Volume 1 (2012)

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Community perceptions of climate change and vanability impacts in Oshana and Ohangwena Regions
(University of Namibia, 2012) Kaundjua, Maria B.; Angula, Margaret; Angombe, Simon T.
The links between climate change, social and economic development, health, and environmental sustainability have become a dominant and urgent global concern. Understanding community perceptions leads to successful adaptation to climate change. This paper analyses community perceptions of climate change in selected Namibian regions. The study applied the qualitative research approach using the focus group discussion method. The data collection was conducted within a Socio-economic and Gender Analysis framework. The study has revealed that the communities are aware that the climate is changing due to changes observed in the past three to four decades. However, the study concluded that the communities do not have an adaptive capacity to respond to catastrophic natural disaster events such as the recurrent floods of 2009, ww & 2011. The study recommends a programme on community awareness regarding climate variability and change and its implications. The government in collaboration with communities and other relevant stakeholders should set up a long-term adaptation strategy for Namibia.
Views and preferences of parents, teachers and principals on the implementation of the language policy in primary schools in Namibia
(University of Namibia, 2012) Mostert, Louise; Hamunyela, Miriam N.; Kasanda, Choshi D.; Smit, Talita C.; Kangira, Jairos; Zimba, Roderick F.; Hengari, Job U.; Veii, Kazuvire R.
The language policy of schools in Namibia states that from grade 1 to grade 3, learners should receive education in their mother tongues. The mother tongue becomes a subject from grade 4 onwards while English takes over as the medium of instruction. This paper presents the views of parents, teachers and principals and parents on how this policy is implemented in three schools studied in the Khomas region. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews from one urban school, one peri-urban school and one rural school. The fi ndings of the study refl ect diff erent language preferences between parents and teachers, the latter favouring English and the former advocating the mother tongue as
Assessing virtual culture exchanges
(University of Namibia, 2012) Fox, Tom
The rapidly growing presence of old and new media in postcolonial Namibia, particularly from the decade after the turn of the Millennium, has signifi cance for cultural and lifestyle transformations in the country. Formerly entrenched social identities, shaped by restrictive colonialism and indigenous traditions, appear to be under pressure as shifts become apparent in the face of cultural globalisation. This article examines the characteristics of change from the perspective of young Windhoek adults’ experiences of Internet social networks. The research constitutes a cultural study that addresses the current knowledge gap regarding how the Internet is increasingly situated in youth identity and cultural lifestyle spaces. Social networks appear to be changing the cultural landscapes of Namibia, if the evidence is accepted, and youth are at the cutting edge of cultural transformations wrought by new media such as the Internet.
The accounting role of regional councillors in financial management for regional councils in Namibia : The cases of Oshana and Caprivi regional councils
(University of Namibia, 2012) Mutumba, Boniface S.
Although decisions to acquire and expend financial resources in regional councils are a domain of regional councillors, officials appointed by regional councils and those serving the Ministry of Regional Local Government and Rural Development in Namibia view this as quixotic. This paragonistic perception of appointed officials towards councillors gives rise to synthetic practices that continue to override the efficacy of regional councillors in their role as financiers at regional level in Namibia. Like other regional councils in Namibia, Oshana and Caprivi regional councils are grappling with challenges in financial management. Reflecting on the anecdote of experiences of these two regional councils, this paper makes the call for politicians, technocrats at central and regional government levels and academics to abandon, or at least more vigorously challenge the somewhat archaic, paragonistic methodologies that are very often inappropriate to democratic and corporate governance compliant financial management at sub national level. It argues that there is need to grow legislation based, innovative and creative methodological responses to separate the roles of regional councillors and technocrats appointed by regional councils in financial management. Citing the ideological and methodological shifts made in the Decentralisation process in Namibia, it is argued that it is indeed possible to create unique and exciting processes. Processes that move beyond the rhetoric of “the normative separation of the roles of councilors and officials” to one that in very real terms makes regional councillors the focus of financial planning, budgeting and budgetary control and monitoring the financial activities of regional councils.
To live in the hearts of those we left behind is not to die
(University of Namibia, 2012) Gwasira, Goodman
This paper discusses the issues that are conveyed by settlement lay-out and the meaning of space at the first mission station in South Africa, Genadendal. A historical archaeology appwach was used to collect data and analyse the remains building structures, materials and settlement lay·out that have survived at Genadenda/ in an attempt to make a case for c1 "Genadendal identity" and explain the cause for its continuity. The paper argues that the study of architectural structures and settlement /ay·out from an archaeological perspective can be viewed as an exercise in studying metapho1·s since the functional aspect of architecture is a result of" conscious reactions to physical needs" at a given time as Gribble (1998) writes. Such reactions are inevitably and subtly encoded in buildings and use of space. In addition, the paper demonstratc·s that the inhabitants of Genadendai mission str.ilion developed and exhibited a "Genadendal identify" through employing unique architectural technique' and conforming to a set of rules thot the missionories prescribed.
Determinants of manufactured export performance in Namibia
(University of Namibia, 2012) Kaakunga, Esau K.; Matongela, Albert M.
The current study looks at the determinants of manufactured exports in Namibia during the period from 1970 through 2009. In line with the international trade and finance literature, the paper focuses on the investment GDP ratio; foreign income; real effective exchange rate; real gross domestic product; consumer price index; and export processing zones to be the key determinants for manufactured exports in Namibia. Due to the nonstationarity of many macro-economic variables, the Johansen Cointegration Procedure is adopted in this study. Most of the results came out as expected. Investment GDP ratio and foreign income have a positive effect on manufactured exports. The results indicate that real effective exchange rate and consumer price index, is negatively related to the manufactured exports in both equations. This implies that exchange appreciation and currency overvaluation exert adverse effects on production for export. Surprisingly, the results indicate that the export processing zones relate negatively to manufactured exports and the coefficient is insignificant in all the equations. The key recommendations from this paper are that there is a need to review the current export processing zone regime with the purpose of identifying new amendments to the framework legislation in order to make the zone more competitive. Thus, there is also a need to relook at various investment incentives that are aimed at promoting manufactured exports with the aim of removing some constraints that might hinder companies in realising full benefits from these regimes.
Does mass media communication support HIV/AIDS prevention campaigns among the youth in Oshana Region, northern Namibia?
(University of Namibia, 2012) Shikongo, Regina Mpingana; Mchombu, Kingo
HIV/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.
School libraries and their role in promoting a reading culture: Case study of Caprivi, Omusati, Omaheke, Karas and Khomas regions of Namibia
(University of Namibia, 2012) Nengomasha, Cathrine T.; Uutoni, Wilhelm; Yule, Wilson
The importance of school libraries cannot be overemphasized. This paper is based on a study on school libraries in Namibia which was conducted by the University of Namibia, Department of Information and Communication Studies from July 2009 to February 2010. The study covered five of Namibia's thirteen regions, namely Caprivi, Omusati, Omaheke, Karas and Khomas. The study employed a qualitative and quantitative research design using a triangulation of data collection methods including surveys, interviews, focus group discussions, and observation. Some of the questions the study aimed to answer were, "What is the state of school libraries?" and "What is their role in promoting a reading culture in Namibia?" The World Bank (2008, p. xxi) describes how effective school libraries can be as "they provide additional reading opportunities for students, which in turn improve reading skills, comprehension and writing clarity of expressions, which in turn support student performance in all other curriculum subjects. Although the study showed the existence of libraries in all the schools; more than Bo per cent of these were not adequately resourced in terms of reading materials, equipment, and stafj1ng. The study also established that although learners said that they liked reading there was no strong library programme to inculcate a reading culture in the learners. A number of other factors can contribute to a good or bad reading culture. These include the language of instruction and home/family environment. In Namibia, a 2011 report of the education system audit notes that proficiency in English, the language of instruction is below basic. The study concluded that the majority of school libraries in Namibia are not in a position to provide the benefits described by the Word Bank above. This is evidenced by the fact that there is a high failure rate in Namibian schools. The small percentage of schools with libraries that were well run happened to have a good pass rate but in these cases the libraries were also adequately resourced, equipped and staffed.
Mwalimu J. K. Nyerere as an African rewriter: The case of Kiswahili creative translations and rewritings
(University of Namibia, 2012) Malangwa, Pendo S.
Rewriting, in the narrow sense, is the presentation of works of literature to suit various ideological and poetological ends; it refers to the written process of changing genres. In the broader sense, it includes all forms of transforming a text from one culture or text type to another. In that sense, rewriting places the production and reception of literature within the wider framework of culture and history. Translation is one form of rewriting; it transforms a text written in one source language into another target language. States or their leaders can use rewritings for cultural, political, economical and ideological purposes. J.K. Nyerere used rewriting as a tool for ideological, social and Cultural Revolution. Moreover, he used rewriting as a technique of mobilizing and influencing his society towards appreciating religious doctrine and African socialism. This paper examines some of J.K. Nyerere’s rewriting contributions into Kiswahili since his country’s independence.
Reduction of location error in GPS collar tracking data of bovine cattle by using data screening
(University of Namibia, 2012) Polojarvi, Katja; Colpaert, Alfred; Matengu, Keneth K.
Global Positioning System (GPS) telemetry enables tracking of an individual animal over a long period of time and can provide researches with accurate information on animal movement. However, various environmental factors influence the satellite signals received by a GPS collar, potentially deteriorating accuracy of position. We tracked Caprivi Sanga cattle using Televilt Tellus Basic GPS collars in North-East Namibia in 2006 and 2007. Locations obtained during the night, when the cattle are gathered inside livestock enclosures, revealed that a significant proportion of the locations are inaccurate. We used data of seven GPS collars for testing different data screening options as a way to reduce location error. Basic analysis showed that simple measures of accuracy like dilution of precision (DOP) and figure of merit (FOM) are not sufficient to remove erroneous locations from the data. We removed the inaccurate locations with the following condition: 2D location with DOP >6 or 0< altitude <850 m or altitude >1050 m or DOP ≥10 or FOM ≥10 or walking speed of the animal over 4.5 km/h. This data screening option eliminated 75% of the most erroneous locations (>300 m from the livestock enclosures) retaining 97.2% of the locations correctly located inside the livestock enclosures. Before data screening, 95% (1372) of the night-time locations that were located outside the livestock enclosures were located 71-406 m from the enclosures. The maximum error was over 10 km. After data screening, 95% (485) of the locations were 54-298 m from the enclosures; the maximum error was 4.4 km.
Theorising the environment in fiction: An ecocritical reading of Jairos Kangira’s The bundle of firewood
(University of Namibia, 2012) Pasi, Juliet S.
Western perceptions of the African continent as a forest or ‘site of death’ can be traced to as far back as Joseph Conrad’s Heart of darkness. Post-colonial readings of this text exude a literary paradigm shift that has seen African writers attempt to valourise the African forest as a possible site of development. This ecological oriented criticism (ecocriticism) has emerged as one of the fresh ways of celebrating the environment as the fi gurative site upon which human regeneration is likely to occur. The environment becomes a response to the urgent mundane socio-economic issues and provokes readers to interrogate them. In discussing Kangira’s The bundle of firewood, this paper will analyse how these texts use the environment as a narratology to deconstruct the rigid divisions that typify girlhood stereotypes; seeing these not as monolithic, but as permeable and interchangeable. Thus, celebrating the environment is a way of shifting the centre; of giving agency to silent issues and silenced subjects. It becomes a powerful metaphor in terms of the self’s constant quest for definition in a society whose social sexual matrix it (the self) transgresses. The paper reflects on the ramifications of such transgressive politics. It argues that ecocriticism plays a significant role in creating and steering ideologies around a renegotiation of relationships. The paper concludes that the environment is metonymic of so many things; in this context, the politics of exclusivism, and the self’s radicalisation and involvement in a limitless re-fashioning.
Trafficking in Namibia
(University of Namibia, 2012) Kiremire, Merab K.
US Department of State’s Offi ce to Monitor and Combat Traffi cking in Persons Annual Report (CTIP, 2008) classifi ed Namibia as a special case on the basis that whereas there was evidence that traffi cking in persons especially for sexual exploitation, was rife, the trend remained largely un-researched and un-documented. This researcher therefore aimed to establish whether human traffi cking as a social and economic activity existed in Namibia, and if so, its prevalence levels, extent, causes and impact and consequences on both its victims and society as a whole, and if so, whether it was targeting prostitutes into the regional and global sex trade industry in particular. The researcher thus gathered and analysed comprehensive quantitative and qualitative data generated through a standardized validated questionnaire to 230 respondent prostitutes representing 191 females and 39 males, and information provided by 18 case studies of real life human traffi cking victims, 32 key informants and 6 Focus Group Discussion meetings (FGDMs) comprising mainly of interest groups in prostitution hot spots in 18 out of 35 regional metropolises and border posts of the country. The study further interrogated the concepts of traffi cking, prostitution and exploitation within the context of its fi ndings, existing social concepts and structures and the day-to-day realities of the lives of individual and groups of people exposed to them. The study results established that while sex traffi cking as a social phenomenon exists in Namibia, it remained largely unknown and understood. Similarly, whereas it was a fairly new phenomenon, it was growing fast, aff ecting mainly unemployed young women, school-drop-out adolescents and orphans, who once they enter the industry, enjoy a symbiotic social and economic relationship with a mobile clientele of mainly tourists and long-distance commercial transporters. They inevitably get exposed to physical and health hazards including physical violence, abandonment, homelessness and diseases, among them Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) and HIV. The study concluded that prostitution and sex traffi cking in Namibia are social, economic and gender-inequality issues that require urgent attention by relevant authorities and development agencies in terms of prevention and protection interventions at policy, legislative and service levels.
Phytochemical investigation on Namibian plants for anti-malaria compounds
(University of Namibia, 2012) Du Preez, Iwanette C.; Mumbengegwi, Davis R.
Malaria is on the decline in Namibia due to interventions by the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) and the country is moving towards pre-elimination of the disease. However, barriers such as resistance of the uptake of interventions by "at risk" communities, e.g. lack of treatment seeking behavior for WHO recommended ACT's exist. Some communities in malaria-endemic areas do not accept Western medicine, preferring traditional medicines as prescribed by traditional healers. It is important to balance people's cultural beliefs and practices with the MoHSS's objective of malaria elimination by 2020. To facilitate integration of traditional treatments into mainstream malaria case management, documentation and validation of the treatments to allow their safe and effective use have to be carried out. This study was conducted to document and validate the use of seven plants native to Namibia, targeted on the basis of their indigenous uses which suggest their toxicity to Plasmodium parasites. Crude extracts were prepared using methanol-dichloromethane (1/1V/V) and distilled water at 60 C. The extracts were further Partitioned with chloroform-methanol water (12/6/lV/V). Preliminary phytochemical screening was performed to detect the presence of selected Antiplasmodial compounds. Phytochemical tests revealed the presence of anthraquinones, flavonoids, terpenoids, coumarines, and glycosides; alkaloids and steroids were not detected. Paradoxically, thin-layer chromatography analysis on the crude extracts of the same plants tested positive for all compounds. The presence of these phytochemicals and the data generated support the ethno-medicinal uses for these plants
Evaluation of drought indices using the 40-percentile threshold for the north-central regions of Namibia.
(University of Namibia, 2012) Angombe, Simon T.
Drought is not uncommon to the Southern African climate and it has become a matter of serious concern in Namibia. For that reason, almost all parts of Namibia have become vulnerable to drought occurrence. Whilst recognising agriculture as a pertinent component of the Namibian economy, it is imperative to underscore the importance of drought early warning products for short- and long-term decision making in various sectors of the country’s economy. Following the 1991/92 drought, which ravaged more than 80% of Southern Africa, Namibia now realise the value of meteorological information in weathersensitive decisions. This severe drought has been described as the worst in living memory. Five stations (Ombalantu, Oshakati, Rundu, Katima Mulilo and Tsumkwe) in the northern part of Namibia were assessed. The researcher used the rainfall decile method to assess drought conditions by evaluating whether the widely used 40-percentile threshold is appropriate for triggering a drought warning in Namibia. Results showed that the threshold might have been set too high to be of use in warning farmers of coming droughts. In order to determine the percentile that would be best serve as trigger for drought warnings, there is need for further examination at 30, 25 and 20 percentile mark thresholds. Based on the 40-percentile threshold, much of the drought and a decrease in rainfall accumulation in Ombalantu and Oshakati in the Omusati and Oshana regions respectively, occurred towards the end of the 20th century.
Death and dying: An analysis of the language used in copying with death in the Shona society
(University of Namibia, 2012) Kaguda, Damarris
This article analyses the language that the Shona speaking people in Zimbabwe use in naming death and dying, describing the dead, and consoling the bereaved. The research derives its linguistic analysis from a Shona socio-cultural-religious perspective. Related to this perspective, is the concept of saving face and easing the tension caused by death and this notion can be understood in the light of the politeness principle that guides human communication. Interviews and participatory observations were employed as data collection techniques in order to establish whether the Shona people use their language ordinarily or they fine-tune it to suit specific situations, particularly the unpalatable social situations like death and dying (language for specific purpose). Undergirded by these theoretical frameworks and methods, the study established that the Shona people have the tendency of creating, packaging and re-packaging their language use in relation to the social dilemma confronting them. Indirect ways of referring to tabooed matters such as death are in tandem with the Shona semantic philosophy in which by ‘indirection they find direction.’ In this regard, reference to death and dying often take the form of some blunt and euphemistic words or phrases, idiomatic and metaphorical expressions as a way of coping with death and dying. Euphemistic words and expressions allow the Shona people to talk about unpleasant notions and neutralise the unpleasantness, for example, the subjects of death and dying.
Conventional and novel/creative metaphors: Do differing cultural environments affect parsing in a second language?
(University of Namibia, 2012) Smit, Talita C.
Metaphors can be regarded as systemic interrelations of multiple experiences which map one relatively stable domain to another. A number of cognitive linguists, such as KOvecses (2005) and Lakoff (2006), suggest that much metaphorical thinking arises from recurring patterns of physical experiences and sensori-motor interactions with the physical world. Gibbs (1999, p. 152) furthermore states that "people clearly a/so learn conceptual metaphors from their experiences with language." Research findings indicate that the default interpretations by First Language speakers were octuol/y the idiomCltic understandings, not the literal ones. The question could be asked whether this would be the case with Second Language speakers when drawing inferences from metaphorical expressions used by first language speakers, and specifically in the case of novel/creative metaphorical expressions.I assumed that this process might pose difficulties for ESl readers from an African environment when reading a business article in English which contained a fair amount of metaphorical expressions. I looked at both conventional metaphors and novel(creative metaphors. These were the metaphors with a source domain that presupposed meta-knowledge of the British English cultural environment. I also included in the research instrument a few orientational metaphors that were used in the business artcle. The findings of this study indicate concurrence with Gibbs (1999, cited in Yu zoog) that "{c]ultura/ models 'in shaping what people believe, how they act, and how they speak about the world and their own experiences' set up specific perspectives from which aspects of 'embodied experiences are viewed as particularly salient and meaningful in people's lives. ... In short, 'social and cultural constructions of experience fundamentaJ/y shape embodied metaphor."'
Grappling with a post-colonial challenge: A critical analysis of Shona writers’ vision of the HIV and Aids epidemic
(University of Namibia, 2012) Makaudze, Godwin; Gudhlanga, Enna S.
The post-colonial era has witnessed many African writers embarking on, among many activities, decolonisation, cultural regeneration and nation-building through their works of art. Whilst they have striven to reclaim the African’s dignity, integrity and humanity that s/he has lost through colonialism, the post-colonial era has again presented to the same writer, new challenges posed by life, among them; the HIV and Aids epidemic. Whilst many writers have been quite eloquent in conveying the experiences and effects of HIV and AIDS on the affected, what has remained elusive is the root causes of its transmission as well as ways of dealing with the epidemic. Blame has largely been shouldered on patriarchy, men and ‘their’ promiscuous behaviour on one hand, and Shona traditional customs on the other, both of which are largely victims of a new socio-economic order. The paper thus is an exposition of the social vision of selected Shona writers concerning the HIV and Aids epidemic. It seeks to establish if they have moved away from the popular yet mythical victim-blame to accord the epidemic a more holistic and informative gaze. It also seeks to ascertain whether the writers have suggested realistic and humane solutions in their works of art or they have adopted the popular but less realistic defeatist stance. The paper uses the socio-historical approach to ground its observations and arguments.
Issues in ethnomusicology as human science
(University of Namibia, 2012) Tsoubaloko, Francois Haipinge
The elements that constitute the topic of this paper are extracted from my newly finished book rn Ethnomusrcology. Namibra as a country is not only made of geographical boundaries with other countries, located in the African continent map, but perhaps it is made most by what it contains inside forming the National cultural Heritage, from which we get our cultural identity as a nation in diversity, that we should cherish much. These are the languages we speak, the way we dress (Outfit), the way we sing and dance, traditional architecture, manufacturing, ritual on traditional marriage, traditional healings, labour (cultivation and harvest), beverage and dishes. Most of these features in traditional societies are declining because of the contemporary daily life in which we found ourselves. The attitudinal, archetypal, moulding vision and anxiety of the Indigenous elderly people in the rural life, is to see continuity being assumed or secured of the above mentioned features, seen by young people in Namibia as things of the past life, archaic, childish and non-sense. These young people have their mind set on foreign horizons. This is also expressed on music, In such way that since Independence almost nobody came up with a creation of contemporary music style based on the Namibian traditional music. All music performed In the country is based on foreign genres such as Kwaito, R&B, Reggae, Kwasa· kwasa, kizomba, etc. Finally the paper also deals with the desire people have developed in promoting arts in Its diverse forms within the eco-tourism Industry, to alleviate the living conditions of the indigenous people in the rural areas. There are two sides of the coin to be considered in that: the good and bad aspects In doing the promotion of arts in this environment.
Information literacy programme at the University of Namibia
(University of Namibia, 2012) Iilonga, Selma
The research was done to investigate the information seeking behaviour among students at the University of Namibia. The study was conducted to fi nd out the reasons why students do not attend the information literacy training off ered by the University of Namibia library and to recommend ways in which information literacy can be integrated into the curriculum. The study used both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods by employing self-administered questionnaires distributed to participants and using focus group interviews with library staff to ensure validity of the results. The fi ndings showed varied reasons for low turnout by the students for training and chief among these are poor communication of information to students concerning the days of training and lack of information on the part of students concerning the signifi cance of training in information literacy. The fi ndings also revealed that many students had the competence to use the internet, although they lacked knowledge of particular websites and databases which were relevant to their studies. The majority of students suggested more training as measures that can be taken to improve information literacy at the university and pointed out that students must be informed properly about training sessions. It was observed that the training did not have a written curriculum and it was recommended that a curriculum be developed to meet the needs of diff erent students. It was also recommended that critical databases must be made available to students through distribution of pamphlets and wall posters so that those students who are capable of using computers can access these databases that are critical to their studies.
Rethinking the poetics of urban informalities in fiction: Reconstructing the city space in times of crisis
(University of Namibia, 2012) Mlambo, Nelson
This paper considers ways of reading and theorising urbanity and the urbanites’ coping strategies for survival. The prime motivation is to demonstrate their apt capacity to transform the urban space and utilise it to better their lives. Using resilience theory and focusing on the profundity of agency, the paper takes literature, particularly the short story set in urban Zimbabwe during the crisis of the past decade to focus on the characters as actors with the capacity to innovate and respond to difficulty with ingenuity through urban informalities; strengths we can all learn from.

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