UNAM Open Access Journal University of Namibia
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Urban physical development and master planning in Zimbabwe: An assessment of conformance in the City of Mutare
Get PDFUrban master plans play a critical role in the environmental management of urban landscapes in that they guide the physical developments that take place on and in them. In spite of this important role, there is limited knowledge on the degree to which their mapped objectives are achieved in actual terms. This gap in knowledge is mainly due to the lack of empirical methods for assessing plan implementation. In this study, we assess the degree of conformance of physical developments in the city of Mutare to master plan land use proposals. To do this, we carried out a GIS-based overlay analysis of the master plan and the land-use outcomes. We used an error matrix and Kappa Coefficient to assess whether land use proposals conform to existing developments in the city. The results of this study are that there is high overall conformance, although some proposed land uses do not conform to the master plan. We conclude that the adoption of GIS-based methods of compliance monitoring of land-use activities within urban environments provides an objective, rapid and efficient way of managing activities within such environments. We therefore recommend the adoption of such methods in urban areas for early detection of non-conformance and sustainable management of urban areas
Portrait of courage: Women and survival in Tagwira's The Uncertainty of Hope
Get PDFThe Zimbabwean challenges witnessed between 1998 and 2008 brought about various survival strategies. Whereas some sought to create coping mechanisms within Zimbabwe, others went into exile. These two groups, nonetheless, needed to confront the massive challenges during the decade of the Zimbabwean considerable suffering (1998-2008). These included hyperinflation, unemployment, food shortages, violence and the high death rates. Creative writings played a significant part as authors depicted Zimbabweans who sought to survive in varied ways. Of particular importance to this article, is how one particular Zimbabwean female creative writer Tagwira employed her creative imagination to challenge the status quo. In The Uncertainty of Hope Tagwira (2006) represents her female characters in a more empowering way. She shows how they seek to overcome major challenges to ensure that their families survive the challenges
The effects of cooperative learning on the performance of Grade 11 Mathematics learners in the Oshana educational region, Namibia
Get PDFThis study sought to determine the effects of cooperative learning on the performance of the Grade 11 learners doing Mathematics on higher level in the Oshana Education Region. The study used a quasi-experimental design. Two Grade 11 classes (each comprising 31 learners) doing Mathematics on a higher level from one school in the Oshana region were purposefully selected; one as a control group and the other as an experimental group. The instruments used to measure the performance in Mathematics were a pre-test and post test. Prior to collection of the data, a pilot study was carried out in a different school to gather information on the appropriateness of the instruments and other administrative logistics. During the main study, the experimental and control groups were separately taught Differentiation a topic from the higher level Mathematics syllabus. The t-test was used to find out whether significant differences existed in the performance of the control and experimental groups. The results showed that significant differences in performance and in the motivation level of the experimental and control group existed at the 0.01 significant level. The findings suggested that cooperative learning improved learners’ performance in Mathematics. The study recommended that Mathematics teachers should place emphasis on learners’ understanding of particular concepts, guiding learners in active learning, providing opportunities for discussion and elaboration and encouraging them to work with peers to enhance learners’ academic performance
The Feeding habits of the Giant African Bullfrog (Anura: Pyxicephalidae: Pyxicephalus Adspersus Tschudi, 1839) of the Cuvelai Drainage System in Northern Namibia.
Get PDFThe recorded diet of the giant African bullfrog Pyxicephalus adspersus of the Cuvelai drainage plains (the oshanas) of northern Namibia is presented. Among all the stomach contents; insects accounted for the greatest diversity of the orders recorded. The most abundant prey items to the juvenile frogs come from Orthoptera (20.0%), Lepidoptera (16.0%), Isoptera (15.5%), Coleoptera (12.0%), while to the adult frogs also come from Orthoptera (20.0%) but followed by Coleoptera (11.8%), Odontata (11.0%) and Hemiptera (10.0%) in that hierarchical order. A habit of cannibalism is indicated; tadpoles form the fifth (11.0%) and second (13.1%) most important food item for juvenile and adult frogs, respectively. Diet shift is evident, from ants to tadpoles and beetles as the frogs become larger
Sociolinguistic meaning of Bantu place names : The case of Ruhaya in north-western Tanzania
Get PDFThis paper examines the sociolinguistic meaning behind the adoption of place names in Ruhaya, the language spoken in north-western Tanzania. The paper based on the assumption that place names are not arbitrary labels but are connected with particular social-cultural phenomena such as community heroes or persons who made notable contributions to the society or people who had achieved particular notoriety or events that had come to be considered unique. These would be reflected in what the name was derived from in the appropriate time and place (appropriate context). The paper reveals that Ruhaya place names have meanings which tend to be derived from phenomena such as names of unique people, events, fauna, flora, crops raised, habitation information, natural terrain and activities carried out in the area to which the name is given. Also, place names in Ruhaya have meanings relating to parts of the human body such as hip, nape, tongue, breast and heart. As language advance, it was necessary to explore such sociolinguistic elements as an important contribution to the growing body of sociolinguistics and linguistics knowledge relating to languages spoken in Tanzania and Africa in general
Does mass media communication support HIV/AIDS prevention campaigns among the youth in Oshana Region, northern Namibia?
Get PDFHIV/AIDS is a global health and social problem, and has affected people of diverse backgrounds and all walks of life. Since it was detected in Namibia in 1986, many people have become hospitalised and died due to the disease. However, many organisations have used mass media campaigns to communicate health messages in an effort to bring change in people’s lifestyles and sexual behaviours. This paper explores the impact of mass media communication aimed at HIV/AIDS prevention among the youth in Oshana region, northern Namibia. In this paper both quantitative and qualitative research approaches were employed. Survey research was conducted among the In-school youth (ISY) and Out of-school youth (OOSY). Participants were drawn from nine secondary and 26 combined schools and six youth organizations in the region. Respondents revealed that mass media campaigns are available in the region disseminating information to the youth using the conventional health education model. Data also revealed that the majority in both sets of youth groups are sexually active, have sexual partners and received behaviour change information mainly through mass media (radio, television and printed materials) regularly. Study results further revealed that in addition to knowledge, youth require understanding and dialogue to be able to manage change in their social and sexual behaviours
Liberal democracy, education and social justice in Africa
Get PDFIt is a widely accepted view that military and other forms of authoritarian rule were employed in the governance of certain African countries during the early years of postcolonial period from the 1960s to 1980’s as indicated by Bangura (1992), Harber (1997) and Leon (2010). Besides, a few socialist-oriented, independent one-party states existed. The latter years (1990s into the 21st century), saw many independent African countries embracing ‘liberal democracy’ accompanied by market economic models. The introduction of liberal democracy on the African continent has not been without its controversies however, as some African and Carribean social scientists such as Ake (1993 & 1996), Mafeje (2002), Lumumba-Kasongo, (2005), Ngwane (2006) and Sankatsing (2004), have blamed this system for being responsible for much social wretchedness across Africa. The question is: (a) to what extent has liberal democracy delivered social equity on the continent; and (b) in which way do liberal democratic policies promote or impede the aims of education in a democratic society? Arguing from a critical theory perspective, this Article explores the way in which liberal democracy as a system of governance put limitations on education’s capacity to play the transformative role within society. It suggests that liberal democracy advocates equality of opportunities for all at the expense of social justice; and that this prevent education from playing its role as a tool for achieving greater equity within society through promoting human, social and economic development
The analysis of content question words in Embosi and Teke
Get PDFThis paper demonstrates that the typological classification does not affect all the linguistic descriptive apparatus of languages belonging to the same language family. It appears that the content question word ‘what’ has two distinct positions in Embosi and Teke. In the former, it is a post verbal word, whereas in the latter it is a pre-verbal word; hence challenging Split CP Hypothesis that is unable to explain its occurrence in the languages under discussion
Remembering or re-membering? Life-writing and the politics of narration in Morgan Tsvangirai’s autobiography At the Deep End (2011)
Get PDFMorgan Tsvangirai’s autobiography is a construction of both personal and national identities from the 1960s up to 2011. In doing that the autobiography At the Deep End reshapes events from the colonial up to the period of Zimbabwe’s crisis with a view to staking a specifi c, deliberate identity that privileges the self as more sinned against than sinning. This paper interrogates Tsvangirai’s autobiography so as to unpack the conspicuous presences and absences and the motive of such narration. The paper argues that the politics of narration in the book is motivated by the reality of his being a leader of the opposition party in Zimbabwe where he has faced a lot of accusations about his history and leadership qualities. Tsvangirai’s party, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) was often branded as a ‘terrorist’ organisation by the ruling party, the Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU PF). We argue that Tsvangirai’s analysis of events is compromised by his view of the self as a possible leader in Zimbabwe. Out of the possible selves generated by his shifty experiences, he privileges the political identity in order to create an aura of relevance in the rugged political terrain of Zimbabwe. Thus the autobiography is constructed in a way that shows remembrance and re-membering of historical accounts
The educational consequences of teenage pregnancy in the Kavango Region
Get PDFIn this paper the authors discuss the pregnancy prevalence among learners in the Kavango region. The paper is an extract from a national study on dropout which collected data from three (3) regions, namely; Kavango, Kunene and Omaheke. While the dropout study was conducted in three regions with the highest dropout rate in the country, the findings on teenage pregnancy reported in this article are from the Kavango region only. The Kavango region, in addition to having higher dropout rates is also one of the regions with higher incidences of teenage pregnancy in the country. Through interviewing dropout learners and school principals as well as focus group discussions with teachers at 58 schools in the Kavango region the study found that a high number of female learners drop out of school due to pregnancy. Out of the one hundred and thirty one (131) learners interviewed, of which seventy two (72) were female, sixty (60) dropped out because of pregnancy, which means 83% of all female dropout cases was due to pregnancy. The dynamics and reasons why these learners became pregnant were as diverse as the schools visited. Based on the findings it is recommended that a good strategy for reducing pregnancy in the region requires the collaboration of community leaders, parents and school authorities