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Socio-economic outcomes of Zimbabwe’s Fast Track Land Redistribution Programme, with specific reference to economic performance and productive efficiency: the new institutional economics perspective
No full textA thesis submitted to the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Art in the department of Development Studies at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 2022.Land reform and distribution programmes are largely centred on policy paradigm shifts,
that reflect a set of policy-related assumptions, values, concepts, and practices. The
Zimbabwe land restitution, distribution, and restoration has raised a lot of controversy due
to it’s aims, how it was implemented and for what purpose. This study focused on the
Fast Track Land Reform Programme’s socio-economic outcomes based on the New
Institutional Economics perspective. A mixed research approach was preferred for this
study because of the nature of the inquiry that was being undertaken. The researcher
meant to source people’s ideas and opinions on the socio-economic outcomes of the
Fast-Track Land Redistribution Programme in Idhladhla and Kippure-Iram resettlement
schemes in the Masvingo Province in Zimbabwe as a result of the infusion of the
qualitative aspect of study into the predominantly quantitative study was deemed
necessary because of the nature of the study. The main findings of the study revealed
that sustainable livelihoods and poverty reduction play a critical functional role in
influencing policy advocacy for the transformation of the rural communities through land
reforms. Of particular note was the significant contribution of the membership to
cooperatives whose primary goal is to enhance the productive efficiency of the allocated
farming land and enhance the sustainable livelihoods of the land beneficiaries. On the
other hand, while the 99-year leases entitled land beneficiaries to some rights over the
allocated land such as rights to earn income from the farming activities the challenge is
that the leases are not bankable. Nonetheless, this study concluded that the Fast-Track
Land Redistribution Programme has a significant positive impact on the rural livelihoods
of the land beneficiaries. The livelihoods of the land beneficiaries have improved
dramatically compared to the times they were residing in crowded communal lands that
the colonial masters had condemned them to
The effect of acid mixtures on biomass cellulose poly (Furfuryl) alcohol nanocomposites
Get PDFA dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Science and Agriculture in fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master Of Science in the Department of Chemistry at the University Of Zululand, 2022.Recently, extraction of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) via acid hydrolysis using sulphuric acid has been intensively studied. Moreover, the use of sulphuric acid requires shorter hydrolysis time, while producing stable suspensions with high yield and crystallinity. However, it results in CNCs with lower thermal stability and higher aggregation due to the presence of sulphate ions. Hence, the overall aim of this study is to extract CNCs using mixture of acids and compare its morphology and thermal properties with sulphuric acid hydrolysed CNCs. In addition, the extracted CNCs were encapsulated in a poly (furfural) alcohol (PFA) matrix via in situ polymerization process in the presence of P-toluene sulfonic acid as a catalyst to produce cellulose PFA nanocomposites. Furthermore, the study investigates the effect of mixed acid concentration on the morphology, crystallinity and thermal properties. Varying concentrations of 45%, 55% and 65% H2SO4/HClO4 hydrolysed CNCs were studied. In conclusion, the study investigated and compared the thermal and morphology of green extracted CNCs and acetylated CNCs. The properties of raw biomass, extracted cellulose, extracted CNCs, and nanocomposites were analysed by Fourier transformed infrared (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermogravimetric analyser (TGA).
H2SO4/HNO4 and H2SO4/HCl hydrolysed CNC/PFA nanocomposites showed the highest crystallinity while H2SO4/H3PO4 and H2SO4/HClO4 hydrolysed CNC/PFA nanocomposites showed highest thermal stability. The surface breakage and cracked PFA nanocomposite surface observed in SEM was dependent on the strength of acids used to hydrolysed CNCs. H2SO4/HClO4 hydrolysed CNC/PFA displayed good dispersion of CNCs in the PFA matrix with no observed surface breakage. With regards to the effect of mixed acid concentration, 55% H2SO4/HClO4 hydrolysed CNCs showed the highest crystallinity and thermal stability while 65% H2SO4/HClO4 hydrolysed CNCs showed the least thermal stability. SEM results showed fiber breakage for 65% H2SO4/HClO4 hydrolysed CNCs which proved to be acid concentration dependent. In conclusion, the acetylated CNCs showed higher crystallinity compared to the green extracted CNCs with evidence of allomorph transformation from cellulose I to cellulose II on the acetylated CNCs. In addition, the acetylated CNCs showed lower thermal stability compared to the green extracted CNCs. SEM also showed a structural transformation upon acetylation of CNCs from a rod like fiber to a crystal-like structure
Exploring the Role of Traditional Medicinal Practitioners in the use of Indigenous Knowledge Methods for the Treatment and Management of HIV/AIDS-related Symptoms: A Case Study of Keates the Drift Community in the Province of KwaZulu-Natal
Get PDFSubmitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Master of Arts in Community Work in the Department of Social Work of the Faculty of Arts at the University of Zululand.It is widely accepted that Africa consumes over 80% of indigenous knowledge (IK) for medical purposes, including the treatment and management of diseases and other illnesses. Due to its accessibility and affordability, Africans continue to rely on and use traditional medicine. This study defined traditional medicinal knowledge as the use of local knowledge in medicine to diagnose, prevent, or eliminate physical and mental problems that community members suffer from to ensure that their conditions are treated and managed. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of traditional medicinal practitioners in KwaZulu-Natal Province in the use of indigenous knowledge methods for the treatment and management of HIV/AIDS-related symptoms. Four (4) research objectives guided the study, which examined the sorts of traditional medicinal practitioners, the indigenous knowledge of medicinal plants used to treat and manage illnesses such as HIV/AIDS, and the obstacles faced by traditional medicinal practitioners in treating and managing HIV/AIDS. This study was guided by Asante's Afrocentric model (1998). This hypothesis was used because it recognises and values indigenous knowledge's use of medicinal plants to cure and manage ailments. The interpretive paradigm guided the study procedure. The study employed a qualitative methodology and a case study approach. The data were gathered using a combination of semi-structured interviews and content analysis. To estimate the sample size and frame of traditional medical practitioners from the Keates Drift Community in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, nonprobability sampling approaches such as purposive and snowball sampling were used. A total of 12 traditional medicine practitioners in the Keates Drift Community in the province of KwaZulu-Natal were interviewed. The study's findings indicated that traditional medicinal practitioners reside in the Keates Drift Community, where they display their abilities in, and knowledge of, traditional medicine. Additionally, the findings indicated that traditional medicinal practitioners enjoy widespread respect in the community and are regarded as community physicians. The findings also indicated that diviners (Izangoma) and herbalists are the two categories of traditional medical practitioners found in the Keates Drift Community (Izinyanga). Additionally, traditional herbalists and diviners used medicinal herbs to treat and manage HIV/AIDS related illnesses. Notably, the findings indicated that plant parts such as leaves, barks, stems, and roots were used to treat HIV/AIDS-related illnesses. It was determined that traditional medicinal practitioners did not use human or animal parts to treat illnesses, but instead relied on plants, as the use of human or animal parts is prohibited. vi Concerning the difficulties experienced by traditional medicinal practitioners, the findings indicated that there is no collaboration between them and modern physicians, and that traditional medicinal practitioners are not treated similarly to modern physicians. The study concluded that it is critical to treat traditional healers with respect and to provide them with adequate space to treat and manage HIV/AIDS-related illnesses
Teaching English home language to foundation phase learners from diverse backgrounds
Get PDFBackground: Teaching English as home language (EHL) could be a complicated process in a
country like South Africa, where there are eleven official languages operating in a multicultural
society. This requires capacitating teachers with appropriate and relevant strategies to
strengthen their teaching, especially in the foundation phase.
Aim: This paper examines the appropriateness and relevance of the extant strategies for
teaching EHL comprehension skills to foundation phase learners from diverse language
backgrounds.
Setting: This study was conducted in King Cetshwayo District, KwaZulu-Natal,
South Africa.
Methods: This was a qualitative case study involving four purposively selected grade one
teachers in one urban primary in South Africa. Data were gathered through in-depth interviews,
field observations and document analysis. Content analysis was used to analyse the data.
Results: The two main findings were that (a) the teaching of EHL comprehensions skills lacked
the appropriate strategies, and (b) the teachers faced several challenges – including operating
under an unclear policy framework, the paucity of strategies in phonological awareness, and
the lack of appropriate reflection images to which the learners could be exposed to improve
their skills.
Conclusion: The study concludes that adequate and regular professional teacher development
programmes and activities are needed to enable teachers to do their work more effectively.
Contribution: By closely and systematically examining the strategies used by teachers who
were non-native English speakers, to teach EHL to leaners who were also non-native English
speakers, this study has made important contributions to both attendant theory and classroom
practice
Brief Report: Gender‑Based Stereotypical Roles of Parents Caring for Autistic Children in Nigeria and South Africa
Get PDFBrief Report: Gender‑Based Stereotypical Roles of Parents Caring for Autistic Children in Nigeria and South AfricaIn Nigeria and South Africa, women often have less voice and are less visible given cultural norms and related gender stereotypes. It is important to understand parents’ gender roles in the context of caregiving for children with autism spectrum disorder because inequality in caregiving roles may influence the health of children with autism and that of their parents. We explored the lived caregiving experiences of male and female parents with autistic children in Nigeria (n=15) and
South Africa (n=10) using structured and unstructured questionnaire. Results showed that women often experienced stress in relationship to multiple and substantial caregiving roles while men commonly limited their caregiving roles based on a patriarchal ideology related to their culture
Re`nyi holographic dark energy models in teleparallel gravity
No full textRe`nyi holographic dark energy models in teleparallel gravityIn this paper, we have investigated the physical behavior of cosmological models in the framework of modified Teleparallel gravity. This model is established using a Renyi holographic “dark energy model (RHDE) with a Hubble cutoff. Here we have considered a homogeneous and isotropic Friedman universe filled with perfect ‘fluid. The physical parameters are derived for the present model in Compliances with 43 observational Hubble data sets (OHD). The equation of state (EoS) parameter in terms of H ( z ) describes a the transition of the universe between phantom and non-phantom phases in the context of f ( T ) gravity. Our model shows the violation of strong energy condition (SEC) and the weak energy condition (WEC) over the accelerated phantom regime. We also observed that these models occupy freezing regions through ω D − ω ′D plane. Consequently, our Renyi HDE model is supported to the consequences of general relativity in the framework of f ( T ) modified gravity
Identifying Risk Management Strategies of Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises in Retail and Manufacturing Industries in UMhlathuze Municipality
Get PDFA dissertation submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Commerce in Business Management, University of Zululand, South AfricaSmall, Medium and Micro Enterprises are usually seen as an important tool for improving living standard. Considering the importance of SMMEs to economic growth, job creation and poverty alleviation, there is a need to train small business owners and managers and to expose them to risk management strategies that will promote businesses and reduce high failure rate. SMMEs are lacking when it comes to risk management knowledge and skills, which contributes to their high failure rate. In addition, South African education system is lacking when it comes to educating and training SMMEs on how to run their businesses successfully, especially exposing small business to risk management strategies for them to be able to respond to different kinds of risks. Given this background, this study sought to identify risks management strategies for SMMEs in retail and manufacturing industry focusing on uMhlathuze Municipality. The researcher used primary data for this study. The study adopted a qualitative method approach where data was collected through semi-structured interviews. Purposive sampling was used to select 12 SMMEs of uMhlathuze Municipality: 6 from the manufacturing and 6 from the retail industry. Data collected from the participants was coded and analysed using themes and content analyses The results from the study showed that the risks faced by SMMEs negatively impact daily activities of small businesses and it also results in poor performance on SMMEs. Such risks include financial risk, resource risk, credit risk, reputation risk, inflation risk, and corona virus. Therefore, there is a need to assist SMMEs and improve their growth, as it was found that the strategies, they used to be inadequate in mitigating the identified risks. Whilst all SMMEs involved in this study reported to be faced with risks, not all of them had specific risk management strategies in place to deal with such. However, it was found that among the risk’s management strategies used by some SMMEs to fight risks are publicity and re-organizing. Use of private security, alerting customers about the price increase to ensure that they don’t get a shock or prices when purchases, insisting on deposit payments and sticking to cash transactions were some of the strategies used. Fewer SMMEs have insurance for their assets. Additionally, some of the selected SMMEs attribute their survival to getting sponsorship from government and private sector, and access to credit markets through short term loans. Sequel to the findings of the study, it is recommended that SMMEs should be given more assistance in education and training in terms of the different kinds of risks they are facing. 7 | P a g e Also, they need to be assisted with proper and quality strategies capable of keeping businesses protected and secured from risks, that will reduce risks
Debriefing hermeneutics for a balanced reading of the biblical text
No full textAfrican biblical hermeneutics; black biblical hermeneutics; contextual biblical hermeneutics; science of interpretation; oral hermeneuticIn this study, it is argued that the trust of previous (and existing) hermeneutical approaches of promoting ancient biblical texts as applicable to the everyday life of contemporary readers is not only imaginable but also too ambitious. The Hebrew Bible emerged from an Israelite cultural context, which neither speaks to nor deliberates on issues concerning the African cultural contexts. The present essay utilises a narrative approach comprising three main overtures. Firstly, some examples of previous contributions on hermeneutics will be discussed. Secondly, this study interrogates the legitimacy of employing African biblical hermeneutics that utilises ancient Jewish texts as applicable to African societies today. Thirdly and finally, the study will critically appraise for a balanced reading of the biblical text.
Contribution: The present study aims at engaging (debriefing) existing hermeneutical contributions towards proposing a balanced reading of the biblical text. In order to achieve that goal, the study engages into a dialogue following hermeneutical approaches, which are popular amongst most African scholars, namely African biblical hermeneutics, black biblical hermeneutics, contextual biblical hermeneutics, feminist hermeneutics and oral hermeneutics
Prevalence of Suicidal Tendencies and Associated Risk Factors among Nigerian University Students: A Quantitative Survey
Get PDFPrevalence of Suicidal Tendencies and Associated Risk Factors among Nigerian University Students: A Quantitative SurveyObjective: Using a quantitative survey research approach, this study aims to investigate some risk factors associated with suicidal tendencies among undergraduate students in Nigeria. There is concern by society about the recent reported increased rate of suicide among undergraduate students in Nigeria Methods: A multistage sampling method was used to select 2 100 undergraduate students in South West Nigeria. A questionnaire consisting of indices of suicidal tendencies was used to collect data and logistic regression was employed as a statistical tool. Results and Discussion: Findings suggest that 151 (7.5%) of the respondents with risk factors such as alcoholism (OR = 1.02, {1.01–1.04}) and helplessness (OR = 1.04, {1.01–1.06}) reported strong and significant association (p 0.05). This study concludes that there is a slight prevalence of suicidal tendencies among undergraduate students, and that there is a need to introduce suicidal prevention education into the university curriculum as a way of containing the prevalence of suicide among adolescents and youths. Conclusion: For individuals identified with suicidal tendencies, studies should focus on the development of psychosocial interventions that can be used, such as counselling by psychologists and public health and social health workers. In the interim, urgent regular suicide awareness and prevention programs are suggested
Innovative educational practices in the post covid19 era in South African rural schools in pursuit of quality teaching and learning.
Get PDFInnovative educational practices in the post covid19 era in South African rural schools in pursuit of quality teaching and learning.The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic in the global world, which started in
Wuhan, China in December 2019 grounded social activities globally. The school
system was severely affected and shut down. Schools all over the world adopted
various digital technologies to continue teaching and learning. This study explored
changes in teaching and learning, with the influence of ICT in the education system
as well as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the education system. Thus,
providing insight into the future of teachers’ usage of Information and
Communication Technologies (ICT) successfully in South Africa’s public rural
schools. The study employed an interpretive qualitative design to collect data from
10 purposively selected rural school principals from the Ilembe District of KwazuluNatal province. Audio-recorded semi-structured interviews were thematically
analysed to present and discuss findings for the study. It was established that
teachers are prepared to continue using digital learning strategy, artificial
intelligence, information management, social interaction, mobile technology, and
other measures, which were introduced during COVID-19 for teaching and learning
in post-pandemic. The study, therefore, suggests adequate and regular training on
online classroom instructional delivery should be designed by the Department of
Basic Education, to support teachers, while teachers should also be provided laptops
and data bundles