The University of Zambia Journals
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INTERMINABLE VIRGINS IN A RUSTING COUNTRY? THE PORTRAYAL OF THE COVID-19 PERIOD IN THE SONGS WE WILL DANCE AGAIN BY MATTHEW TEMBO AND DZUWA BY SLAP DEE
Get PDFThis article examined two songs: We Will Dance Again by Matthew Tembo and Dzuwa by Slap Dee to explain the experience of Zambians to COVID-19. Through the theory of the conceptual metaphor, the study examined the metaphorical nature of the songs and identified a reliance on the symbolic role of the sun and how the sun is both a subject of God and a god itself. The study shows that while both songs rely on the metaphor to share hope and despair during COVID-19, We Will Dance Again has a positive futuristic outlook, while Dzuwa is more resigned to the situation
The Use of Allusion in Tonga Work Songs: Its Social and Economic Implication
Get PDFThis article sets out to examine the use of allusion in selected Tonga work songs. Whereas there is extensive and impressive documentation about the Tonga people and their culture, their history, and even their literature, by authors like Elizabeth Colson, there is hardly any documentation on the use of allusion and its social implications in Tonga work songs. Therefore, this study gives utter attention to one poetic element – the allusion, in the Tonga work songs and argues that allusion reflects the Tonga people’s social and economic activities through work songs. The study mainly used the qualitative method to collect data from respondents. This article is a brain child of research work which was conducted in two ways namely, through desk research and field research in three districts of Southern Province in Zambia. A total of 35 work songs were collected through interview guide, questionnaires, and Focus Group Discussions. The study revealed that Tonga work songs help lighten the work, comment on perpetual unpalatable social tendencies, communicate values of hard work, social cohesion, and objectives and share memories of the past other than culture transmission to the young generation. The study also revealed that Tonga Work songs are rich in Poetic elements such as allusion that inculcate a sense of self-responsibility among others. The study further reveals that allusion in Tonga work songs reflects Tonga people’s past and their agricultural inclination, a reflection of Tonga’s main economic activity. What comes out of this study also is that there are hardly any allusions to Tonga’s paramountcy of chiefs like in other tribes in southern Africa
Higher Education, Femininity and Fertility: Exploring Lived Experiences of Educated Women in Mazabuka, Zambia
Get PDFThis study investigated the experiences of women with higher education on fertility rate in Mazabuka district, Zambia. It is based on contraceptive practice and reproduction, transcendence of cultural beliefs and practices that suppress women on fertility control. The study invoked the theory of demand and supply promulgated by Gary and Becker. The interpretive phenomenological research design was utilised. A sample of fifteen educated women, possessing a minimum of master’s degree, were purposively sampled. Data was collected through face-to-face interviews was analysed, using Inductive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) thematic analysis. The findings of the research among others, revealed that the years of schooling had affected educated women’s fertility because they postponed marriage and child bearing due to schooling. The study also found that years of schooling had promoted, empowered and given women the independence to an extent that some men were intimidated to marry them. The women were also aware of the benefits, risks, effectiveness, effects and the correct use of contraceptives. Based on the findings, the study recommends, among others, the need for society to be sensitised on the social, economic and private benefits of marrying and having children with an educated woman
An Examination of Consumerism and the Role of Technology in Don DeLillo’s White Noise and Cosmopolis
Get PDFHuman society has entered an era marked by myriad phenomena collectively labeled ‘modernisation’. Over the past 100 years, scientific breakthroughs and technological innovations have radically changed the human experience. Almost everything we touch or use in our homes, our garages, our offices is the by-product of an intense and complex industrial system: our consumption of goods is notably a function of our culture. We are surrounded by a manufactured world. Like most phenomena, the critical reality lies not in the general characteristics of modernisation, but in the particular and unique conditions of people’s lives, and the effects of modernisation in the places where we live: in our homes, our communities, our natural and cultural environments. Two texts which are concerned with an exploration of the complexities of modernisation, particularly technology and the resultant consumerist culture, are Don DeLillo’s White Noise and Cosmopolis. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship that exists between consumerism and technology in the two texts. This investigation used historical, philosophical and psychological theories. From a historical perspective, the study focused on contextual approaches, which looked at the historical development of technologies in relation to their social context. Employing postmodern theories, the characters’ motivations to buy and consume products in both texts were discussed. In essence, it was noted that consumerism physically and mentally affects consumers. On the physical level, people living in the consumerist society cannot avoid its tentacles because there are too many outside forces keeping them in the system. Technology has become as much a part of the texture of daily life as humans are themselves. In fact, the two seem inextricable. In both White Noise and Cosmopolis, the pervasive presence of technology proves both menacing and comforting—toxic threats abound, while concurrently the characters are bombarded with advertised information and promises of immortality through scientific advancements. Thus, consumers relentlessly buy products and feel that the products they buy determine their identity
Impacts of Personal Protective Equipment Utilisation on Prevention of Coronavirus Among Healthcare Workers in Kwara State, Nigeria
Get PDFThis study examined the impact of personal protective equipment (PPE) utilisation on the prevention of the coronavirus (COVID-19) among healthcare workers (HCWs) in Kwara State, Nigeria. Personal protective equipment (PPE) means personal protective equipment, which are devices designed to protect healthcare workers from contracting infectious diseases during the treatment of patients with the threaded pandemic COVID-19 infection. These instruments can be hand gloves, nose masks, and protective footwear, among others. However, the effect of the non-utilisation of these devices can be devastating, particularly among HCWs treating coronavirus patients because of its volatile nature of transmission through airborne and contacts. This study aims at determining if HCWs perceive that utilisation of PPE has effects on the prevention of Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Kwara State, Nigeria. A descriptive research design of the survey type was used for this study. The instrument used was a researchers’ structured questionnaire, which was validated by three experts in health education. A multistage sampling procedure to sample 230 HCWs from Kwara State government-owned hospitals was used for this study. The instrument was then subjected to a test re-test reliability method and analysed by Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient (PPMC), which yielded 0.81r, showing that the instrument was reliable enough for the study. The data collected was analysed using descriptive statistics of frequency count, simple percentage and inferential statistics of Chi-square (χ2) at 0.05 alpha level.Results revealed that HCWs significantly perceived that utilisation of PPE has an impact on the prevention of COVID-19 in Kwara State, Nigeria, with a calculated χ2 value of 146.174, which is greater than the critical table value of 43.773.It was concluded that HCWs perceived that the utilisation of PPE has an impact on the prevention of COVID-19 in Kwara State, Nigeria. It was, however, recommended that the government should increase the training of HCWs through seminars and workshops. More so, the government should provide and enforce the adequate use of PPE to be used by HCWs against COVID-19 infection in Kwara State, Nigeria
A Bachelardian Perspective on Fire in Selected Poems
Get PDFThe study problematised the applicability of Bachelard’s elemental theory of imagination to different literary works. Gaston Bachelard (1884-1962) can be described as a French philosopher who propounded his theory of understanding and analysing poetry or poetics. He ushered in a new idea of poetics of imagination in his book ‘The Psychoanalysis of Fire’. Thus, this article aimed at analysing the poetic element of ‘Fire’ in poetic works that include ‘The Tyger’, ‘Urizen’, ‘The Four Zoas’, and ‘Brush Fire’. The article adopted a qualitative approach and desktop methodology. The paper was underpinned by the theory of imagination. The study shows that Bachelard’s theory of imagination deals with poetic elements such as ‘Fire’, ‘Water’, ‘Air’, ‘Earth’, and ‘Space’. The above elements are not elements of nature but show the poetic inclination of the poets which finds manifestation in their works and are taken in the pre-Socratic sense. The study also shows that Bachelard’s theory of imagination is not only applicable to previously mentioned literary works or texts but also brings to the fore the poetic element of the poet, that is, the poetic element of fire. The study concludes that these poems exhibit imagery of fire which is reflected through the lexicon used in the poems and brings out the poetic element of the poet
Challenges of Teaching and Learning of Home Economics in Selected Colleges of Education in Zambia
Get PDFThe study examined the challenges of teaching and learning of Home economics in colleges of education in Zambia. The study adopted a descriptive survey design. The population of the study consisted of 22 colleges of education affiliated to the University of Zambia and offering Home Economics. A sample of 35 Home Economics lecturers were selected for the study using purposive sampling. A structured questionnaire with Likert Scale was used for data collection. The data was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) programme. The findings of the study revealed that the challenges were associated with college administration and curriculum issues. The study further revealed seven factors that impeded the teaching and learning of home economics subject and these were; lack of well-equipped specialised rooms, insufficient funding, inadequate reference books and instructional materials, large classes, lack of motivation, heavily loaded timetable and insufficient time lead to the challenges of learning and teaching of Home economics in colleges of education. The study recommended that colleges of education administrators should provide a conducive environment and adequate professional and technical support to the lecturers
An Assessment of Factors Causing Employees’ Absenteeism from Work Among Health Workers in Rural Parts of Zambia: A Case Study of Chadiza District.
Get PDFStaff absenteeism is a global management problem that affects most organisations. Staff absenteeism in health facilities is alarming, and yet factors affecting absenteeism are not fully understood and documented to guide managers for appropriate action. In 2012, the Ministry of Health (MoH, 2012) reported that 80 percent of Zambians now depend on complementary and alternative healthcare. One of the contributing factors to people seeking healthcare from private institutions has been attributed to absenteeism among health workers in public health facilities. Based on information from HR officers in health facilities, absenteeism rate was calculated at 12.5%. (Ministry of Health Chadiza, 2023). Therefore, the objectives of the study were; to identify the factors causing employees’ absenteeism; to ascertain the repercussions of employees’ absenteeism, and to identify measures that can help prevent health workers’ absenteeism from work. To achieve the objectives, the study conducted a survey of 106 health workers in selected health facilities of Chadiza District, and 4 key informants. The study used mixed method research. The study used descriptive and causal research designs. Data was analysed by obtaining descriptive statistics such as means, frequencies and percentages, and the study used logistic regression analysis to statistically determine factors causing employee absenteeism. The results from the logistic regression found alcohol/drug abuse to be statistically significant, illness/health problem, family responsibilities, bad working culture, irregular supervision, and inadequate motivation to be statistically significant in causing employees’ absenteeism from work. Repercussions of employee absenteeism from work were found to be increased deaths, prolonged illnesses, loss of public confidence, increased cost on government, and unhealthy nation. The study therefore recommended that management should assist employees address personal problems like alcohol abuse, illness and family responsibilities; design employee motivation strategies, and design employee supervision program that is efficient and effective
Acquiring Reading Skills in Languages with Varying Orthographic Depth: A Case of Cinyanja-English Bilinguals in Zambia
Get PDFThis study sought to assess the influence of orthographic depth on literacy development by comparing the reading proficiency of Cinyanja-English bilingual primary students. Cinyanja, unlike orthographically opaque English, is a highly transparent orthography and is a first language and medium of instruction from first to fourth grade in Zambia. One hundred and nineteen grades 4-6 students were assessed on the Cinyanja measures of letter discrimination, phonological awareness, word reading, pseudo-word decoding and reading comprehension, while 121 participants received the English measures of the same constructs. Correlation analysis of the reading measures revealed high within-orthography associations as opposed to between-orthography associations. Generally, both single- and pseudo-word reading were significantly better in the transparent orthography than in English. However, Descriptive Discriminant Analysis (DDA) revealed that only three of the five reading measures were statistically significant, phonological awareness, word reading and pseudo-word decoding, with one linear discriminant function emerging from the analyses. Overall, our findings confirm the hypothesis that transparent orthographies facilitate reading acquisition and proficiency better than opaque orthographies
inclusive resilience: empowering people living with disabilities in the fight against Covid-19
Get PDFBackground
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought unprecedented challenges to societies worldwide, with public health emergencies exacerbating the vulnerabilities of marginalized populations. Among these groups, persons with disabilities face unique and disproportionate hardships during such crises. The United Nations' Sustainable Development Agenda underscores the importance of inclusivity and ensuring the rights of all individuals, including those with disabilities, to lead lives of dignity and security. This paper aims to shed light on the plight of persons with disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic by reviewing the impact of the virus on their rights and well-being.
Methods
This review draws on information from the United Nations Human Rights office of the high commissioner, as well as data and examples from various countries across the world. The paper explores specific topics related to COVID-19 and the rights of persons with disabilities. It delves into the challenges faced by individuals who heavily rely on support from others for their daily living, discussing the isolation and difficulties they endure during lockdown procedures.
Results
The review reveals that persons with disabilities encounter significant obstacles and heightened vulnerability during the COVID-19 crisis. Those reliant on assistance face severe challenges when support systems become inaccessible or disrupted due to lockdown measures. The isolation resulting from restricted mobility and limited support compromises their well-being and survival. Additionally, individuals residing in institutional settings suffer an increased risk of exposure to the virus, leading to alarming death tolls in such facilities.
Conclusion
The COVID-19 pandemic has shed light on the critical importance of prioritizing the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities during public health emergencies. The review highlights the disproportionate impact of the virus on this vulnerable group, with specific emphasis on those relying on support and those residing in institutions. As societies work to combat and recover from the pandemic, it is imperative to ensure inclusivity and equitable access to healthcare, support services, and essential information for persons with disabilities