Browsing by Type "Thesis"

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    A bibliometric analysis of research at the University of Namibia
    (Stellenbosch University, 2023) Katukula, Kelvin Mubiana
    Bibliometric analyses of journals and research institutions have been carried out in several studies and countries. These studies mainly use mainstream bibliographic databases (Scopus and Web of Science [WoS]) as the primary sources for their bibliometric analysis. However, such studies are yet to be conducted for Namibian journals, research institutions, and Namibia as a country. Much more, bibliometric analyses and mapping to examine the research output of a research institution in Namibia are yet to take place. In addition, no existing bibliometric studies in Africa have combined data from Scopus, WoS, and Institutional Library Repositories. This thesis addresses these limitations within a study on research output, specifically, the evaluation of the University of Namibia. In order to achieve this aim, this thesis conducted a bibliometric analysis of the University of Namibia (UNAM)’s research output for the duration of (2010 to 2019). The investigation included various research aspects such as the volume of research output, authorship patterns, and whether the publication outlets are national or international. In doing so, the study developed the first comprehensive database of UNAM’s research output from 2010-2019 and the first such knowledge database in Namibia. Data for the bibliometric analysis were obtained from three bibliographic databases: UNAM-IR, Scopus, and WoS. UNAM-IR was added to reflect the value of using institutional research databases as additional bibliometric data sources. Patterns of research production and research collaboration of UNAM staff members were profiled. This enabled the identification of the collaboration patterns of UNAM staff members as depicted in the publications. The author-level analysis compared the percentages of articles with research collaboration and the authors involved in research and publication. The study’s results can potentially enrich further bibliometric studies on research evaluation for other research institutions in general and in Namibia particularly. They equally have the potential to further the national bibliometric studies for Namibia as a whole. The developed comprehensive database of UNAM’s research output can also be used as a background for developing a national knowledge database. However, the study’s most significant contribution is integrating two mainstream bibliographic databases (Scopus and WoS) with the UNAM IR to create a new database of Namibian-authored articles. Fittingly, recommendations with a view of further study and research policy generally and specifically for UNAM have been made
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    A blockchain-based land titles registry in Namibia
    (University of Namibia, 2024) Paavo, Johannes Pandeni; Puente, Rodriguez Rafael
    Land administration systems in many countries are vulnerable and lack transparency, which leads to fraud, delays, and significant costs, especially in developing countries like Namibia. This study aims to address these issues by proposing a blockchain-based land titles registry to preserve land rights in Namibia, drawing inspiration from successful implementations of countries such as Sweden. The study employs a quantitative methodology, using synthetic data to simulate real-world land transactions and scenarios, resulting in a controlled experimental environment. The research findings reveal significant dissatisfaction among Namibians with the existing land administration system as a result of various challenges encountered during land registration. The study proposes a hybrid blockchain network as a promising solution, balancing flexibility, transparency, and privacy, with the potential to reduce bureaucratic delays and improve accessibility for all stakeholders. This network's cryptographic foundation ensures data integrity and increases transparency in land transactions, which may influence land rights protection and stimulate economic growth. Despite its potential, the literature review identifies several challenges, such as contract legality, co-ownership management, and legal framework alignment, that must be addressed before widespread blockchain implementation can occur. This study however lays the groundwork for future investigations into infrastructure scalability, legal framework integration, infrastructure challenges, user adoption strategies, and interoperability issues. These critical areas of research will help understand blockchain's transformative potential for revolutionizing land administration systems
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    A comparative study of the male and female discourses on adolescent pregnancy, sexuality and fertility in Groot Aub, Namibia
    (University of Namibia, 2020) April, Jermine Letitia; Edwards-Jauch Lucy
    This study offered unique insights into the gendered discourses and power relations that create sexual double standards between male and female adolescents. It focused on the mapping of male and female discourses on adolescent pregnancy, sexuality and fertility in Groot Aub, Namibia. The study used critical discourse analysis to compare the cultural values, norms, practices, and perceptions about adolescent sexuality, pregnancy and fertility between men and women. With the use of stratified purposive sampling technique, 41 participants were interviewed using semi-structured and key informant interviews. The findings showed the sexual double standards that were reinforced by patriarchal, traditional and religious discourses. Female sexuality was mostly shamed and it was blamed for teenage pregnancy. These discourses pathologised pregnant teenagers and constructed girls as being sexually promiscuous and damaged. In return, boys who impregnated girls were described as "the guy" or "the man", who acts out of his "natural desires" and who are easily bribed by older women into early sexual debuts. Thus, the lack of male responsibility for their sexuality and fertility was normalised. These discourses inform traditional practices which exasperate gender sexual inequalities and power imbalances between men and women. Furthermore, conservative traditional, cultural and religious discourses dominated adolescent fertility discourses in Groot Aub. These fertility discourses were found to be embedded in gender stereotypes and myths, hence, fostering cultural silence on male sexuality and fertility. The researcher recommends an all-inclusive approach that targets both adolescent girls and boys, as well as women and men in the community on Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) and teenage pregnancies to mitigate stigma, myths and stereotypes that are attached to adolescent SRH, and to transcend patriarchal and derogative cultural sexuality discourses
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    A critical evaluation of the efficacy of the willing-seller, willing-buyer concept in the Namibia’s land reform policy and legal framework
    (University of Namibia, 2024) Haimbili. Rebeka
    Namibia inherited a skewed land redistribution system in favour of a white minority, which necessitated the newly elected government to enact measures to redress this injustice. This study investigated the effectiveness of the willing seller, willing buyer principle and redistribution policies that were enacted to implement the land reform programme. The willing-seller, willing-buyer (WSWB) approach, together with the enacted legislative framework on land have failed dismally in ensuring the equitable distribution of land and in realising the transformative aims of the Constitution. The study analysed the legislative framework to deduce reasons why Namibia has failed to properly address the issue of landlessness 32 years after it attained independence. It also criticises the path of national reconciliation that the government adopted shortly after independence in that it deprived the country of an opportunity to holistically address the inequitable distribution of land. The study found that the major constraints to meaningful land reform are contained in the legislative framework on land, as well as the mixed economy order which undermine the government’s efforts to redistribute land. The study also found that Namibia’s land reform programme does not comply with widely accepted requirements of a successful land reform programme, such as rapidness in implementation, and consensus on the political legitimacy and appropriateness of the mode of land acquisition, which in this case, is the willing seller, willing-buyer policy. Drawing on the experiences of land reforms in South Africa and Zimbabwe this study also found that there is a need to rethink land reform in Namibia, by infusing restorative justice in the land debate, by combining it with other policies that can enhance productivity in agriculture, as well as by easing the burden on the state as the only party responsible for managing and implementing the process of land reform.
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    A geochemical baseline study of giant kelp (macrocystis pyrifera) at the kelp blue farm to assess carbon sequestration potential
    (University of Namibia, 2024) Mutjida, Protasius Shikusho
    The raised levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the earth’s atmosphere have contributed to global climate change, which has adversely affected a wide range of individuals, communities, and organizations. One of the ways to mitigate climate change is to grow a huge amount of kelp forests that can absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and sequester it in the deep ocean. To grow these forests, the right biogeochemical conditions (temperature, nutrients, oxygen, salinity, pH, trace metals and ions) within the ocean is vital to assess the sequestration potential and the impacts on the ocean health. This study aimed at monitoring the biogeochemical changes at the proposed Kelp Blue farm and surrounding areas further away from the farm. This study also aims to create a baseline of the chemical composition of the farm and Lüderitz areas, which has not been done before. Using the results obtained from the study, the potential of the cultivated giant kelp to sequester CO2 will be evaluated. This study measured the geochemical parameters using both in-situ probes and laboratory analyses at 10 different locations in Lüderitz (both offshore and coastal): offshore (within the Kelp Blue Pilot project farm, upstream of the farm in the Dumfudgeon rocks, downstream of the farm at Boot Bay and further south of Lüderitz at the Halifax island) and the coastal areas which are adjacent to the offshore study areas including at coastal site of Guano Bay which is about 17 km and the coastal area of Grossebucht which is about 20 km south the town of Lüderitz as another control site. This study also collected sediment samples at these offshore sites including further north of Walvis Bay at the different latitudinal transects. The sediments were analysed for trace metals by using a portable XRF and for carbon content by LOI (Loss on Ignition) method. Another geochemical analysis done was the titrimetric method to CO2 determination of seawater by using NaOH as a titrant the end points were determined. The concentrations of nutrients (phosphates and nitrites) in seawater samples were determined by adding them to a 10 mL cuvette, which had been zeroed first. A specific nutrient reagent was then introduced, and using ii prescribed sample preparation techniques, a spectrophotometer was employed to measure the concentrations of the nutrients in µg/L and mg/L. The geochemical parameters changed in relation to the seasonality and geographical positioning. In a season when the upwelling system was strong, the concentration of nutrients, acidity and the value of the pH, salinity, other geochemical parameters increased more, compared to other seasons and the further southern sampling sites resembled to that of the Southern Benguela Upwelling System (SBUS). Higher concentrations of phosphates (614 µg/L) were found in areas close to the islands. This is due to the presence of guanos. These remarkable long duration geochemical measuring results shows that the cultivated kelp can co-exist with other natural existing kelp beds in this ecosystem, and they can thrive more predominantly in season of great influx of nutrients during the season of strong winds. With a dynamic Benguela upwelling eastern boundary, these kelp forests have an enormous potential to grow more and will function as carbon absorber and eventually sequester more carbon when cultivated at larger scale. To quantify the carbon sequestration potential of these giant kelps, there are other areas to be investigated such as developing a sediment carbon baseline using isotopic analyses, lipid biomarkers, identifying sediment hotspots where the kelp will be deposited, developing a carbon dioxide removal model and geochemical dispersion models. All these other areas will be developed from the baseline being developed by this study. This study recommends that a continuous and rigorous monitoring of the water and sediment geochemical changes be done as the kelp forest grows and as the scale of operation expands
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    A geochemical study of gallium, germanium and indium, in sulfide mineralisation of the Kombat, Tsumeb and Khusib springs deposits, Otavi Mountain Land, Namibia
    (University of Namibia, 2024) Shalimba, Ester; Wanke, Ansgar
    Carbonate-hosted base metal deposits are known to contain significant contents of critical metals such as Ga, Ge, and In. These metals occur mainly as inclusions or incorporated within the crystal lattice of the main sulfide minerals while they form rarely discrete minerals. The aim of this Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) study is to determine the geochemical characteristics of the critical raw metals that are associated with the sulfide mineralisation of the base metal deposits of the Otavi Mountain Land, with the emphasis on the Tsumeb, Kombat and Khusib Springs deposits. Tsumeb mine is an over the decades exploited breccia-pipe like polymetallic deposit, hosted by Neoproterozoic dolomite and limestones in the Otavi Group of the Damara Orogenic Belt. Exploitation took place between 1897 and 1996, with a production of about 30 Mt of ore, yielding 1.7 Mt Cu, 2.8 Mt Pb, 0.9 Mt Zn, and 80 t Ge. Mineralisation at this deposit consists of tennantite and sphalerite as the most abundant ore minerals, associated with galena, pyrite, bornite, chalcocite, digenite, and minor enargite, renierite, germanite, chalcopyrite, and traces of various arsenates. Kombat deposit, which is a stratabound, syntectonic Cu-Pb (Ag) sulfide deposit, is hosted in the dolomite of the Hüttenberg Formation, Otavi Group. Mining of the Kombat deposit is currently ongoing, with a total endowment of approximately 13.6 Mt, of which 12 Mt has been exploited until 2008. The ore mineralisation of the Kombat deposit is quite variable comprising massive, disseminated, veinlet-controlled, and brecciated mineralisation styles with abundant bornite, chalcopyrite, galena, covellite, and chalcocite set into quartz-calcite gangue. Khusib Springs deposit is a high-grade Cu-Pb Zn deposit which is classified as a “Tsumeb-type deposit”, hosted by Neoproterozoic dolomite, limestone and phyllites of the Maieberg Formation, Otavi Group. The main aim of this study is to show the siting of the most important minor and trace elements in the diverse sulfide mineral phases and to highlight the relationships between common trace elements and critical metals within the sulfide mineral phases. Various analytical techniques, including laser ablation inductively coupled plasma spectrometry (LA-ICP MS), electron microprobe analysis (EPMA), inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), and X-ray fluorescence (XRF), were employed to study the bulk ii geochemistry and the siting of the trace elements, for the sole purpose of answering the above-mentioned objectives. Additionally, portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) technique was utilized with the aim of evaluating the possible usability of a low-cost analytical technique in exploration for base and critical elements in carbonate-hosted sulfide mineralisations. The Kombat mineralization comprises three mineral assemblages (1) bornite-chalcopyrite-covellite, (2) bornite-galena-chalcocite, and (3) bornite-chalcopyrite, set into dolomite-quartz-calcite gangue, with chalcopyrite identified as the main carrier of Ga, Ge, and In in this deposit. The profound micro-analysis of Tsumeb ore revealed the presence of both Ga and Ge, associated with trace elements (Ag, As, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Ga, Ge, In, Ni, Pb, Sb, Zn), in the different sulfides. The most significant carriers of Ge are renierite (av. 8.21 wt.%) and enargite (0.78 wt.%), while Ga is mainly incorporated into renierite (av. 0.12 wt.%) and sphalerite (av. 0.11 wt%). Trace element abundance in sphalerite is characterized by elevated Cd, Ge, and Ga, suggestive of low formation temperatures, which corroborates with earlier research on the formation of Tsumeb ore. Reconnaissance Zn isotope data (-0.19 to 0.14‰) delineate Tsumeb ore as typical Zn-rich massive sulfide ore, with Zn isotope values overlapping with those of the Irish MVT deposits (-0.17 to 1.33‰), while Cu isotopes are comparable to isotopic data of hypogene mineralisation. In Khusib Springs ore, tennantite (Fe, Zn, Ag, Sb) and chalcopyrite (Cu, Pb, Ag) are the most important carriers of trace elements while all other sulfides are characterized by a surprisingly low trace element content. In contrast, Khusib Springs massive ore reveals a wealth of Ag-bearing minerals of the pearceite-polybasite mineral group. Modern portable tools are successfully applied for the analyses of selected elements in various fields. Portable XRF can be used as well for the analyses of selected elements (Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, Zn) in Kombat-type ore, while these instruments fail for the analyses of elements like Ag, Sr, and, in particular, for the analyses of the target elements Ga, Ge, and In. Therefore, this study gives a detailed overview about the relationship between critical elements Ga, Ge, and In and associated elements in sulfide ores in the carbonate-hosted base metal deposits of the Otavi Mountain Land, while showing at the same time the limitations when access to modern analytical technologies is limited
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    A pragma-dialectical approach in television talk show argumentation: A case study of the Namibia Broadcasting Corporation’s one-on-one discourse
    (University of Namibia, 2024) Sibalatani, Cecilia Chuma; Sabao, Collen
    This study investigated the argumentative discourse of the Namibian Broadcast Corporation (NBC) One-on-One talk show interviews between the host and a guest. Although the interviews present different guests per sitting, the host is an NBC employee assigned to the interview segment and is couched within the theoretical explications of pragma-dialectical theory of argumentation (van Eemeren, 2017). The pragma-dialectical theory of argumentation is fundamentally a broad spectrum of the study of linguistics that has, through its development and growth, shifted its interest and focus from abstractions of formal logic to a more structured interest in pragmatics. This theory has since been more concerned with pragma-dialectics encompassing the rules of argumentation, strategic manoeuvring, and effectiveness through reasonableness. The discourse in argumentation varies in a range of how influential political figures represent or defend their points of view on the issue at hand. Specifically, the study represented a qualitative establishment of television show discourse, and it was primarily focused on investigating the patterns of pragma dialectics in which the host of the talk show and the guest strategically manoeuvred to resolve differences of opinion. In the same vein, the study investigated whether the resolution of the differences of opinion was achieved and how effectiveness and reasonableness played any role in the process of the arguers' attempt to defend their standpoint on issues under discussion. The data was collected from archived audio recordings transcribed into readable text files. The topics of the talk show discussions covered were on issues pertaining to Namibia’s social, economic and political spheres. The analysis employed the pragma-dialectical method to evaluate the data. The findings, on one part, demonstrated that three turn-taking strategies played a vital role in the argumentative discourse in the following ways: the arguers (especially the host) used the turn-holding strategy in order to maintain and prolong their window of talking. This was more prevalent in the repetitive use of "but", and "and". The arguers also used turn-claiming as a strategy by interjection and conjunctions such as “but!”, “really!’ and “Oh!” Turn-yielding strategy was also used but rarely. The arguers decided to give up their turn to talk when deemed necessary and when they seemed to have exhausted their stance in opinion. This benefitted the opponent ii in the argument by rendering them more time to express and defend their standpoint at certain issues. The findings further reflected that, through the constellation of argumentative moves displayed by the arguers, argumentative patterns were employed through their typology of standpoints, a difference of opinions, argumentative schemes and argumentative structure. It was also observed that the arguers strategically manoeuvred at every stage of the discussion to maintain their standpoint; in this regard, argumentative patterns came up as a result of strategic manoeuvring. By trying to observe the importance of being effective and reasonableness, the arguers still strategically manoeuvred. Although there are numerous pragma-dialectic studies on talk shows, the study concluded that there was a need for improvement in journalistic communication skills between One-on One talk show in terms of strategic manoeuvring and adhering to the rules that apply in every argumentation stage. It is recommended that further studies should be carried out directed towards communication skills in television shows, especially in situations where non-native English speakers struggle to express their opinions and fail effectively to defend their viewpoints due to language barriers and poor argumentation strategies
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    A retrospective evaluation of antimicrobial management among patients with sepsis in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Gaborone Private Hospital in Botswana
    (University of Namibia, 2024) Jolomba, Charles Waitse; Jonkman, Lauren
    Sepsis, a life-threatening response to infection, demands swift and precise antimicrobial intervention. Even though antimicrobial guidelines crafted in high-income countries are employed in low-income settings, these regions encounter unique challenges, including differences in pathogen ecology, high HIV co-infection rates, prevalent comorbidities, and frequent antimicrobial shortages. Such challenges can lead to deviations from standard guidelines, impacting sepsis management and potentially influencing mortality rates. This research adopted a quantitative cross-sectional approach aimed to scrutinize the appropriateness of antimicrobial treatment for sepsis and to determine the susceptibility patterns of prevalent pathogens among sepsis patients in an ICU at a private hospital in Gaborone. A time period prior to COVID-19 was selected to avoid the effects of the pandemic on prescribing. This study used a total population sample of 132, where all patients meeting the inclusion criteria in the selected data range were included. Results show central nervous system infections are the most prevalent infectious source, constituting 20.5% of cases. Notably, even though a substantial proportion of empirical antibiotic treatments are confined to standard guidelines, utilization of local guidelines was associated with an increased odds of death, which requires further study and evaluation. (OR 3.68, CI 1.28-10.6, p=0.012), The study underscores the importance of regularly updating guidelines to reflect current practices, ensuring optimized sepsis management
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    A statistical analysis of endogeneity and instrumental variables of education on income in Namibia
    (University of Namibia, 2024) Nanyemba, Maria K.
    Education is a well-known driver of income and a causal factor for economic prosperity and social development in modern society. It provides one with capital such as qualification, knowledge and skillsets relevant to secure stable gainful employment, as well as increase one’s income, improve health conditions and general welfare. However, the measurement of the influence of education most often suffers from endogeneity suspicion due to the possible presence of a correlation between the education variable and the error term. This presents a critical issue when performing a cause-and-effect relationship analysis as neglecting endogeneity can lead to unreliable estimation results even when dealing with large samples because estimators of the model parameters will be inconsistent. To date, most studies that focuses on analysing the effect of education in Namibia have done so with other factors such as fertility and not income, while most of these studies used regression approaches such as the linear regression and logistic regression methods to perform their respective analyses. However, no study has simultaneously tried to account for the endogeneity of both education and income in Namibia. Thus, using the 2015/2016 Namibia Household Income and Expenditure Survey as well as accounting for the possible presence of endogeneity and for non-linear effects of continuous observed confounders, this study aimed at estimating the impact of education on income in Namibia, in addition to exploring different modelling strategies to capture the relationship between income and education, and other socio-economic and socio demographic factors. A total of 495,311 households containing 2,250,122 individuals aged 18 to 60 years who have been to school and have earned salary and/or wage as their source of income ii in the last 12 months of the survey period were considered in this study. Three different modelling strategies were carried out, namely: (i) Basic Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression without considering the clustering, stratification and weighting factors, (ii) Basic OLS regression considering the clustering, stratification and weighting factors, and (iii) Instrumental Variables & Two Stage Least Squares (IV-2SLS) regression, while the best fit modelling strategy to use for exploring the relationship between income and education, and other socio-economic and socio-demographic factors was determined using the Durbin and Wu-Hausman test of endogeneity. Results from this study showed that majority (82.1%) of the households in Namibia derived their source of income from salary and/or wage in 2015/2016. The IV-2SLS was identified as the best modelling strategy to use since the Durbin and Wu-Hausman test of endogeneity confirmed the presence of endogeneity (i.e, education must be endogenous), thus, making the OLS strategies unreliable to use. Furthermore, factors such as education, age, sex, marital status, type of work, employment period, total hours worked and transport mode to work had positive and significant influences on income, while factors such as region, dwelling unit type, main material for the wall, household size, and no contribution to investment had a negative and significant influences. However, the type of employer had a mixed effect on income. In addition, the IVs estimators revealed that the average rate of return of schooling was 13% which was higher compared to the OLS estimates of 5%. It is therefore recommended that the Namibian government and policy makers consider boosting more funding into education, especially in communities within the rural and underdeveloped regions still having traditional dwelling households whose structures are made of corrugated iron/zinc sticks, wooden poles, clay and/or cow dung. In addition, as part of their poverty alleviation strategies, the government should iii ensure the distribution of equitable resources, particularly the educational resources, to enhance the development of rural and underdeveloped regions so that they too can benefit from high-quality education opportunities in the country
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    A study on the historical and contemporary significance of Omwele Gwoshipika among Aawambo communities
    (University of Namibia, 2024) Hangula, Ndamian N.; Akawa-Shikufa, Martha
    Omwele Gwoshipika is (or was) one of the celebrated objects of Aawambo material culture of the 19th to 20th century, and an object of historical status in the social and political structure of Aawambo communities. Omwele Gwoshipika excelled as a tool for the king to exercise political and social authorities in Aawambo subjects. The aftermath of Germany's colonial administration over Namibia from 1884 to 1915 has resulted in some of the Aawambo material culture being taken away to Germany. Omwele Gwoshipika was among the items taken away from the source communities to Germany in 1909 and kept in the Berlin Ethnographic Museum. The removal of Omwele Gwoshipika by the Germans as an instrument of authority in the royal delegation of power left a void in hierarchical representation of the king in the Aawambo kingdoms. This study attempts to establish the significance of Omwele Gwoshipika among the Aawambo communities, their views on its restitution to Namibia and it is design structure. The data of the study were collected using a qualitative research method, which incorporated focus group and semi-structured interview with groups and individual participants. The study found out that Omwele Gwoshipika has a very great historical significance in the world of kings1 . There is mixed feelings among Aawambo regarding the contemporary importance of Omwele Gwoshipika. The study established the excitement and joy among the Aawambo regarding the restitution of Omwele Gwoshipika and that the ancient design of Omwele Gwoshipika can be reinstated. Moreover, the study established mixed feeling whereby some Aawambo communities felt that the restitution of Omwele Gwoshipika is not valuable because the traditional and spiritual ways that used to keep Omwele Gwoshipika have been compromised. The study concluded that for Omwele Gwoshipika to be successfully re- integrated in use in Aawambo community with its original cultural characters, there are certain behavioural changes that Aawambo youth need to favour such as discipline, orderliness and adhering to the accepted standards of Aawambo cultural behavioural norms for the re-integration of Omwele Gwoshipika to be installed successfully among Aawambo communities’.
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    A study on the medicinal potential of Artemisia afra, a traditionally used herb in Namibia
    (University of Namibia, 2024) Farmer, Wennyth Luzaann; Bruwer, Iwanette
    The use of plants as medicines to relieve various symptoms, as well as to manage and cure ailments has been recorded since ancient times. Much interest in these ethnomedicinal plants stems from their long-standing use in traditional medicine. They are still regarded as making important contributions to health care even though great advances have been made in modern medicine. Traditionally, Artemisia afra (‘Wilde als’) is used to treat the common cold, flu and coughs, as well as nasal congestion. During the COVID-19 pandemic, communities in Namibia used ‘Wilde als’ as a treatment for the disease. Little is known about the efficacy and safety of ‘Wilde als’ found in Namibia. This study aimed to identify the bioactive classes of compounds for ‘Wilde als’; as well as to determine the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral activities and the cytotoxic properties of the plant. Extracts of ‘Wilde als’ were prepared by aqueous and organic extraction methods, using water and a mixture of methanol and dichloromethane (1:1 v/v). The phytochemical profile was determined using thin-layer chromatography. The total flavonoid content within the extracts was also determined. The albumin denaturation assay was used for determining the in vitro anti-inflammatory response of the extracts of ‘Wilde als’ using egg albumin derived from a fresh hen’s egg as the protein source. The DPPH antioxidant assay was used to determine the radical scavenging activity of the plant extracts using 2,2-diphenyl-1- picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate also known as DPPH, and the MTT cytotoxicity assay was used to determine the cellular reduction of the tetrazolium salt, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol- 2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide, also known as MTT. The Vero E6 cell line, a kidney epithelial cell line was used to determine cell proliferation and survival during the MTT assay. The in vitro antiviral effects of the plant extracts against a pseudovirus of SARS-CoV-2 were determined by calculating the reduction of the SAR-CoV-2 in ii the Vero E6 cells. The extracts of the ‘Wilde als’ possessed flavonoids, coumarins, saponins, steroids and terpenoids, with TFC with the highest at 19.89 % for the organic extracts of the twigs. The extracts of A. afra exhibited significant antioxidant activities ranging from 0.1029 to 9.4197 μg/ml with the highest activity observed for the aqueous extract of the leaves. The extracts of A. afra also exhibited significant anti- inflammatory activity. The highest anti-inflammatory activity of the plant extracts was observed for the organic extract from the combination of the leaves and twigs (87.5 % at 100 μg/ml). The plant extracts displayed antiviral potential against the beta-strain of the SARS-CoV 2 virus, with the organic extracts exhibiting higher inhibition of the viral load with EC50 values of 48.84 μg/ml (leaf extracts), 24.65 μg/ml (twig extracts) and 251.67 μg/ml (combination of the leaves and twigs extracts). The results of the MTT cytotoxicity assay indicated that the aqueous extracts showed little to no cytotoxicity; the organic extracts on the other hand showed high cytotoxicity with IC50 values of 134.12 μg/ml (leaves and twigs), followed by 151.53 μg/ml (twigs) and 182.31 μg/ml (leaves). The findings of this study suggest that ‘Wilde als’ has the potential to be used as an antiviral agent with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities as the possible mechanisms of action, with low cytotoxic effects for the aqueous extracts. The organic extracts, however, were cytotoxic, but when used in the correct doses, they can have significant health benefits. This study also provides evidence that the use of ‘Wilde als’ an herbal remedy in the south of Namibia is rational and consistent with research from other regions of Africa
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    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 features
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    Abundance and diversity of microalgae in freshwater eutrophic systems of Namibia and optimization of lipid and biomass production in Nannochloropsis Limnetica
    (University of Namibia, 2017) Garus-Oas, Carol H.
    Namibia is one of the driest countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, and man-made dams play an important role on salvaging water. These dams are however periodically frequented by microalgae blooms that pose devastating effects on the water quality, making water treatment processes troublesome and cost prohibitive. However, these unicellular organisms can be exploited in various ways especially when cultivated in controlled and closed systems under optimal conditions of light, temperature, pH and nutrient concentrations. Biomass can be optimized to produce proteins that can be a source of fertilizers, while lipids can be extracted to refine into various hydrocarbons such as biodiesel and bioethanol. It is therefore essential to study the dynamics of these microalgae and provide necessary guidelines on how to utilize them. The first objective of the current study was to assess the seasonal relative genera abundance, diversity, richness and eveness of microalgae in three fresh water eutrophic systems in central Namibia. The hypothesis was to seek whether there is no significant difference in the seasonal relative genera abundance of microalgae per dam in three freshwater eutrophic systems of Namibia namely, Goreangab dam, Von Bach dam and Swakoppoort dam. Microalgae were enumerated with the use of a haemocytometer and identified to genus level during the dry and the wet seasons. Environmental parameters such as turbidity, pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen, macronutrients (i.e. phosphates, nitrates and ammonia) and dam water volumes, were also measured during this time to assess how they are correlated to the relative genera abundance per dam. All statistical analyses were performed using the SPSS software package (IBM statistics Version 23) and differences in data were considered significant at p < 0.05. The Shannon-Weiner diversity index was applied to calculate the microalgae diversity per dam. Evenness Index (J’) and Margalef’s Index (d) was used to calculate the species evenness and species richness, respectively per dam. Results revealed that seasonal relative genera abundance was not normally distributed (p = 0.000) per dam. Von Bach dam seasonal relative genera abundance was statistically not significant (p = 1.000). Goreangab dam seasonal relative genera abundance was statistically not significant (p = 0.652) and Swakoppoort dam relative genera abundance was statistically not significant (p = 0.444). Data presentation of relative genera abundance showed Chlorophyceae as the most dominant class followed by Cyanophycea for Swakoppoort and Von Bach dams for both seasons. Chlorophyceae was the most abundant microalgae class in Goreangab dam during the dry season, while Florideophyceae and Cyanophycea were the second most abundant classes during the wet season. Microcystis was the most abundant genus for Swakoppoort and Goreangab dams during dry and wet seasons. However, in Von Bach dam Aulacoseira was the most abundant microalgae. The Shannon-Weiner diversity index showed that Von Bach dam had the highest diversity of 3.21 followed by Goreangab dam (2.32) and the lowest diversity was found in Swakoppoort dam (2.13). Species evenness varied between 0.46 - 0.65 for Swakoppoort and Goreangab dams, but was higher for Von Bach dam (0.72 - 0.97). Species richness calculated with the Margaleff’s index was around 1 for all the dams and throughout all the seasons, except for Swakoppoort dam during the dry season where it was 1.5. According to the statistical analysis performed, all of the environmental parameters measured for all the dams during the dry and wet seasons were not normally distributed (p = 0.000). Correlation tests showed that all the environmental parameters captured during the time for all the dams were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). According to the literature review, the higher relative abundance of the class Chlorophycea observed during the time of sampling for the current study was due to their higher growth rates. The higher relative abundance of the genera Microcystis was due to their physiological advantage (i.e. nitrogen fixing, surface to volume ratios, intracellular gas vesicles for buoyancy and slimy undulation to enable photomovement) over other microalgae identified during the time of sampling. Microcystis was prominent mostly in Goreangab dam which was characterized by optimum combination of environmental factors such temperature, pH levels and high macronutrients when compared to the other dams. The current study recommends assessment of microalgae diversity and abundance over a one year period with sampling at least every second week. It will be essential to also study other macro-and micronutrients, trace elements, chlorophyll a along with their cumulative effects on microalgae composition. Furthermore, the study advises assessment of topography and mechanical extractions for water transfer on microalgae composition. Moreover, a variety of mesh sizes will constitute a more diversified pool of microalgae to study. The second objective of the study was to optimize the neutral intracellular lipid and biomass production in Nannochloropsis limnetica under variant nitrate concentrations in highly controlled conditions in lab-scaled bioreactors over duration of 14 days. The hypothesis was to seek whether there was no significant difference in growth rate, biomass and neutral intracellular lipid productivity of Nannochloropsis limnetica in “normal nitrate” (3.53 M), “nitrate replete” (7.06 M), “moderate nitrate deplete” (1.765 M), and “high nitrate deplete” (0.8825 M) cultivated under the same conditions of light, pH, temperature and CO2 concentration. The parameters measured throughout this process include optical density to measure growth rates, gravimetrical measurements of bio dry mass/biomass (BDM), ion chromatography measurements for ions, pH as well as sterility tests. All statistical analyses were performed using the SPSS software package (IBM statistics Version 23) and differences in data were considered significant at p < 0.05. During the main-cultivation of Nannochloropsis limnetica, growth was observed in a characteristic pattern consisting of lag, exponential, stationary and declining phases. The growth rates across all of the Flasks during the main-cultivation were not normally distributed (p = 0.012). The statistical tests showed that they were statistically significant (p = 0.001). Bio dry mass increased linearly over time for all of the Flasks from 0 day-1 to the highest on 14 day-1 at the end of the experiment. Bio dry mass was normally distributed (p = 0.055). The statistical test showed that it was statistically not significant (p = 0.939). Bio dry mass and growth rates were moderate and positively correlated and statistically not significant (rs (8) = 0.529, p = 0.077). Relative fluorescence data recorded for all the Flasks was the highest only on the first couple of days during the lag phase and decelerated towards the end of the cultivation period. Therefore, there was no lipid accumulation. The relative fluorescence data captured for neutral intracellular lipid analysis showed that during the cultivation process all of the data were not normally distributed (p = 0.000). Statistical analysis showed it to be statistically significant (p = 0.112). Correlation tests performed between BDM and lipids was strong and negatively correlated and statistically significant (rs (8) = -0.765, p = 0.004). The relationship between lipids and growth rates was moderate, negatively correlated and statistically not significant (rs (8) = -0.501, p = 0.087). The highest growth rates were under “moderate nitrate deplete” at 6 days-1, 11.32 hours at 16.11 OD. The highest BDM value (7780 mg/L) was also captured for “moderate nitrate deplete” at 14 days-1, 19.47 hours at 60.27 mg/L nitrate. The highest relative fluorescence (neutral intracellular lipid content) was captured under “nitrate replete” at 2.387 % at 1 day-1, 6.28 hours and 2550.439 mg/L nitrate. The main-cultivation addressed the hypotheses set out. The study was successful in that it exponentially optimized the biomass production of Nannochloropsis limnetica in each of the four Flasks during the main-cultivation. These results suggest elaborate research on the biomass composition for various outputs such as proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, pigments et cetera. It was discovered during the current study that the various nitrate concentrations did not optimize lipid productivity. Therefore, it is proposed that other macronutrients such as phosphate concentrations along with variables such as light intensity and CO2 be manipulated for lipid optimization. Furthermore, in future studies, the Nile red method should be used in conjunction with other conventional gravimetric methods for lipid quantification and validation for the N.limnetica.
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    Abundance, species composition and diversity of small mammals and the prevalence and intensity of infestation of associated fleas (Siphonaptera) across an altitudinal gradient along the Ugab river, Namibia
    (University of Namibia, 2021) Frans, Alma Inga
    The objectives of the study were to determine and compare the abundance, species composition and diversity of small mammals and the associated fleas and to determine and compare the prevalence and intensity of infestation of fleas across an altitudinal gradient along the Ugab River, Namibia. Three sampling sites at different altitudes were selected, Outjo (high altitude site) at about 1300 m above sea level (a.s.l.), Vingerklip (middle altitude site) at about 1000 m a.s.l. and Brandberg (low altitude site) at 400 m a.s. l. Small mammals were trapped in January (hot wet season) and May (cold dry season) in 2018. A total of 159 small mammals belonging to seven rodents and two insectivore species were trapped during the entire study. Small mammals trapped included: Namaqua rock mouse (Micaelamys namaquensis), Natal multimammate rat (Mastomys natalensis), Red rock rat (Aethomys chrysophilus), lesser Red musk shrew (Crocidura hirta), pouched mouse (Saccostomus campestris), bushveld gerbil (Gerbiliscus leucogaster), black-tailed tree rat (Thallomys nigricauda), Acacia rat (Thallomys paedulcus) and bushveld elephant shrew (Elephantulus intufi). The abundance, species composition and diversity of small mammal hosts were not significantly different among the sampling sites during the two seasons (hot wet and cold dry seasons). A total of 139 fleas were collected from small mammals during the study. Three flea species were recorded from small mammal hosts during the study, namely: Xenopsylla cheopis, Xenopsylla brasiliensis and Listropsylla dorripae. The overall intensity of flea infestation (median) per host was not significantly different among the three sampling sites during the hot wet and the cold dry season. Overall infestation prevalence of fleas for the three sites during the hot wet season revealed no significant difference. However, the infestation prevalence of fleas of small mammals was significant among the three sites during the cold dry season. Altitude affects vegetation structure and cover, which in turn affect the small mammal and flea communities. Altitude also affects several climatic factors (temperature, rainfall, humidity), which affect small mammal and flea communities.
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    Abundance, structure and uses of Baobab (Adansonia Digitata L.) populations in omusati region, Namibia
    (2015) Munyebvu, Faith
    This study sought to determine the biology and the uses of baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) populations in Outapi and Onesi constituencies in Omusati Region, Namibia. As one of the important Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs)-providing species of ecological and socio-economic significance, there is need to have a better understanding of the biology and local uses of the species before its full potential and sustainable harvesting is realized. A comparison of densities, distribution patterns, structure, phenology, stem conditions and uses of baobabs between the two constituencies was done. Field data collection was conducted in April 2014. Road transects were used to sample baobabs in the two sites by purposively choosing the next road to gain access to the next focal tree. Circular plots with a radius of 30m from the edge of the canopy of each focal tree were demarcated. In each plot, diameter at breast height (dbh) of adult and sub-adult trees, height of adults, sub-adults and saplings and their stem conditions, number of fruits on each fruiting baobab tree, the Global Positioning System (GPS) waypoints and coordinates and the land-use types where baobabs occurred were recorded. The results revealed that there was no significant difference in the baobab densities (χ2=2, df=1, p>0.05) and median fruit abundance (U=5550.5, p>0.05) between Outapi and Onesi constituencies. The Chi-square tests detected significant differences in the dbh-size classes (χ2=33.038, df=8, p<0.001) and height classes (χ2=16.295, df=4, p<0.05) between the two study sites. The bell-shaped distribution curve in dbh size-classes in the two sites showed poor recruitment. Onesi constituency had 77% damaged stems compared to 50% in Outapi constituency (χ2=22.705, df=2, p<0.001). Onesi villagers make use of the baobab tree more extensively than Outapi residents (χ2=31.022, df=9, p<0.001). Some of the common uses of baobabs in both study sites include human and livestock consumption and treating various ailments. Poor seedling survival resulting primarily from herbivory, human activities and climate variability hampers baobab recruitment. Considering the poor recruitment due to the above factors, the potential for commercialization of baobabs in the region may not be viable. Therefore, active planting in undisturbed areas, protection of seedlings from livestock coupled with community awareness are vital to ensure recruitment so that effective commercialization and subsistence use is realized and sustainable.
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    Academic challenges faced by learners with visual impairments at two inclusive education secondary schools in Namibia
    (University of Namibia, 2022) Ampweya, Selma Namutenja
    This qualitative case study explored the academic challenges facing learners with visual impairments (LWVI) in two inclusive secondary schools in Namibia. Purposive and convenient sampling were used to select two secondary schools and 11 participants (eight LWVI and three support teachers). The research instruments were semi-structured interviews and observation schedules, supported by still pictures. Data were analyzed using case-oriented qualitative content analysis. The data were presented in the form of a report. The findings indicate that LWVI are faced with multiple challenges. The study also shows that school infrastructure is not conducive for LWVI and that these learners are not fully included academically in mainstream secondary schools due to the lack of learning materials. LWVI are not enabled to do subjects such as Mathematics, Accounting, Geography, and Physical Science because teachers are not trained to teach graphs and mathematical formulae in braille to LWVI. Apart from this LWVI are unable to use computers during Information Communication and Technology (ICT) lessons due to a lack of computer programmes that support the teaching and learning of persons with visual impairments. In addition, LWVI are not fully integrated into the classroom because the teacher-learner ratio is too high for their teachers to attend to every learner. Teachers are unable to modify their teaching methods to accommodate LWVI. Lack of support from parents and other stakeholders in education is another challenge for LWVI. The researcher thus recommends that the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture should restructure school buildings to accommodate LWVI. The Ministry should also provide professional development for Mathematics, Geography, Accounting, and Physical Science teachers to use available information and communication technologies to enable them to teach these subjects to LWVI. Schools should also buy computer programmes that support the teaching of LWVI.
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    Academic resilience in Mathematics amongst at-risk Grade 10 learners in Namibia: A phenomenology study
    (University of Namibia, 2018) Neshila, Kashinauua Faustina
    Demands for technical and scientific expertise in many countries including Namibia made the Namibian government emphasise the need for effective teaching of mathematics and science in schools to enable learners to excel in these subjects. Despite that, school failure at Grade 10 level remains a challenge in Namibia. Learners continue to perform poorly, especially in mathematics over the past years. One intriguing manifestation of this record of performance is that there are some learners who may be considered to be at risk of school failure yet they excel in mathematics. These are learners of a low social economic status, who come from poverty-stricken families and communities ravaged by crime, violence, parental unemployment and substance abuse, just to mention a few. The focal point of this study is to understand the conceptual, experiential and practical ramifications of resilience displayed by such learners. Thus, a study on protective factors which contribute to academic resilience in mathematics might provide a stepping stone to success in learning mathematics and to the development of a subject/section in the school curriculum to foster academic resilience amongst Namibian learners. A phenomenological research methodology was chosen with the aim of describing the lived experiences of those Grade 10 learners who are at risk of school failure yet have resilient outcomes in mathematics. A sample of eight learners who obtained a B grade/symbol or better in mathematics in the national Grade 10 formal examinations in 2014; and were considered at-risk of school failure; were selected with the help of their mathematics and life skills teachers. The research participants were interviewed using a three-phase approach. The standardised open-ended interview in the first phase focused on the context of the participants’ experience with resilience. In the second phase the participants were asked to describe details of their lived experiences of resilience in the school context. Lastly in the third phase participants were encouraged to reflect on the meaning of their experiences of resilience. The interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed. The transcripts were analysed thematically to identify core commonalities and meanings. The results of this study have provided evidence that academic resilience in mathematics was displayed through the strong social bonds learners shared with both adults and peers/friends who promoted their desire to participate in the life of school and to achieve. Furthermore, findings showed that the context in which learners had/have to learn mathematics was best described as not being favourable for learning mathematics. Most of the participants were orphans born to un-educated/under-educated parents and lived in crowded homes in poverty-stricken neighbourhoods. These neighbourhoods were characterised by a high number of cuca shops/bars which emitted so much noise that it was challenging for the learners to study at home. Learners reported exposure to violence, alcohol and substance abuse in their streets. In addition, owing to low levels of parental education they receive/d little or no family support with their learning of mathematics; consequently, their home background failed to provide them with role models in mathematics. Instead, some of the participants live/lived with siblings who dropped out of school, parents who failed grade 10 and peers who disliked mathematics. These participants relied on their own self-determination, self-efficacy, self-help and optimism for learning mathematics. Because of these qualities learners were able to adapt to the challenges in their environment and achieve good results in mathematics. Bearing of these findings in mind the study developed a theoretical model for promoting academic resilience in mathematics herein referred to as the triple I (I-I-I) model for promoting academic resilience in mathematics through the perspective of the learner informed by the learners’ lived experiences of the phenomenon. The study provided some suggestions which if implemented might enable learners from disadvantaged backgrounds to succeed in mathematics. It is recommended that the Ministry of Education should revise the life skills syllabus to add a section aimed at promoting academic resilience. Another suggestion is that parents should be encouraged by school principals and teachers to show interest in their children’s education. For example, schools should also inform parents about school activities through the local media such as local radio stations. Schools should strengthen the parents’ relationship with the school through the school board and encourage parents to attend school meetings by highlighting the importance of parental attendance to the learners.
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    Academic writing in English: Challenges experienced by Bachelor of Education primary level students at the University of Namibia, Katima Mulilo campus
    (University of Namibia, 2016) Mutimani, Molly M.
    This study investigated the academic writing challenges experienced by Bachelor of Education undergraduate students in using English at the University of Namibia, Katima Mulilo Campus. The study focused on the following research questions: what challenges did students face in academic writing at this campus? What were the students’ and lecturers’ perceptions of the possible causes of these academic writing challenges; were there any differences in writing challenges faced according to gender and the students’ year of study and what were the possible intervention strategies that could be used to improve students’ academic writing skills? The study used mixed methods, explanatory and sequential designs. The participants comprised 40 first year, 40 second year and 33 third year students, as well as 20 lecturers of the 2013 academic year. Questionnaires, semi-structured, individual interviews and previously marked student essays were employed as data collection instruments. The data analysis included statistical analysis of the two questionnaires, a thematic analysis of students and lecturers’ interview data and an integrative analysis that involved continuously checking back and forth between quantitative and qualitative findings. Although students were taught academic writing in a university core module, the findings of this study showed that they still faced various academic writing challenges. The data revealed that the academic writing challenges of students in the study were consequences of their linguistic and general literacy backgrounds, their attitudes toward academic writing and the privileging of middle-class literacy practices in Namibian higher education. To mitigate these challenges, this study recommends the following strategies: the integration of academic literacies in the curricula of all disciplines, the promotion of multimodal teaching strategies and assessment, as well as collaboration between language lecturers and core course specialists. It also recommends intensive academic reading and writing workshops, as well as increased formative feedback.
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    Access and use of electronic resources by students at the selected campuses of the University of Namibia
    (University of Namibia, 2020) Shigwedha, Johannes N.
    Academic libraries are now using electronic resources to fulfil the information needs of their clients. The study was carried out at the University of Namibia and was aimed at investigating access and use of electronic resources by undergraduate students at the selected campuses of the University of Namibia. The investigation utilized the descriptive survey study design, which is quantitative in methodology. The target population was 1,460 undergraduate students enrolled at Neudamm, Khomasdal and José Eduardo dos Santos campuses were targeted for this investigation and, using stratified random sampling, a corresponding sample of 292 undergraduate students was obtained. The study utilized two questionnaires to collect data from undergraduate students and twelve library staff and data were analyzed by using SPSS software. The study established that UNAM libraries were signed up to an extensive variety of electronic resources and that students were commonly mindful of the presence of these electronic resources. However, students were not using electronic databases, e-books, and e-journals provided by the library, to their fullest potential. Additionally, the study settled that students preferred to use search engines, such as ‘Google search, over other licensed databases for various purpose, including current and general information, preparing for examination, writing assignments and projects. Furthermore, the study reported lack of searching skills among students and ineffective information literacy program. Limited space in the training venues, limited online library guides and inappropriate timing of the training impedes the effectiveness of training programs. The findings also reported that a lack of ICT infrastructure, such as the unavailability of web network connectivity, inadequate number of computers, and slow internet connectivity were the primary elements limiting students from accessing and adequately utilizing electronic resources. Lastly, the study infers that students showed a desire and readiness to access and utilize electronic resources for their course work and research purposes regardless of some recognized difficulties that hindered their effective usage of these resources. To encourage more noteworthy access to, and utilization of, electronic resources, various recommendations based on the findings were presented. These were that students should be assigned academic tasks that compel them to access and use licensed databases, that Internet bandwidth be increased to ensure high speeds, the number of networked computers in the libraries be increased, the plug in points in the libraries be expanded to allow students to plug in their own devices, training venues be expanded, online library guides be developed to guide all library users and structured information literacy programs be developed and integrated into the university curriculum.
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    Access and utilisation of knowledge and information by aquaculture farmers in Namibia
    (University of Namibia, 2019) Yule, Wilson
    This study on access and utilisation of information and knowledge by aquaculture famers in Namibia investigated the knowledge gap that exists between information and aquaculture production by providing research based evidence on the nature and extent of information utilised by aquaculture farmers in Namibia. The study was driven by the main research question; what is the level of access and utilisation of knowledge and information by aquaculture farmers in Namibia?, and it was guided by two theories: Rogers’ Diffusion of Innovations (DOI) theory that explained how a new innovation is adopted in society and Kuhlthau’s Six Stage model of the Information Search. The mixed methods research design employed a concurrent triangulation approach, combining qualitative and quantitative research approaches. Data collection methods used for the quantitative research were surveys, and semi-structured interviews, observation and document analysis for the qualitative. The population comprised of all fish farmers and their managers in Namibia, and the fish farmers’ database at the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources was used as a sampling frame. The survey respondents were selected using a multi stage sampling technique, starting with a simple random sample as well as employing convenient sampling technique while key informants (managers) were selected using the purposive sampling technique. The key findings of the study revealed that fish farmers lacked the required information to fulfil their information needs. They needed the information for problem solving, performing tasks and decision making. The study also showed that fish farmers used different types of information which cuts across different disciplines and this information included agricultural information, health information, environmental information, technological information, business and trade information, and government policies and plans. Several information sources used by fish farmers were newspapers, Internet, textbooks, experts, etc. and they shared information on various topics amongst themselves such as fish markets and harvests, weather forecast, types of fish species, modern fishing methods, site of shoal, fish feeds, and fishing regulations and government policies. The study established that fish farmers could not attend information literacy and knowledge competencies training regularly, though this should not be interpreted to mean that they lacked information and knowledge on aquaculture production. The study proposes an information access and utilisation model (Integrated Aquaculture Information System) that can support aquaculture farmers as users of information, and also highlights the importance of information and knowledge for sustainable livelihoods amongst fish farmers.