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No full textA guidelineHealth Transition Fund
Canadian International
Sweden
UK Aid
WHO
Irish Ai
Modelling the spatial pattern of forest fires using NDVI and land surface temperature in Southern African landscapes
No full textIn this study we used maxent to test whether; and for which month of the growing season
SPOT derived normalized difference vegetation index (SPOT NDVI) data can be used to
predict fire occurrence in August, September and October (AUC>0.5). We also tested
whether and for which time of the day MSG SEVIRI derived land surface temperature (MSG
SEVIRI LST) data can be used to predict forest fire occurrence. Results of receiver operating
characteristic (ROC) curve show that both NDVI and land surface temperature data have high
predictive capacity for forest fire occurrence (AUC>0.5). Furthermore, our results of jacknife
of regularized training gain for fire show that March NDVI data significantly predict fires
that occur in August and September while April NDVI data significantly predict fires that
occur in October and mid-day temperatures (1200-1300pm) are important in predicting fire
occurrence
A guide to Administrative Law and Local Government Law in Zimbabwe
No full textThis Guide provides a basic introduction to the Administrative Law of Zimbabwe. It gathers together all the important Zimbabwean cases on the various aspects of Administrative Law. It will be a useful reference work for both law students and legal practitioners.
There is presently no comprehensive textbook on Zimbabwean Administrative Law. However, in South Africa there are now numerous textbooks on this subject. These include: L.A. Rose Innes Judicial Review of Administrative Tribunals in South Africa (1963), L. Baxter Administrative Law (1984). (Hoexter produced an update to Baxter’s book in 1991 – Supplement to Baxter’s Administrative Law.); Cockram Administrative Law (1976); the section on Administrative Law by M. Wiechers in Vol. 1 of The Law of South Africa (1976); Wiechers Administrative Law (1985); Burns Workbook for Administrative Law (Butterworths 1999); Administrative Law and Justice in South Africa Devenish, Govender and Hulme (2001); Y Burns Administrative Law under the 1996 Constitution (2nd edition Butterworths 2003); de Ville Judicial Review of Administrative Law in South Africa (2003); C. Hoexter Administrative Law in South Africa (Juta 2007).
As English Administrative Law has also influenced Zimbabwean Administrative Law, the leading English texts on this subject are also useful reference works for Zimbabwean purposes.
This Guide is subdivided into two main segments. The first part deals with Administrative Law All the major legislation on Administrative Law such as the Administrative Justice Act and the Administrative Court Act is set out in full for reference purposes. The second part deals with Local Government Law.Flotoe G
NURTURING LATENT ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND THE GROWTH OF SMALL FIRMS IN ZIMBABWE: A case study of Harare Metropolitan Province
No full textThe phenomenon of small firms located in industrial clusters is widespread in many countries, particularly in Italy, Brazil, Mexico, Peru and India as well as in some African countries such as Kenya, Tanzania and Ghana. These firms have made significant inroads on the global supply chain for various products such as fashion consumer goods, shoes, garments, precision surgical instruments and construction tiles. The purpose of this study was to determine the extent and significance of small-firm clustering in Zimbabwe and the factors that contribute to the growth and dynamism of the firms in these clusters with a view to recommending ways in which entrepreneurship among these firms could be nurtured further. The cluster was modeled as an Entrepreneurial Technological Regime wherein it was proposed that the growth and success of the firms depended on the existence of an enabling environment which allowed the constant acquisition and diffusion of knowledge (technological capabilities). The study used a questionnaire that was distributed to a sample of 608 small furniture manufacturing firms selected from a population of 2 144 firms located in clusters in the five major cities of Zimbabwe. The study also used results from focus group discussions and interviews with owner-managers of firms at the Glenview cluster in Harare. The study arrived at there conclusions: the firms in Zimbabwe‟s clusters are micro-enterprises (very small entities) that are “isolated” in that they lack access to new technology and capital;
the firms are, however, worthy candidates for policy intervention because they possess various collective attributes that place them at an advantage over other SMEs; and
the clusters possess the characteristics of complex adaptive systems (phenomena with emergent properties), therefore any policy interventions would be more effective if they
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were directed at the cluster as a whole or groups of firms within the cluster rather than at individual firms.
The study therefore recommended that measures be taken to attract long-term capital (debt and equity) into the cluster by introducing the firms to the capital markets and also bring in new technological capabilities from outside the cluster by forging technical alliances between the firms in the cluster and other firms outside the cluster. This should be done within a framework that fosters a strong private-public partnership in which the private sector takes the leading role and involves the participation of the cluster members and the local authority
eLearning for a Developing Economy
No full texteLearning, although not entirely new, has taken on a renewed form and focus with the advent
of new technologies like Web 2.0 which allow for easier collaboration and the growth of social
media. As with any new technology being introduced into a very traditional formal sector like
Education, there are a number of barriers to ICT in education and the progress is cautiously
slow. In addition outcomes of eLearning are very different from traditional outcomes and are
difficult to measure with the current techniques, which further complicates or distracts from
implementation and the evaluation.
Advocates of eLearning need to embrace that this is complimentary to current educational
techniques and should be intended to enhance a learners experience and not completely
replace it. Opponents need to appreciate that the new technology is able to assist in producing
better equipped students with new 21st Century skills, at the same time opening a learner to a
more global perspective.
Developing Economies stand to gain significant benefits in advancing their education sector
with the correct and careful implementation of eLearning structures. Although much of the
focus for eLearning implementation is on access to technology, there are a number of other
factors that have to be considered to effectively implement an eLearning program;
1. Shared Vision and Policies aligned to social and economic desired impacts
2. 21st Century Pedagogy requirements
3. Foundational ICT Skills
4. Curriculum Framework
5. Contingency Planning
6. Skilled Personnel and continued professional development
7. Suitable equipment
8. Technical Support
9. Assessment and Evaluation
eLearning is essential for a developing country. The process requires a long term plan and
commitment but the end result could allow us to not only leap-frog but surpass other countries
in having adequately prepared graduates for the 21st Century
Morbidity changes between HIV unexposed uninfected and HIV exposed uninfected children in Harare –a secondary data analysis
No full textBackground: Optimising the survival of HIV exposed uninfected (HEU) infants is a major challenge. There is a significant swift increase in the HEU population due to the introduction of the highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Infections may be more severe in the HEU children as compared to their HIV unexposed uninfected (HUU) counterparts. Longitudinal studies give an understanding of the morbidity patterns in HEU children and possible factors associated with the observed morbidity differences between HEU and HUU can be explained through a longitudinal model. Broadly, this study aims to assess morbidity trends and factors associated with change in morbidity between HEU and HUU children in a nine months follow-up period.
Materials and Methods: A cohort of index babies was followed up from delivery for nine months. The maternal HIV status during pregnancy set as the exposure status for this cohort. Morbidity outcomes, illnesses and admissions, were observed within the follow-up period between the HEU and HUU children. HIV exposed infected (HEI) index babies were excluded from the analysis. The follow-up time points were at six weeks, four months and nine months. Mixed effects logistic regression analysis was used to determine factors associated with change in morbidity between the HEU and HUU.
Results: The average child-specific intercept for the log odds of morbidity was 1.04. There was a 1.12 heterogeneity difference at baseline. A negative exposure change of 0.06 in the first sixteen weeks and a positive exposure change of 0.04 after sixteen weeks were observed. Being HEU had a protective effect with an odds ratio of 0.77 and a confidence interval of (0.38; 1.26) which is not statistically significant. .
Conclusion: Being exposed to HIV is protective with an odds ratio of 0.77 (0.38; 1.26). There is a significance difference in the heterogeneity of the groups at baseline. The unexposed group has a significant negative trend during the first sixteen weeks and a positive trend after sixteen weeks. The exposed group has a less negative and positive trend across time. The family size has a protective effect towards morbidity in children
An investigation into the role of parliament in making development aid more effective: The case of Ugandan parliament
No full textThis is a desk study of the institution of parliament and parliamentarians role in making
development aid more effective in aid recipient developing countries. The Uganda
parliament has been used as case study. Official Development Assistance (ODA) flows
must have as its main objective the promotion of the economic development and welfare of
developing countries. By ensuring development aid funds are accounted for and
transparently spent to benefit those who are most in need, parliaments and parliamentarians
contribute to development effectiveness. The Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness (2005)
and Accra Agenda for Action on Aid Effectiveness (2008) are international instruments
used to strengthen the role of parliaments in overseeing development cooperation. There is
international and regional renewed focus on the institution of Parliament and its potential
value and contribution to democracy, good governance and development. Parliamentary
oversight on development aid in Uganda is improving but still limited by the multiplicity of
challenges ranging from lack the independence, knowledge and resources to perform
mutual and domestic accountability functions. ODA cannot bypass parliament if it is to be
effective. Both donor agencies and partner governments should be accountable to their
respective parliaments because parliamentary oversight at the heart of stable modern
democracies
Prevalence and factors associated with risky sexual behaviour after male circumcision among clients circumcised at Spilhaus Clinic in Harare
No full textIntroduction:
The main objective of this study was to determine whether men who were circumcised in adulthood have risky sexual behavior after being circumcised.
Methods:
A cross sectional study was conducted. Men aged18-49 years, residing in the city of Harare, who had voluntary medical MC from 1 July 2011 to 31 December 2011 were interviewed
Outcome Indicators
The main outcome indicators were sexual behaviors known to place men at increased risk of acquiring HIV (Sex with casual acquaintance, sex without condoms with girlfriend, transactional sex).
Results:
A total of 131 respondents were interviewed. Ninety four percent were Christian, and 60%were in union. For those reporting to be in union 86% was living with their partners. The prevalence of multiple unions was 9%. Ninety two percent (121/131) had ever had sexual intercourse. Overall use of condoms for those who last had sex within one month preceding the study was 10.5%. The prevalence of risky behavior at last sex encounter within one month of the study was 20% .The prevalence of multiple partners was 29%,
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which is higher than national average of 10.65. The 30-34 years age group (chi square= 20.0, p=0.000) had significantly higher rates of multiple partnerships. 7.4% had paid for sexual intercourse in the 12 months preceding the study. This was significantly higher for those with than secondary education (Chi square 4.80, p=0.04) in the 12 months preceding the study.
There was 28.1%, early resumption of sex, and was higher for men in union (39.7%) (Chi square 14.61, p<0.0001).
Conclusion:
The prevalence for risky behavior was 20%. The prevalence for payment for sex and multiple partnerships was higher than national average suggesting risk compensation
Screening of some Traditional Medicinal Plants from Zimbabwe for Biological and Anti-microbial Activity
No full textIn Zimbabwe medicinal plants play a critical role in the healthcare delivery system. Ethnobotanical surveys of five districts from the Matebeleland and Manicaland regions of Zimbabwe were done and most commonly used and endangered plant species used in traditional medical practice were selected. From twelve plants 20 extracts were prepared from the various plant parts and extracted by solvent extraction and freeze dried. The extracts were then screened for phytochemical constituents and biological activity using standard techniques.
Phytochemical screening was carried out using TLC (Thin Layer Chromatography) where UV detection was at 254 and 365nm followed by confirmatory tests. Three of the plant extracts contained alkaloids, five had anthraquinone derivatives, five had coumarins, eight had cardiac glycosides and flavonoids, fifteen had saponins and sixteen contained tannins. Saponins and tannins were the most abundant phytochemicals found. These phytochemical groups and isolated chemical compounds may be responsible for the various biological activities observed by traditional healers in ethnopharmacology.
Total phenolic contents were determined by the Folin-Ciocalteu method and the antioxidant activity was evaluated by DPPH (2, 2-diphenyl picrylhydrazyl) using â-carotene as reference. A high total phenolic content was observed for P. africanum bark 0.438±0.00424 and lowest for V. infausta leaves with 0.0048±0.00255TAE. Some extracts had high antioxidant activity: P. africanum leaves, bark, and roots had 97.6±0.354%, 96.3±0.354% and 96.40±0.00% respectively. The lowest antioxidant value was recorded in V. infausta roots with 39.7 ± 0.212%. Most plants showed great potential for use as antioxidants.
Brine shrimp lethality tests were used to predict potential cytotoxic activity of the plant extracts. Most of the extracts were non-toxic with LC50 values ranging from 1000 to 4000 µg/ml compared to the known toxic plant Nerium oleander used as a positive control with LC50 value of 142±68.2 µg/ml. V. infausta leaves (338±23.4 µg/ml), root (416±28.3 µg/ml) and P. angolensis bark (478±29.7 µg/ml) were moderately safe and should be used with caution. Plants showing significant toxicity to Artemia salina may have potential use as anti-tumour drugs.
Antimicrobial activity was carried out on selected microorganisms and fungal strains by the agar well diffusion method. Antibacterial activity was assessed against Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus Group A (Gram positive bacteria) and Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Gram negative bacteria). The fungi used were Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger. Activity was measured as a radius in mm to give a zone of inhibition. In general, the gram positive bacteria were more sensitive to the plant extracts compared to the gram negative bacteria. Out of the runs done for all the bacterial strains; 28 plant extracts showed no activity against the strains at the different concentrations used. The root extracts of X. caffra, P. angolensis and P.africanum were highly active (about 10mm radius) against E. coli. P. africanum root extract was also highly active against P. aeruginosa. A. stenophylla leaves were inactive against S. aureus, E. coli and P. aeruginosa. 65% of the extracts did show activity against Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger. The highest zone of inhibition was shown by D. anomala tuber against C. albicans; reading of 5.5±0.58mm and P. africanum bark 4.0±0.82mm.The lowest values were recorded from C. anisata leaves and L. edulis leaves against A. niger; readings of 1.00±0mm and 1.00±0.58mm respectively.
The results from these studies indicated that most of the commonly used traditional medicinal plants have merit for use in traditional medical practice as they have shown zones of inhibition on various microorganisms tested, meaning they are potential antimicrobial agents and so should be preserved and harvested with care
Relationship between knowledge and self-care practices regarding tuberculosis treatment among clients aged 20 – 40 years at Beatrice Road Infectious Hospital outpatient clinic
No full textTuberculosis is a worldwide public health problem with a continued increase in both morbidity and mortality. It has been compounded by HIV/AIDS pandermic. Tuberculosis is widely known to affect the most economically active group, with 99% of all TB death occurring in the developing countries. Directly Observed Treatment Short Course is an internationally recommended approach adopted to improve self care practices as adherence among the clients on tuberculosis treatment. In Zimbabwe over 40,000 cases were reported in 2007 at a rate of 302 per 100 000 population, compared to 402 per 100 000 in 2000. The purpose of the study is to examine the relationship between self-care practices and knowledge among 20-40 year old clients on tuberculosis therapeutic management at Beatrice Road Infectious Disease Hospital Outpatient Clinic. Orem’s self-care nursing model was used as a conceptual framework. The study used descriptive correlation design. The study included a random sample of 80 subjects comprising 48 females and 32 males aged between 22 to 40 years. The interview schedule contained closed ended structured questions on the demographic data open ended and closed ended questions on dependent and independent variables. Data was collected and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The results of the study showed a significant low positive Pearson correlation coefficient of (r = .354, p* < 0.01) implying that as knowledge increases self-care increases. Regression analysis R2 = .125 expressed as percentage 12.5. This implies that knowledge accounts for 12.5% of the variance in the self-care practice. F Statistics = 11. 140; p = .001). Therefore there is need to reinforce individualized health education and counseling of clients. For self-care to be effective, the clients should have knowledge skills to do self-care (Orem, 1991)