groomed to be good wives and mothers in some selected Namibian plays. Because of these cultural and societal expectations and practices, women assume reproductive roles and responsibilities without much remonstration. Men, on the other side, assume that women’s place is at home and that men’s place is outside home, which limits the participation of women outside home and men at home (Husselmann, 2016). Capitalizing on this simple argument and unlocking language as an instrument of hegemony, the main objective of this article is to answer few fundamental questions: Do Namibian playwrights practise derogatory language against Namibian women in the plays? Is language an instrument of hegemony and discrimination in Namibian plays? Where does this language hegemony originate? Theorizing and answering these basic questions, the article follows a feminist stylistics theoretical framework, an interpretivist paradigm, an explanatory design, and a qualitative research approach. Purposively, we selected two Namibian plays: Francis Sifiso Nyathi’s God of Women (2012) and Keamogetsi Joseph Molapong’s The Woman and the Ogre (2002). The key purpose of the article is to find out how Namibian playwrights use language to represent and characterise women. The article also argues that both Nyathi (1998) and Molapong (2002) used language to present women as inferior to men in their plays. Nyathi (2012) employed language persuasively to characterise women as victims of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse in the hands of their husbands within the Namibian marriage system and set ups. Similarly, we also argue that Molapong (2002) presented women characters negatively as dependent on their fathers. Molapong used language to portray women characters as beauty goddesses who are praised based on how beautiful they are, therefore, reducing and fragmenting their worth to appearances. Both playwrights used a wide range of linguistic devices such as metaphors and other figures of speech to characterise gender roles that are expected of women such as being domestic workers, providing sexual pleasures to their husbands as well as working in the fields to provide food for their families. In these plays, language is a strong instrument of economic hegemony. The article concludes that both Nyathi and Molapong largely practised language to characterise women negatively and Sara Mill’s Feminist Stylistic Theory (1995) is successful in unpacking these hidden assumptions, practices and hegemonies
Assessment of the Carbon Pool at ProNamib Nature Reserve (PNNR),
No full textThesis submitted in fulfillment/partial fulfillment of the requirements for the
degree of Master of Natural Resources Management at the Namibia University of
Science and Technology.Climate change in many African regions, including Namibia, is projected to get worse in the coming
decennia. The consequences will mostly affect communities living in rural areas (especially in semi-arid
and arid areas) as they depend on agriculture for livelihood. Poor land uses combined with drought, flood
or low precipitation can eventually lead to hunger and a collapsed economy. But it is believed that global
drylands have the potential to sequester carbon of about 1000 teragram (1000 Tg C yrꟷ¹), if the dryland
soil and biodiversity are restored. This study took place in the ProNamib Nature Reserve (PNNR) and
neighbouring livestock farms (Eckberg and Houmoed). The area is semi-arid with localised rainfall. The
study’s objectives were to define the appropriate methods for determining the carbon stock in arid
environments; to map and investigate the spatial pattern of the carbon stock at PNNR (ProNamib Nature
Reserve) and compare that with the neighbouring livestock farm, and lastly; to investigate the key drivers
of the carbon stock at PNNR and compare that with the neighbouring livestock farm. Carbon in drylands
is found in different carbon pools, namely: vegetation (woody plants and herbaceous), soil and litter. We
assessed carbon stock in three carbon pools (woody plants, herbaceous vegetation and soil). The study
area was divided into three land management units, based on prior and current land uses (livestock
farming abandoned in 2018, abandoned in 2000 and current livestock farming), and further stratified into
habitats (river, mountain and grassplain). Data were collected using a stratified random sampling method
in QGIS. Each management unit was allocated 30 sampling plots (ten per habitat), which totalled up to 90
sampling plots. The plots were 500m² in size for woody species, four one m² quadrats for herbaceous
species and soil was collected at the centre of each plot up to a 30cm depth. Allometric equations were
used to estimate the aboveground and belowground woody carbon stock. Herbaceous dry biomass was
weighted, while the soil was analysed with the dry combustion/LOI method in the soil lab. These are
among the methods that many researchers favour the most based on literature review. This study
concluded that the soil carbon pool stores 90% of the carbon in the ProNamib area. The highest total
carbon stock among habitats is recorded in the mountain (22 tonnes ha¯¹). In terms of management units,
the ‘’livestock’’ unit has the highest carbon stock in the area (21 tonnes ha¯¹), the second highest is
recorded in the ‘’abandoned in 2018’’ unit (18 tonnes ha¯¹), while the lowest carbon stock in the area is
found in the ‘’abandoned in 2000’’ with 16 tonnes ha¯¹. This study serves as a pilot study for long-term
carbon monitoring projects in the arid areas of Namibia and as a carbon baseline in the ProNamib
A first syntaxonomic description of the vegetation of the Karstveld in Namibia.
No full textAims: The Karstveld in Namibia has been recognized as an area of high plant diversity. However, this area is also recog nised as a hotspot of various forms of degradation including bush encroachment. Minimal baseline data on the compo sition and diversity of vegetation in this area is available, therefore this paper is a first attempt to rectify this data defi ciency. Study area: The Karstveld in Namibia is formed around the Otavi Mountain Range in northern Central Namibia,
consisting of strongly karstified carbonate bedrock, rising up to 2000 m a.s.l. The Karstveld includes the Ovambo Basin
plains with shallow calcrete soils north of the range, up to the Omuramba Ovambo. Because of orographic effects, the
area receives some of the highest rainfall in Namibia, with up to 600 mm per year. Methods: A set of 889 relevés with
868 species was selected from the GVID ID AF-NA-001 database. A partial data set, using trees, shrubs, dwarf shrubs
and grasses only, was used for the classification with modified TWINSPAN. The initial result yielded four main groups,
according to which the data was split and further classified. Several vegetation types observed during field surveys were
not reflected in the classification results; these were refined using Cocktail with known characteristic species. Results:
The four main units represented wetlands and grasslands with six associations, a Thornbush savanna – Karstveld tran sition zone with four associations, Kalahari vegetation with four associations and the Karstveld proper with eight asso ciations. The latter are grouped together as the Terminalietea prunioides, with two orders and three alliances recognised
under them. We describe 16 associations according to the ICPN. Conclusions: Although the associations presented in
this paper are clearly defined, there exists a high degree of diversity within these. The Karstveld is also extraordinary
species rich within the context of the arid to semi-arid Namibian environment.
Taxonomic reference: Klaassen and Kwembeya (2013) for vascular plants, with the exception of the genus Acacia s.l.
(Fabaceae), for which Kyalangalilwa et al. (2013) was followed.
Abbreviations: ga = annual grass; gp = perennial grass; GPS = Global Positioning System, referring to a hand-held
ground receiver; hl = herb layer, containing all hemicryptophytes, therophytes and geophytes, but excluding grasses
(Poaceae); ICPN = International Code of Phytosociological Nomenclature (Theurillat et al. 2021); MAP = mean annual
precipitation; NMS = nonmetric multidimensional scaling (Kruskal 1964); RDL = Red Data List (IUCN Species Survival
Commission 2001); s1 = tall shrubs, i.e. multi-stemmed phanerophytes between 1 and 5 m; s2 = short shrubs, i.e. cha maephytes or ‘dwarf shrubs’ below 1 m; SOTER = Global and National Soils and Terrain Digital Database (FAO 1993);
t1 = tall trees, > 10 m; t2 = short trees, between 5 and 10 m; t3 = low trees, i.e. single-stemmed phanerophytes between
2 and 5 m; TWINSPAN = Two Way Indicator Species Analysis (Roleček et al. 2009); WGS84 = World Geodetic System,
1984 ensembl
Analysing the trade of meat products between Namibia and SADC countries
No full textA thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Agribusiness Management at the Namibia University of Science and Technology.The study examines the trade in meat products between Namibia and SADC countries. Cross-section data from the UN COMTRADE, Namibia Statistic Agency (NSA), and CEPII for 2000-2020 was used. To achieve the aim of the study, estimation from the gravity model, Stochastic Frontier Analysis (SFA), specifically using Error Components Frontier with a fixed effects model (assumes country specific and time-invariant inefficiencies), The Trade Intensity index (TII) was adopted to estimate the products that have a major effect on Namibia’s meat trade with SADC countries. Technical Efficiency Effects Frontier (fixed effects model) was used to estimate Namibia's potential trade with other SADC countries. The study established a strong positive relationship between real GDP and trade. A positive coefficient was found between the population and trade. However, distance had a negative correlation coefficient. The estimates for the real GDP coefficient are statistically significant, with a level of at least 5%. The positive and significant coefficient of real GDP implied that Namibia's trade value increased with the partner countries. The distance estimate was negative, as predicted by gravity theory. According to this finding, the greater the distance between Namibia and its trading partners, the less likely they are to trade. This variable is a proxy for transportation and other trade costs, such as communication and transaction costs. Because of this, the price increases with distance.
In other words, trade volume between Namibia and its SADC members decreases proportionately as distance increases. Namibia's trade intensity trend in meat products has been on the rise from 2000 until 2020. In addition, the study shows that Namibia has performed relatively poorly and has a significant trade potential. The mean trade efficiency in meat products between Namibia and SADC countries is estimated to be approximately 22%. Mean technical efficiency shows interesting results as some SADC countries with a low percentage of trade efficiency tend to have strong potential for export growth for Namibia’s exports of meat products. Furthermore, Trade efficiency is more than 50% for DRC, Zimbabwe, and Botswana; however, it is less than 50% for most SADC countries. Based on the distance and size of economies, SADC offers export market opportunities for Namibia’s meat products. To understand the determinants of trade and relationships, it is crucial that the study advises conducting additional research to assess the competitiveness of Namibia’s meat products in the markets in the SADC region, identify and attempt to resolve trade impediments in the SADC region, evaluate the complete liberalization of trade in the agricultural sector and other sectors that contribute to the GDP of the country
A comparative critical discourse analysis of Affirmative Repositioning and Popular Democratic Movement Youth League position papers on youth empowerment
No full textTHESIS PRESENTED IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ENGLISH AND APPLIED LINGUISTICS AT THE NAMIBIA UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (NUST)
SUPERVISOR: DR MAX MHENE
April 2023This study focused on critical discourse analysis in the position papers issued by the Affirmative Repositioning Movement (AR) and Popular Democratic Movement Youth League (PDMYL). Specifically, the study examined language use relating to youth empowerment issues. The overall objective of this research was to study the implications of language use by AR and PDMYL, including an attempt to understand their ideological stance. To achieve this overall objective, the study addressed the following specific objectives; to analyse the textual presentation of the two political formations, to describe how nominalisation and passivation are utilised in the textual presentation by the two formations and also to determine political rhetoric strategies dominantly used by the two political formations to maintain their narrative in the public domain. This was a qualitative study that adopted a constructivist worldview. As a desktop study, a case study design was used. The study population comprised position papers issued in the public domain by the two formations, and a sample consisting of ten (10) press releases was drawn, with five (5) from each. The statements were analysed at the sentence and syntax levels, looking at the semantic context of each sentence.
The analysis of the first objective indicates that AR has used illocutionary act type consisting of Assertives, Commissives and Expressives. The least utilised illocutionary act type is Declaratives. In comparison, the majority of the PDMYL statements comprise Assertives, Directives, and Commissives. Similar to AR, the least used type of illocutionary act is the Declaratives.
For the second objective, the results revealed that PDMYL was found to have used nominalisation in most instances than AR. However, with passivisation, the study showed that AR had utilised more passivised forms than PDMYL.
Lastly, the dominant rhetoric strategies used by AR include praises, attacks and criticisms and inclusive language. Other strategies included emotional appeal and general metaphors. As for PDMYL, the results showed that it utilised attacks and criticisms, praises and evidence.
The study made recommendations based on the outcome of the results, emphasising the need to use contemporary terminologies and language that is in keeping with the youth and the utilisation of less nominalised and passivised forms so that political promises are direct and easily accountable
A phytosociological classification of the vegetation of etosha heights private game reserve, Namibia.
No full textThesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of
Master of Natural Resources Management at the Namibia University of Science
and TechnologyThe description of vegetation becomes more and more important for land management in the face of
global climate change. In this thesis a description of the vegetation of Etosha Heights Private Game
Reserve (EHGR) and its condition thereof is given. The study was conducted at Etosha Heights Private
Game Reserve in the Kunene region. The reserve is a collection of ten previously cattle farms adjacent to
the southern border of the Etosha National Park in Namibia. It forms part of the Angolan Mopane
Woodlands, with extensive Karst elements in the form of Dolomite ridges. The study area receives on
average 300 – 350 mm MAP. The reserve was stratified according to terrain features identified on aerial
images, aided by an SRTM digital terrain model. 192 plots were sampled across all initial stratification
units using the Braun-Blanquet method. These relevés were classified with modified TWINSPAN using a
synusial approach. In addition, samples of top soil were collected and analysed for chemical and physical
properties. Environmental characteristics of each relevé were subjected to a Non-metric multidimensional
scaling (NMS) ordination to understand correlations between species composition and environmental
characteristics. From the initial vegetation classification, two major vegetation units of higher
syntaxonomic ranking were identified, split and further analysed separately which then subdivided into
11 associations. Altitude, slope, sand, silt and clay are the major descriptors of these vegetation units. A
comparison of these associations with existing vegetation descriptions for the Etosha National Park and
other studies done of the Mopane veld is done. With this descriptive work, knowledge about natural
vegetation in the under-sampled arid Mopane savanna in the Kunene Region of Namibia is expandin