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Item A stylistic analysis of Oshiwambo wedding songs in a book entitled Oshipapa Moonkuluhedhi by Petrus Mbenzi(University of Namibia, 2024) Ndove, Nathan Eliab Ndinomholo; Mbenzi, Petrus A.The purpose of this study was to analyse the stylistic features that are employed in Oshiwambo wedding songs in Oshapapa moonkuluhedhi by Petrus Mbenzi. The data was collected through a desktop research by analysing documented wedding songs in the aforementioned book. No participants were involved in the collection of data in this study. This study used a qualitative research approach that allowed the researcher to stylistically analyse Oshiwambo wedding songs. The study employed the theory of stylistic criticism as presented by Ngara (1985) and the meaning theory of Leech (1981) as the theoretical framework. The theory of stylistic criticism accounted for both linguistic and literary aspects of oral poetry. By employing this theory, the researcher analysed the stylistic features that are employed in Oshiwambo wedding songs in the book titled Oshapapa moonkuluhedhi by Petrus Mbenzi at the different levels of language. The theory of meaning deals with semantics as a branch of linguistics that studies the meaning of words in language. The theory assisted the researcher to identify how meaning was conveyed in Oshiwambo wedding songs.The study revealed that the stylistic features are appropriate for the Ovawambo tribe as the stylistic features help Ovawambo to deliver the intended messages effectively. The study identified rhyme, dialects and onomatopoeia as stylistic devices under phonology. The study further revealed the lexical devices such as borrowing, repetition, anaphora and parallelism. Syntax is another language aspects which is discussed in this study; the identified devices that are discussed in this language aspect are: sentence length; types of sentences; questions as stylistic features; rhetorical question, hortative sentences and refrain. At semantic level, the study identified simile, metaphor, euphemism, anti-thesis and enjambment as the stylistic and linguistic features that were analysed in Oshiwambo wedding songs. This study contributes to the study of literature, specifically a stylistic analysis of Oshiwambo. The knowledge acquired through this study could be utilised by other scholars as literature in the same field of specialisation. This study, therefore, recommends that more research should be conducted on Oshiwambo wedding songs, particularly on their functions, performance and paralinguistic featuresItem Access to and knowledge of sexual and reproductive health services among adolescent school girls in Gobabis, Namibia(University of Namibia, 2019) Pearce, Alice MubangaThis study offered unique insight in the challenges and opportunities that exist for adolescent access to sexual and reproductive health services (SRHS) in Gobabis. It focused on exploring adolescent access to reproductive health services through the experiences of adolescent girls and healthcare providers. It was a qualitative case study. The data was collected through interviews with adolescent girls and key-informants who are experienced healthcare providers. This approach provided an in-depth understanding of adolescent reproductive health needs and barriers hindering their access to SRHS in Gobabis. Participating schools and health centres were selected using a purposive sampling technique while the individual girls were sampled using a quota sampling technique. The data gathered from participants was analysed manually using content analysis. The findings show that the girls have access to SRHS. However, they lack a comprehensive understanding of their sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR). As such, this could have affected the meaning attached to their reproductive health. Generally, the girls are aware of a variety of SRHS available at their local health centres but needed more information on their side-effects. The most commonly sought after SRHS was the contraceptive ‘injection’, family planning pills, condoms and the morning after pill. Others included, counselling services and general health information. However, barriers such as the high cost of service in private facilities, the waiting time in government facilities, negative attitudes from nurses and lack of parental support and discussion on issues surrounding sex and sexuality continue to impact access to SRHS. The researcher recommends mother and daughter community health clubs at health centres that can facilitate discussions on SRH among parents, adolescents and health professionals in order to effectively communicate the importance of adolescent reproductive health.Item The adoption of new media technologies by the Namibia print media: A case study of the New Era and the Namibian newspaper(University of Namibia, 2019) Nghitongo, Kaino Iyaloo NdeumonoThis study investigated the strategies employed by newspapers in Namibia to adopt new media technologies in their daily operations with a specific focus on New Era and The Namibian newspaper. The study also assessed how the print media has adopted new media technologies and examined how new media technologies have changed operations of news organisations. Using a qualitative method in the form of a case study, a non-probability sampling technique was used to purposively select the sample from New Era and The Namibian newspaper. The sampling quota included one managing editor, one marketing manager, one Information Technology (IT) manager, and six journalists, from each newspaper. The total number of participants in this study was 18. The study revealed that media practitioners from the two newspapers all acknowledge the need to adopt new media technologies, within their operations and appreciated opportunities of being able to reach their audience on different platforms, other than the hard copy newspaper. Furthermore, the study revealed both newspapers have aggressively implemented online newspapers (E-paper), as a complimentary platform for their print editions, websites and mobile applications. The study also found that despite the flexibility in operation that is presented by new media technologies to the journalists, they now face challenges of competing for news with citizen journalists, which forces newspaper journalist to be more creative in their writing and also maintain credibility. The study concluded that newspapers in the country are gradually adopting new media technologies, with different platforms that align with the telecommunication infrastructure in the country. The study thus recommends that news organisation create more awareness on the platforms they have implemented, in order to attract interest from the audiences, to be able to explore such platforms.Item An analysis of the literary representation of the causes and effects of family disintegration in memory Chirere' selected short stories from the antrology Somewhere in this country(University of Namibia, 2018) Sibanda, RumbidzaiThe thesis explores the literary representation of the causes and effects of family disintegration in Memory Chirere’s selected short stories namely “Keresenzia”, “Beautiful children”, “An Old Man, Eyes of a Buck”, “Plastic and Cardboards” and “When Passions Gather” from the anthology Somewhere in this country. The literary presentation of the causes and effects of family disintegration is an area which has not been thoroughly explored by African writers. The six short stories were selected using purposive sampling. These have been selected because they present themes and characters which were of interest to the researcher as they express the central concern of family disintegration. A qualitative research was design was adopted to analyse the literary representation of the causes and effects of family disintegration in Memory Chirere’s selected short stories. The six short stories were read and critically examined using family systems theory. As a desktop literary research, there was no field work but a literary analysis. Content analysis was used to analyse the data collected by analyzing and examining the causes and effects of family disintegration as well as its effects on children, parents and the society. An analysis of the short stories was done by identifying themes and characters relating to family disintegration and the findings were presented in narrative form. The study indicated that behavioural problems of the characters, loss of morality, death, cultural fragmentation and poverty are some of the causes of family disintegration as portrayed by Chirere in the selected short stories. The study further noted that family disintegration turns children into vampires and killing machines due to lack of guidance from the family members who are no more. Furthermore, the society has no hope in the future generation because children are growing up with no peer role models. The study concluded that all the selected six short stories “Keresenzia”, “Beautiful children”, “An Old Man, Eyes of a buck”, “Plastic and cardboards” and “When passions gather” provided useful insights into the causes and effects of family disintegration and the objectives of the study were met. The study therefore recommends that other researchers can also do a study of the causes of family disintegration focusing in the Southern Africa since the beliefs are all African.Item Assessing the use of cloud computing for records management in selected organisations in Namibia(University of Namibia, 2023) Karlos, Alina NdapunikwaThis multi-case study assessed the use of cloud computing for records management in selected private organisations in Namibia. The study’s objectives were to assess the drivers and benefits of adopting cloud computing for records management; analyse the cloud computing services and deployment models adopted by the organisations; assess the risks of managing records in the cloud; and identify measures to mitigate risks of managing records in the cloud. A qualitative research approach using semi-structured interviews was employed for data collection. The study population comprised of Namibian organisations using cloud computing and offering cloud computing services for records management. Four private organisations were conveniently selected. Seven participants comprising information technology (IT) staff from cloud computing service-providing organisations and records management staff from both a cloud computing service client organisation and a cloud computing service provider were purposively selected for the study. Data was analysed through content analysis. The study found that Namibian organisations adopted cloud computing for records management. However, cloud providers refered to information managed on the cloud as ‘data’. The study findings established that organisations adopted cloud computing due to its flexibility and affordability. Significant lack of records management expertise in both cloud computing service providers and client organisations was evident. The study further established that records management legal and regulatory framework had not received comprehensive attention by both cloud computing service providers and client organisations. Namibia’s current legal and regulatory framework is weak on the management of electronic records. The introduction of new laws relating to managing electronic records will be instrumental to the success of using cloud computing to manage records. The findings also highlighted that managing records in the cloud presented some risks and challenges such as non-compliance with laws, uncertain records security, and poor knowledge of records management. The study concluded that the cloud computing services provided and adopted by the Namibian organisations were not fully viable for the proper management of electronic records and there was a need for the customisation of cloud computing services to meet records management standards and practices. The study proposed a framework for adopting cloud computing for records management in Namibia.Item An assessment of social protection and the living conditions of the elderly: A study of Omatunda village, Ohangwena region(University of Namibia, 2022) Haukena, Kulaumone MesagIn Africa, ageing is a phenomenon that is just beginning to reveal its shape. Most governments, including the Government of the Republic of Namibia, acknowledge the increasing number of older persons. Social protection interventions usually include measures to provide adequate housing and nutrition, ensure access to education, health and promote social inclusion and political stability. The lack of access to social protection constitutes a major obstacle to the socio-economic development and wellbeing of the elderly. This was a mixed method descriptive design: a study of Omatunda village, Ohangwena Region of Namibia. The primary objective of the study was to determine the extent to which the Namibian social protection scheme affords to bring a decent living for the rural elderly people in Omatunda village. Purposive sampling was used to select a sample from the population of elderly people above the age of 60 and living in Omatunda village rural Namibia. The results show that about 76% of the respondents were female, while 24% were male. The majority of the respondents 47.6% were between the ages of 70 – 79 years. The majority of the respondents 52.4% were married and 23.8% were a widow. Furthermore, 14.3% were never married, while 9.5% were divorced. About 100% of the elderly people interviewed were receiving Government grant (pension) every month as their main source of income, however, only 43% were satisfied with the amount they are receiving, they perceived the social assistance grant as enabling them to provide the necessities of life and to pay their grandchildren’s school fees. However, about 57% of the elderly were displeased with the grant, which means 48% were neutral and 9.5% were unsatisfied at all. The study revealed that the respondents do use pension funds for a lot of their basic needs, however, noted that all the needs are not covered. Furthermore, the study revealed that there is a public health facility in the area where elderly people are receiving medical care free of charge, only 57% were satisfied with the health service to them, 43% were not satisfied due to long waiting time in the queue as well as the frequently stock out of essential medicines. Although the study revealed that the general health condition of the majority of the respondents is reported to be good, this does not mean that they are unrestricted from challenges. Like many other people, elderly people are faced with numerous challenges which are both social and economic. The study concluded that the old-age 3 pension fund is regarded as a most vital source of income for many households and it is used to improve the living condition of the elderly.Item An assessment of the impact off green schemes and gender on economic empowerment: A case of female small scale farmers in Ndonga-Linena, Kavango East, region(University of Namibia, 2017) Endunde, CeciliaThis thesis explored the impact of green schemes and gender on economic empowerment of women. In particular, it informs on gender participation in the green schemes; decisions on access and control of resources; production and income; green scheme impact on the small-scale farmers (ssfs) and on gender disparity in agriculture. A qualitative research methodology was used where questionnaires and interviews were used for data collection on 16 small-scale farmers at Ndonga-linena green scheme. Although the study’s target were women, male small-scale farmers were also interviewed to analyse the extent of empowerment. The study found that 80% of the small-scale farmers at Ndonga-linena green scheme originate from other regions than the Kavango east region, an indication that green scheme projects are national than regional in their target of beneficiaries. Green schemes, although not fully, empowers women as they make decisions over access to credits, the marketing and sale of products and control over their income and expenditures. The study further revealed that female small-scale farmers out-performed the male small-scale farmers in terms of high crop yield and profit. In addition, the female small-scale farmers displayed control over the agricultural resources as well as leisure time despite other household chores. Since fewer females than males are participating as small-scale farmers, there is a need to increase women participation, to increase production and address past injustices. The study significantly contributes to an understanding of women’s economic empowerment through agriculture.Item An assessment of the recordkeeping functionalities of the Namibian Court Information System (NAMCIS) at the Office of the Judiciary(University of Namibia, 2022) Nangula, Uahengo HileniThis study sought to assess the recordkeeping functionalities of the Namibian Court Information System (NAMCIS) to determine the efficiency and/or loopholes in the functions and the management of the system. The assessment was guided by the Modular Requirements for Records Systems, standard (MoReq2010) and the IRMT guidelines for integrating records management procedures into ICTs (Information Communication Technologies). The objectives of the study were to: evaluate the standards and procedures used to capture, store, retrieve, disseminate and retain records in NAMCIS; establish the benefits and challenges associated with NAMCIS; determine the knowledge and skills of the people who are responsible for managing the system, and; recommend ways in which NAMCIS can be optimised for the benefit of all users. The study adopted an interpretivism paradigm that aims at understanding individuals’ subjective experiences and their interpretations of the world around them. A qualitative research design was adopted, using a case study. The target population was the Khomas Region employee cohort of the Office of the Judiciary. Non probability purposive sampling was used to select four (4) IT personnel, six (6) chief legal clerks, fourteen (14) court clerks, seven (7) magistrates, and nine (9) prosecutors. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews, observations and document review. Descriptive narratives were used to analyse data through content analysis. The major findings from the study revealed that although NAMCIS had adequate security measures, it was outdated and it did not meet all the mandatory functional requirements of an electronic recordkeeping system due to the fact that, it was acquired as a transactional system. It was also discovered that, the implementation process was not guided by records management professionals or internationally recommended records management standards. This study therefore concludes that NAMCIS is outdated and ii incompatible with new software and hardware. The study recommends that: a retention and disposal schedule should be implemented to determine how long information must be retained on the system; a policy framework should be developed to enable the Office of the Judiciary to manage electronic records kept in NAMCIS according to recommended records management standards; end-users should be trained regularly; and the Office of the Judiciary should liaise with Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) (Department of EDRMS) and the National Archives of Namibia, on the improvement of the system’s technicalities. This research builds on the knowledge of electronic recordkeeping systems in general, and in particular, NAMCIS.Item An assessment of the state of science journalism in Namibia : A case study of the Namibian, Namibian sun, and New Era newspapers(University of Namibia, 2023) Brandt, KudakwanguScience journalism is a form of reporting that conveys news about science-related topics in a simplified manner. Fields vary from health, environmental and animal science, amongst others. As this field gradually broadens, the duty of science journalists to communicate verified information to ordinary citizens has been amplified. Equally, this underpins the need for scientists to communicate their work to the public, and take their work beyond academic circles to the layman. This is often done by science journalists who have the expertise to report scientific news in a fashion that is less technical. The main objectives of the study were to assess the criteria used by the Namibian print media to determine the newsworthiness of science news, and to determine the challenges and opportunities for the media in the science journalism field. Furthermore, the study sought to examine the perceptions that scientists have of the media. The study aimed to contribute to bridging the gap between scientists and the public. This thesis includes an analysis of qualitative data collected from newspaper editors from Namibia’s main newspapers. In addition, quantitative data were collected from scientists in different fields. The key findings revealed that there is a communication gap between journalists and scientists, stemming from mistrust and generally the lack of appreciation for each other’s profession, which ultimately has an effect on the public’s consumption of science news. It is recommended that various activities and tools be put in place to strengthen relations between the media and scientists and ensure accuracy in the popularisation of scienceItem An assessment on the usage of internet services at Omaheke regional library(University of Namibia, 2022) Ngashikuao, Lucia NdeshihafelaPublic libraries have become primary sources of free Internet services delivery, and this qualitative case study set to assess the usage of free Internet services provided at the Omaheke Regional Library (ORL). The study was guided by the following research questions: What is the main reason for using Internet services? How satisfied are users with the provision of free Internet services? What difficulties do users encounter when using the Internet? What is the impact of free Internet services to the users? What policies exist in the ORL regarding the usage of free Internet provision to its users? Kuhlthau’s (2008) Information Search Processes theory and Wilson’s (1999) Information Seeking Behaviour theory guided the study. The study applied a qualitative research approach, and the data were collected through Semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, and participant observations were conducted with purposely selected staff members and Internet users. Interviews, observations and focus group discussions data were analysed by employing the content analysis technique. The findings of the study showed that the Internet users of the ORL used free Internet services for socialising, educational purposes and searching for jobs. The data further revealed that Internet users were not satisfied with the provision of Internet services due to the slow speed of the Internet and few computers in the library. The findings also demonstrated that the provision of free Internet services impacted the lives of Internet users through education and social activities. Moreover, the findings also revealed that the library did not have any Internet policy in place regarding the usage of free Internet services. The research recommends that the ORL should increase the Internet bandwidth and engage library stakeholders regarding decision making of Internet services for effective and efficient provision of free Internet services.Item Benchmarking public relations practice in the Namibian public service with the principles of the excellence theory(University of Namibia, 2019) Nambundunga, Ndafilwonghenda T.The minister responsible for the management of government information in Namibia, as well as commentators, have expressed concern about public relations practice in government ministries, arguing that citizens are disadvantaged and the full spectrum of the advantages effective communication confers are lost at the national and transnational level (Kapitako, 2013; Mutambo, 2014; Namibia News Digest, n.d.). This study sets out to compare public relations practice in the Namibian public service with the tenets of the Excellence Theory of public relations which is seen as an example of generic benchmarking that involves identifying critical success factors (Grunig, Grunig, & Dozier, 2006) that should aid public relations practice in the Namibian public service come into its own. This entailed benchmarking public relations practice in the public service with the principles of the Excellence theory as well as key informant Interviews with stakeholders – government officials and public relations practitioners. The findings indicate that Namibian government public relations still needs working on if it is to qualify as excellent practice, hence the recommendation for practitioners to closely align the practice context with the tenets of the Excellence Theory.Item Community radio and information needs: The case of live FM in Rehoboth (2013)(University of Namibia, 2016) Mwikisa, DianaThis study was an explorative investigation that sought to examine the role Live FM radio plays in serving the information needs of the Rehoboth community. The study was motivated by the fact that community radios in Namibia mainly focus on music and entertainment, which do not contribute much to Namibia’s socio-economic development. Data was collected using focus group discussions, semi-structured interviews and self-administered questionnaires. The study used both qualitative and quantitative data analysis methods aided by ATLAS.ti and Microsoft Excel software to analyse data. The study revealed that more than three quarters of presenters working at Live FM radio were men, confirming that gender imbalance is one of the problems in community participation. The results also showed that Live FM mostly broadcasts in Afrikaans. As a result, the Damara/Nama group in Rehoboth feels neglected. However, the results have shown that Live FM radio plays its role by providing the community it serves with a platform to air their concerns. The study further revealed that Live FM devotes 60% to music and 40% to non-music content in its current programme schedule. Live FM is working on a new programme schedule to address this. It was also revealed that one of the major challenges to community radios is financial sustainability. Nevertheless, Live FM radio has not closed down due to finances since it was established. The main conclusion from this study is that community radio has a strong development focus and serves as a voice of the voiceless in societal issues. It helps communities to transform themselves because it enables them to address their social problems. The main recommendation arising from this study is that stakeholders concerned with community development should use community radio stations more effectively to capture the information needs of a community.Item A comparative assessment of the benefits of income generating activities to the beneficiaries funded by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare in Namibia(University of Namibia, 2021) Shiviya, Anastasia NanguraIncome Generating Activities (IGAs) are utilised globally to create employment and improve livelihoods, Namibia is no exception. This study was set out to comparatively assess the benefits of Income Generating Activities to the beneficiaries funded by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare (MGECW). The study is distinct as it was conducted from a gender perspective and attempts to narrow the knowledge gap by providing Gender Disaggregated Data (GDD) on IGAs. The study used a sequential triangulation of quantitative and qualitative research methods, to collect primary and secondary data, which included secondary analysis case studies. Semi-structured interviews were the main data collection method used, supplemented by observations. Key findings revealed that from 2004 to 2016 employment was created for 1571 IGAs’ main beneficiaries from all 14 regions of whom 1010 (64.3%) were females and 482 (30.7%) males. However, this employment is in the lower tier of the informal economic sector, thus supporting the views of the Dual Labour Market Theory (DLMT). The outcome of the Chi-Square goodness of fit test failed to reject the null hypothesis, x2(28) =37.52, p≥.05. The results revealed that women are generating more income than men. The income was analysed against Namibia’s upper – bound poverty line as per the Geni-coefficient, 2003/2004-2015/2016 of N$ 262.45 - N$ 520.8 and the average monthly turnover of unregistered businesses in the informal economic sector of N$ 2,100.00. The analysis indicates that less than half of the IGAs’ main beneficiaries 350 (19.5%) out of 1571 generate an average monthly turnover, which is comparable to the upper bound poverty lines and the average monthly turnover for unregistered businesses. It is recommended that the MGECW must collaborate with relevant stakeholders to devise strategies that would aid IGA beneficiaries to formalise their businesses and reap the benefits. More importantly, MGECW must leverage existing policies to facilitate the value addition of IGA products and services to maximise access to markets.Item A comparative study of men and women's attitudes towards the legalization of availability of abortion on demand: The case of Youth Centres in Katutura, Windhoek(University of Namibia, 2017) Mwatilifange, Sarah N.Unwanted pregnancy and unsafe abortions are two of the most controversial topics in Namibia. Due to these controversies, the debate on the legalization of the availability of abortion on demand should be brought back into the spotlight. The aim of this research was to unveil men’s and women’s attitudes towards the legalization of the availability of abortion on demand. The target group were youth from five Katutura youth centres. The data were collected with the use of closed-ended questionnaires. The reviewed literature indicates that abortions have always existed throughout human history. Nonetheless, the literature indicates that restrictive abortion laws have been proven to fail in regulating abortion. The findings confirmed the occurrence of illegal abortions in Namibia. The study has revealed that despite the reality of illegal abortions, respondents would not necessarily advocate for abortion to be legalized on demand. The statistics of the respondents who would advocate for abortion on demand were significantly low; however, the percentage for females was higher than that of males. The study found that despite the knowledge of the risks associated with illegal abortions and the struggle that women and girls go through to terminate unwanted pregnancies, the majority of respondents would still advocate for the current restrictive abortion laws. It further revealed that the target group would not necessarily advocate for abortion on demand. This confirms previous government assertions that most Namibians would not favour a change in the law. On the other hand, a significant number of respondents revealed that the current restrictions on abortion have only proven to be a failure. The results are therefore contradictory. This study has attempted to bring to light the importance of legalizing abortion on demand as part of promoting maternal health. Abortion remains a controversial issue. Based on the findings of the study, the researcher recommends that there is a need to educate society about the actual dangers that are associated with unsafe and illegal abortions. The study further recommends that there is a need to advocate for women’s reproductive rights. Women need to control their fertility and whether or not to have a baby still remains a struggle as it is not a choice.Item A comparative study on the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in cataloguing and classification of library materials at University of Namibia (UNAM) and Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST)(University of Namibia, 2021) Iyambo, AuneThis study presents a comparison between the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) facilities in cataloguing and classifying bibliographic materials in academic libraries in Namibia. A multiple case study design was applied to analyse of the two academic libraries at the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) and the University of Namibia (UNAM). Face-to-face semi-structured interviews as well as observation was used to collect data. The population of this study comprised of 18 cataloguing and classification section staff members, which were made of 12 staff members of the University of Namibia and 6 staff members of Namibia University Science and Technology. A purposive sampling technique was used to select eight respondents to participate in the study. Content analysis was applied to examine the data. The study found that ICT facilities brought a great change in cataloguing and classification section for both institutions under study and these changes made work easier, time saving and more accurate when cataloguing and classification of library materials were done electronically. Thus, both institutions widely use and accept ICT facilities in their day-today activities. This was influenced by Perceived Ease of Use model which allowed individuals to accept the use technologies that would be effortless and hassle free. The reasons why librarians used and accepted ICT facilities in their day-to-day work was that they assisted in detecting duplications of work and errors when cataloguing and classifying of their library materials, made their work easy, saved time for their users and also to keep abreast with the new technology trends. It was also found that ICT facilities helped to improve and uplift librarians’ job performances of the librarians. As far as the two determinants of Technology Acceptance Model (Perceived Ease of Use and Perceived Usefulness) were concerned, technologies used in libraries improved productivity. The participants cited the following challenges when using ICT facilities: ICT facilities could not function without electricity connection, it is difficult to locate library materials with lengthy classification numbers, the system trial do not keep track of usernames and password, and communicate challenges faced between the system vendor and the library. The study concluded that librarians preferred to use ICT facilities as opposed to manual cataloguing and classification because they made their work easy, saved time, and provided more accurate results. The study recommends that institutions should develop ICT policies to help facilitate service delivery and effective storage systems.Item A comparison of the educational progression of orphans and non-orphans in Lusaka(University of Namibia, 2016) Samasumo, NamasikuThere are over 1 million orphans in the country, half of whom live in conditions of extreme poverty. These poverty conditions compromise children’s futures because they cannot afford basic education despite the “Free Primary Education” policy. This study was carried out in Lusaka. 180 orphans and non-orphans were compared to find out whether orphans were more disadvantaged than non-orphans. The study investigated the family structures of orphans, quality of education they received, how far orphans go in their education, government policy and its role in aiding education, the impact of free basic education policy, and the socio-economic aspects affecting educational performance and achievements. 3 types of schools were identified; private, community and government schools. 3 private, 3 government and 3 community schools were selected using systematic random sampling to come up with 9 schools in total. 180 pupils were selected from the 9 schools and a questionnaire administered to them. Of these pupils, 60 were from private, another 60 from community and the last 60 from government schools. Data was analyzed through descriptive statistics using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS); Version 16.0 for Windows. The study found that orphans are absorbed into the extended family, that they receive a lower quality of education, that their chances of a secondary education are diminished because of the high costs of education and that they receive little to no help from the government for their wellbeing. The study recommended that further study be done on orphan education in secondary school to investigate the completion rate of orphans, that deliberate government policy to enforce the Free Education Policy be formulated, that government institute structures in all schools and communities that cater to the emotional wellbeing of orphans and that support programmes be provided to guardians to care for their families.Item Conceptualisations of the community and community knowledge among community radio volunteers in Katutura, Namibia(2008) Ellis, HughCommunity radio typically relies on volunteers to produce and present stations’ programming. Volunteers are generally drawn from stations’ target communities and are seen as “representatives” of those communities. It is with such volunteers and their role as representatives of stations’ target communities that this study is concerned. It poses the question: “what are the central concepts that typically inform volunteers’ knowledge of their target community, and how do these concepts impact on their perception of how they have gained this knowledge, and how they justify their role as representatives of this community?” The dissertation teases out the implications of these conceptualisations for a volunteer team’s ability to contribute to the establishment of a media environment that operates as a Habermasian ‘critical public sphere’. It argues that this can only be achieved if volunteers have detailed and in-depth knowledge of their target community. In order to acquire this knowledge, volunteers should make use of systematic ways of learning about the community, rather than relying solely on knowledge obtained by living there. In a case study of Katutura Community Radio (KCR), one of the bestknown community radio stations in Namibia, the study identifies key differences in the way in which different groups of volunteers conceptualise “the community”. The study focuses, in particular, on such difference as it applies to those who are volunteers in their personal capacity and those who represent non-governmental and community-based organisations at the station. It is argued that two strategies would lead to significant improvement in such a station’s ability to serve as a public sphere. Firstly, the station would benefit from an approach in which different sections of the volunteer team share knowledge of the target community with each other. Secondly, volunteers should undertake further systematic research into their target community. It is also argued that in order to facilitate such processes, radio stations such as KCR should recognise the inevitability of differences between different versions of “community knowledge”.Item The contribution of knowledge sharing in the effective implementation of electronic document and records management systems in the Namibian public service(University of Namibia, 2022) Kazavanga, UetujamaThe study investigated the contribution of Knowledge Sharing (KS) to the successful implementation of the Electronic Document and Records Management System (EDRMS) in the Namibian public service. Various reasons to justify the poor success of EDRMS implementation have been identified across several studies but the role and contribution of KS as a key element towards the successful implementation of EDRMS has not been established. In this regard, the study adopted an interpretivist research paradigm, a qualitative research approach for the data collection and a multiple case study research design. The study targeted three (3) Offices/Ministries/Agencies out of the first nine Offices/Ministries/Agencies that implemented the EDRMS between 2009 and 2010. The sample size consisted of twenty-one (21) participants, whereby seven (7) were from the Office of the Prime Minister, nine (9) from the National Archives of Namibia, and five (5) from the National Planning Commission. Data were collected through document analysis, semi-structured interviews and participant observations. The study found that the reason for the poor success of EDRMS implementation in the Namibian public service points to a lack of and/or poor sharing of knowledge during the implementation stages of EDRMS. This was because both key users and end users of EDRMS in the three O/M/As did not have adequate knowledge sharing opportunities, other than training sessions on EDRMS operations. Based on this, the study recommends that KS ought to be prioritised as a key element of change management, particularly with the introduction of new work processes and procedures. KS should take place at every stage and/or level of EDRMS implementation among all staff members in an institution. Therefore, institutions should deliberately design and create opportunities that would engage all employees and lead to active KS throughout all the divisions and units of an institution. Areas for further studies could include investigating the impact of team building and employees interrelationships towards the successful implementation of EDRMS.Item A critical examination of the literary representation of marriage in Neshani Andreas' The purpule violet of Oshaantu and Valerie Tagwira's The Uncertainty of hope(University of Namibia, 2021) Shipahu, BernardThis study analysed the representations of the marriage institution in Neshani Andreas’ The Purple Violet of Oshaantu (2001) and Valerie Tagwira’s The Uncertainly of Hope (2006) through the explications of Masculinity Theories and Nego-Feminism. Marriage is a topical and contentious issue in both social and legal spheres of life. Marriage is a sacred institution that must be well prepared for as failure to plan before entering the union is planning to fail after entering the union. Every marital relationship is bound either to succeed or fail depending on the attitudes and inputs of the spouses involved. The study examined how the literary texts portray the complex and intricate qualities of marriage. The study’s use of Masculinity Theories and Nego-Feminism to analyse the texts necessitated the incorporation and analysis of numerous issues such as marriage failure, marital in/stability, violence and abuse (specifically from male partners) and quality, functional marriages, and causes of marital dissatisfaction and marital breakdown in the texts. The study used a desk-top qualitative research and employed content analysis in the interpretation and analysis of the selected novels. The study observed that by analysing The Purple Violet of Oshaantu (2001) and The Uncertainty of Hope (2006) as compeers, served as living testimonies to some rich narratives, as the novels provide a coherent and common understanding of the growing complexity of marriage and family. The Purple Violet of Oshaantu (2001) and The Uncertainty of Hope manifest marital relationship issues in relation to society. The study findings revealed that the common understanding of marriage is a ubiquitous institution as it encompasses all cultures, races, ethnic group or religious formation. Moreover, the study further found that the common causes of marital dissatisfaction and marital breakdown were extra-marital affairs, abusive husbands, alcohol abuse, and in-laws’ interference among others. Extra-marital affairs were more prevalent amongst married men than married women. The study noted that from the evidence from a number of existing literary perspectives on marriage, it seems that for some, marriage turns out to be a loveless entrapment while for others, marriage is a one miserable long-life experience. The study also observed that there are sometimes satisfaction, stability and functional marriages. The study recommends that for the future, studies be carried out on the possibility of female abusive partners within marital relationships.