Meyer’s Parrot Poicephalus meyeri is the smallest of the nine Poicephalus parrots, forming the P. meyeri superspecies complex with five congeners. Their distributional range far exceeds any other African parrot, extending throughout subtropical Africa. Meyer’s Parrots had previously not been studied in the wild, and therefore, gathering high-quality empirical data on their behavioural ecology became a research and conservation priority. The primary aim of the study was to correlate environmental (e.g. rainfall, habitat availability, resource characteristics, food resource abundance and temperature) and social (e.g. inter- and intra-specific competition, predation, and human disturbance) variables with aspects of their ecology (e.g. flight activity, food item preferences, breeding activity, and group dynamics) to evaluate the degree of specialization in resource use (e.g. trophic, nesting and habitat niche metrics). African deforestation rates are the highest in the world, resulting in twelve out of the eighteen Meyer’s Parrot range states undergoing drastic loss of forest cover over the last 25 years. Most commentary on the population status of Meyer’s Parrots and other Poicephalus parrots pre-dates this period of rapid deforestation In addition, over 75 000 wild-caught Meyer’s Parrots and almost 1 million wild-caught Poicephalus parrots have been recorded in international trade since 1975. Empirical data from this study was used to identify ecological weaknesses (e.g. niche specialization or low breeding turnover) for evaluation within the context of deforestation in the African subtropics. Baseline data on the breeding biology and nest cavity requirements of Meyer’s Parrots was also necessary to assess the viability of applying the conservative sustained-harvest model to African parrots. A unifying goal of this study was to advance our knowledge of the ecology of African parrots and other Psittaciformes by assessing the validity of current hypotheses put forward in the literature. The Meyer’s Parrot Project was initiated in January 2004 on Vundumtiki Island in the north-eastern part of the Okavango Delta, Botswana. Due to high flood waters between March and July 2004, road transects were postponed till August 2004. Transects were conducted at Vundumtiki from August 2004 to July 2005 and February 2007 to August 2007, and at Mombo from August 2005 to January 2006. During 480 road transects over 24 months, food item preferences closely tracked fruiting and flowering phenology, resulting in significant positive correlations between Levins’ niche breadth, rainfall and food resource availability. Meyer’s Parrot can, therefore, be considered opportunistic generalists predispersal seed predator that tracks resource availability across a wide suite of potential food items, including 71 different food items from 37 tree species in 16 families. Meyer’s Parrots were, however, found to be habitat specialists preferring established galleries of riverine forest and associated Acacia-Combretum marginal woodland. These strong habitat associations facilitate their wide distribution throughout the Kavango Basin, Linyanti Swamps, down the Zambezi valley, up along the Rift Valley system in associations with the great lakes, through the Upper Nile and the Sudd, and west as far as Lake Chad through the Sahel. Seventy-five nest cavities were measured during this study, including 28 nest cavities utilized by Meyer’s Parrots within the 430ha sample area at Vundumtiki. Over 1700 hours of intensive nest observations at six nest cavities was undertaken. Meyer’s Parrots formed socially monogamous pair-bonds maintained over at least four breeding seasons. Breeding pairs established breeding territories up to an estimated 160ha within which there were 1–6 nest cavities. Eggs hatched asynchronously, yet nestlings fledged synchronously with similar body size and condition. There was evidence to support the incidence of extra-pair copulations, however, mitochondrial DNA sequence data are required to confirm the incidence of extra-pair fertilizations. Meyer’s Parrots had no preferences in regard to nest tree species beyond the incidence of suitable nest cavities, which are selected and further excavated to accommodate their non-random nest cavity preferences. There was a significant non-nesting Meyer’s Parrot population during the breeding season, likely due to this longlived cavity-nester delaying nesting until a suitable breeding territory becomes available. Meyer’s Parrots utilize communal roosts during summer and disperse from them according to the Foraging Dispersal Hypothesis. Due to the requirement to roost during the middle of the day to avoid heat stress, Meyer’s Parrots have bimodal flight and feeding activity patterns. The highest probability of locating Meyer’s Parrots is between 08h30 and 11h00 during summer when both adults are feeding on the seeds of fleshy-fruits in riverine forest communities. Due to the paucity of data on the current distribution and population status of Meyer’s Parrots and other African parrots, a continent-wide survey of all African parrots represents a conservation priority. Current deforestation rates in several Meyer’s Parrot range, their specialist habitat associations, and lack of evidence to support adaptability to a changing landscape mosaic necessitate the re-classification of Meyer’s Parrots as data deficient or nearthreatened. Based on low breeding population due to limited breeding opportunities, the CITES Appendix II wild-caught bird trade should also be halted until the sustainability of this trade has been evaluated and the relevant information made available. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2008.

The state of moral decline has recently come under scrutiny in South Africa and abroad. Moral development is nurtured and developed by moral teaching. South Africa has put in place various avenues for moral education in order to curb moral degeneration. However, due to the continuing social ills that are experienced in the country further avenues of moral education ought to be explored. Due to the multicultural nature of the South African population, moral considerations should consider the strengths that cultural diversity in moral education can contribute toward a moral society. Moral teachings have been explored through education and religious chastity; however, the indigenous knowledge systems of South Africans have not been tapped in this regard. This is partly because the scientific world has not seen it fit to accommodate these knowledges in the knowledge production sphere. The study employed a constructivist grounded theory approach to explore the role of traditional teachings in Batswana female initiation schools and how the traditional teachings contribute to morality and the construction of womanhood. A decolonial epistemic perspective, the African epistemology and social constructionism were used as concepts that formed a framework to allow the critiquing of main stream theories and to allow a grounded theory to emerge from a Batswana female initiation context. Unstructured interviews with initiation instructors as primary data sources were conducted. Secondary data sources included initiation songs and dance; conversations with people who are involved in initiation schools, people who are knowledgeable in Setswana culture and the cultural celebration that the researcher attended were used. The textual data was analysed using the Attride Sterling model of thematic networks. Womanhood as a particular identity and female morality as mainly determined by context are the main themes in the study. Womanhood and morality are intertwined within this context that determines womanhood according to acceptable behaviours. An ethic of responsibility was the overarching theme when analyzing how female morality and womanhood is constructed in the context of initiation schools in Taung. / Psychology / M.A. (Research Consultation)

Stakeholder involvement in strategic planning: a strategy to mitigate the effects of HIV and AIDS on secondary education in Botswana. This study explores the involvement of stakeholders in strategic planning to mitigate the effect of HIV and AIDS in secondary education in Botswana. The prevalence of HIV and AIDS-related illness and deaths is high in Botswana and affects both teachers and learners. Education provision has been affected through increased mortality and morbidity and increased absenteeism which affect education-related personnel and the demand for education has been reduced due to growing numbers of orphaned and vulnerable children as a consequence of parent/guardian mortality and morbidity related to HIV and AIDS. The problem was investigated by means of a literature review and an empirical inquiry which combined quantitative and qualitative data collection. Based on the findings, in addition to medical and other interventions, an education management approach is required to mitigate the effects of HIV and AIDS on secondary education in Botswana. The strategies of coping, caring and preventing have been effective in this regard. Some internal stakeholders of the Department of Secondary Education (DSE) are not meaningfully involved in strategic planning. Similarly, most of the selected external stakeholders were not involved in the DSE HIV and AIDS strategic plan. Both external and internal stakeholders should be involved at all stages of planning. Furthermore, inducement-contribution exchanges and teacher credibility should be considered in a strategic plan. To improve the current DSE strategic plan, a stakeholder involvement model to involve internal and external stakeholders was designed. Based on this model and the above findings, recommendations for practice and suggestions for future research are made. / Educational Studies / D.Ed.(Educational Management)

The education reform efforts in Botswana have focused predominantly on teacher preparation, recruitment and compensation. Recruitment efforts have resulted in a significant number of expatriates working with indigenous teachers in many schools. However, as the schools are currently upgraded and restructured, the quality of the working relationships forged between indigenous and expatriate teachers represents one vital aspect in the reform effort that has gone almost unattended. Many teachers have become dissatisfied and concerned about these relationships, despite compensation and preparation. A decisive first step in attending to these relationships lies in understanding how they develop. The aim of this exploratory study was to identify and describe factors related to the development of working relationships between indigenous and expatriate teachers and illustrate how those factors contribute to the development of these relationships. The study employed a micropolitical perspective and through phenomenological interviews, observation and document analysis, indicated that cultural differences in language and communication, regard for time, handling of student discipline, work ethics and professionalism along with ambiguity and uncertainty, professional and interpersonal obligations, indigenous to expatriate teacher ratio and the interplay of micropolitics are related to the development of these relationships. Results, however, are specific to one school context and should not be generalized. The study recommends management strategies such as provision of programmes for cultural exchange, communication mode standardization, a dean of discipline system, faculty building and further research to redress the situation. / Further Teacher Education / M.Ed.

The aim of the study was to investigate motivation, job satisfaction and attitudes of nurses in the public health services of Botswana. The objective was to discover how nurses felt about a wide range of variables in their work environment and ultimately to distil them into what they conceived as the mainstay motivators, job satisfiers and positive attitudes. The non pariel (unrivalled, unique) role of the government in creating both the hardware and the software of national health services was acknowledged and recognised with a particular reference to the primacy it placed on developing the human resources in the form of nurses, in order to realize the goals of administering the public health services efficiently and effectively. It was noted that nurses were the change agents and the axis in promoting quality standards of healthcare but in partnership with the government, which must be seen to be responsive and proactive in discharging its fiduciary responsibilities, in respect of both the content and the context of nurses’ occupational ambience. For the purposes of constructing a database from which both the government and the nurses can draw, the most salient thematic details of the theories of motivation, job satisfaction and attitudes were studied and examined and were used as a scaffolding for the empirical survey of nurses. Nine hundred questionnaires were distributed to both registered and enrolled nurses with a minimum of two years work experience in the public health sector and 702 of these were returned constituting a return rate of 78%. The findings indicated that a majority of nurses enjoyed job satisfaction in certain areas of their work namely autonomy, participating in decision-making, choice of type of nursing, change of wards or departments or work units, interpersonal relationships amongst nurses themselves and between nurses and their supervisors. Nurses also perceived the hospital as an environment in which they could continually learn and they were moreover satisfied with the nursing job or the work itself. The other end of the spectrum revealed an overwhelming majority of 92.2% of nurses who were dissatisfied with the level of pay and 88.5% who were not happy with the fringe benefits including the provision of accommodation. Working conditions were viewed as generally disliked by 67.3% of the nurses. Low pay, workload, lack of viii recognition for outstanding performance and or delayed promotional chances were singled out as being particularly disliked by 67.2%, 64.9%, 42.6% and 44.4% of the nurses respectively. Interviews held with 31 nurses yielded similar results. The research further showed that the most important motivators to nurses were dominated by competitive salary which was mentioned by 80.9% of the respondents, attractive or sufficient working conditions which were stated by 71.2% of the nurses, opportunity for continuous education which was rated by 63.8% of the nursing candidates, reduced workload which was claimed by 59.3% of the nursing cadres, opportunity for the recognition of outstanding performance and opportunity for promotion which were scored by 54.1% and 53.4% of the nurse respectively. Job satisfiers were also represented by competitive salary which received 76.1% of the nurses’ votes. Risk allowance occupied the second position with 69.1% and competitive working conditions were awarded a third ranking by 68.2% of the nurses. Those nurses who derived job satisfaction from the fact of each nursing shift being manned by an adequate number of nurses accounted for 63.1% of the sample. Competitive fringe benefits attracted 60.1% of the nurses. Opportunity to attend workshops and the need for high morale in nursing team-work were chosen as job satisfiers by 53.7% and 49.6% of the nurses respectively. In the section on recommendations the government was exhorted to invoke corrective or remedial measures in view of the detailed exegesis of the satisfactions and dissatisfactions in the nurses’ work environment and the ensuing problematique (doubtful, questionable) of raising the standards of health care in the public health services. Living up to these sanguine expectations should be the cherished longterm vision of the government if it is to meet and quench the soaring aspirations of its modernizing society for quality health care delivery and the escalating needs of the nurses. / Public Administration and Management / D.P.A.

Museums and schools evolved as the definition of the concept of education to describe a lifelong process of developing knowledge, skills, values and attitudes that take place not only in the classroom, but also in a variety of formal and informal contexts and settings. In order to fulfil and extend the potential of the partnership, museum educators and school teachers should be assisted to develop a comprehensive understanding of the nature of the museum-school collaboration. They should learn the difference between museums and classrooms. When the Botswana National Museum was established in 1968, the Botswana government aspired to avail information relating to Botswana customs, indigenous knowledge system and values to Botswana‘s future citizens, with the hope that the information and artefacts collected at the time would retell the story of Botswana to learners and the public alike. The Botswana National Museum, through its educational programmes, has the capability to help educate learners; make teaching and learning an exciting undertaking; and provide the opportunities for hands-on activities and interaction with real objects. In order to address the research question posed for this study, the researcher conducted open-ended interviews with a sample comprising 40 participants: 10 teachers, 10 learners, 10 museum employees and 10 curriculum developers. The data collected from the interviews were decoded and presented in narrative form. The responses were presented using three identified categories: the curriculum development process in Botswana; the typical learner activities in the classroom and in the Botswana National Museum; and collaboration between the Botswana National Museum and schools. The data analysis revealed that the curriculum development process in Botswana was exclusively done by curriculum developers. Learners, teachers and museum employees were not involved. The Botswana National Museum‘s education programmes are not familiar to all role-players. All role-players were positive regarding a possible collaboration with the Botswana National Museum. Generic and specific recommendations were put forward to this end. / Educational Studies / D. Ed. (Didactics)

This thesis presents an evaluation of the dispersive solid-phase extraction (d-SPE) method referred to as the quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged and safe (QuEChERS) method for the determination of four organochlorine pesticide residues in fish samples. The pesticides investigated in this study were o, p′-DDT, p, p′-DDE, aldrin and dieldrin. The combined use of Gas Chromatography with an Electron Capture Detector (GC-ECD) and sensitive Time of Flight (TOF) mass detector facilitated the identification of the target analytes. In the absence of certified reference material, the overall analytical procedure was validated by systematic recovery experiments on spiked samples at three levels of 2, 5 and 10 ng/g. The targeted compounds were successfully extracted and their recovery ranged from 76 to 96% with relative standard deviations of less than 13%. The optimum QuEChERS conditions were 2g of fish powder, 10 ml acetonitrile and 1 min shaking time. The optimal conditions were applied to assess the levels of chlorinated pesticides in blunt-tooth catfish (Clarias ngamensis), tigerfish (Hydrocynus vittatus), Oreochromis andersonii and red-breasted tilapia (Tilapia rendalli) from the Okavango Delta, Botswana. Dieldrin, p, p′-DDE and aldrin were detected in all the analysed samples with a concentration range of 0.04 – 0.29, 0.07 – 0.33, 0.04 – 0.28 and 0.03 – 0.24 ng/g per dry weight in O. andersonii, C. ngamensis, T. rendalli and H. vittatus respectively. These concentrations were below the US-EPA 0.1 μg/g allowable limit in edible fish and the Australian Maximum Residue Limit (MRL) of 50 - 1000 ng/g in fresh fish. DDT was not detected in all the fish species investigated. The mean lipid content recorded in the fish samples were 1.24, 2.16, 2.18 and 4.21% for H. vittatus, T. rendalli, O. andersonni and C. ngamensis respectively. No systematic trend was observed between fish age and pesticide levels in fish. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity assays were performed to assess the effects of organochlorine pesticides in Clarias ngamensis. The enzyme activity recorded in Clarias ngamensis from the Okavango Delta and the reference site was 12.31 μmol of acetylcholine iodide hydrolysed/min/g brain tissue. The enzyme activity remained the same indicating no enzyme inhibition. The conclusions drawn from this study are that the QuEChERS method is applicable for the determination of organochlorine pesticide residues in fish matrices. The fish from the Okavango Delta are safe for human consumption.

Human-wildlife conflict continues to grow as a concern across the world. The conflict is experienced in many different forms and it has become persistent on the pastoral lands that are situated closer to the boundaries of protected areas with livestock predation being the most prevalent form of conflict. The type and severity of the conflict is largely dependent on the predator involved and the efficiency of the mitigation techniques employed. In an attempt to minimise human-wildlife interactions, many countries have set aside pieces of land for biodiversity conservation and management of wildlife species. However, the majority of these protected areas are too small to meet the ecological requirements of resident medium-large predator species. This results in some species dispersing into the neighbouring unprotected land where they come into contact with domestic animals, killing them and sometimes causing injuries. These livestock attacks ultimately trigger indiscriminate killing of predators that is fuelled by economic losses that are accrued through livestock predation and communities‟ I ABSTRACT Human-wildlife conflict continues to grow as a concern across the world. The conflict is experienced in many different forms and it has become persistent on the pastoral lands that are situated closer to the boundaries of protected areas with livestock predation being the most prevalent form of conflict. The type and severity of the conflict is largely dependent on the predator involved and the efficiency of the mitigation techniques employed. In an attempt to minimise human-wildlife interactions, many countries have set aside pieces of land for biodiversity conservation and management of wildlife species. However, the majority of these protected areas are too small to meet the ecological requirements of resident medium-large predator species. This results in some species dispersing into the neighbouring unprotected land where they come into contact with domestic animals, killing them and sometimes causing injuries. These livestock attacks ultimately trigger indiscriminate killing of predators that is fuelled by economic losses that are accrued through livestock predation and communities‟ negative perceptions towards predators. Camera trapping and spoor count techniques were used to study the occupancy of medium-large predator species and their movement in and out of Jwana Game Park through the holes that occur under the park‟s perimeter fence. In addition, a questionnaire survey was conducted in the cattle posts that are situated adjacent to Jwana Game Park. Seven medium-large predator species were detected within the boundaries of the park. Occupancy estimates varied among the predator species within the different sections of the game park. Predators also exhibited movement between the park and adjacent pastoral land using holes that occurred under the park‟s boundary fence. A total of 128 active holes were recorded under the park‟s perimeter fence with the majority (62%) of the intensively used holes occurring in the south-west section of the park. A total of 185 predator images were recorded at the various holes under the boundary fence with black-backed jackal (Canis mesomelas) constituting the majority (45%) of capture events. Human wildlife conflict is common on the neighbouring farmlands and jackal was perceived to be responsible for the majority of the livestock depredation incidents of small stock (mainly goats), whereas leopard was perceived as the most problematic predator species on the commercial cattle ranches where it accounted for 63% of livestock losses. There was no association between the occupancy of predators inside the park and the use of holes that occur under the park‟s the boundary fence. Conflict mitigation techniques were not efficiently practiced by communities farming in the vicinity of the game park, which potentially contributed to increased livestock attacks. The incapability of the boundary fence to restrict animal movement could also contribute to increased unwanted predator-livestock interactions. / College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences / M. Sc. (Environmental Science)

Bibliography: leaves 124-147 / BACKGROUND The leading and increasing contributor to the regional and global disease burden that leads to death and disability is represented by road accidents. An enormous toll on individuals together with communities and national economies has been observed because of the occurrence of road accidents. AIM The study developed guidelines to reduce road accidents amongst automobile drivers in Botswana. METHODS Study design The study was conceptualised using Haddon's theory and the mixed-method sequential explanatory design was utilized to conduct the study. Collection of data for this study was done over a period of time in two consecutive phases. v Study setting The study took place in Gaborone, and the study was conducted at Broadhurst Police Headquarters, Directorate of transport station, and the University of Botswana. Data Collection methods: The data for this study were collected through the usage of focus group interviews and document analysis using a checklist. The first phase involved collecting quantitative data through document analysis of 400 police records using a checklist. The second phase took place in Gaborone at the University of Botswana. It involved collecting qualitative data using two focus group interviews with various stakeholders like traffic police, third party claim officers, and emergency nurses/doctors who have been in contact with people involved in road traffic accidents. Study Population: The study population included traffic accident victims' documents at the police headquarters for Gaborone and Francistown, police and traffic officers, lawyers/third party claims officers, and emergency department staff such as nurses and doctors working in Gaborone and Francistown. Data analysis: A checklist was used in transforming observations of found categories into quantitative statistical data. Data generated from the content analysis were transformed into quantitative statistical data using a checklist. Quantitative data were entered and analysed principally using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS 27) software to generate graphs and tables. Inconsistencies of the data set was managed by cleaning and editing the data. The data that were missing were not statistically imputed. The relationships of independent variables based on Haddon Matrix-like, drunk driving, unlicensed drivers, over speeding, deaths, and injuries were analysed against the dependent variable of having a road traffic accident using logistic regression. Qualitative vi data from focus group interviews was transcribed verbatim using a transcription protocol. Using transcription protocol ensured that transcription is done consistently and is of the appropriate type for analytic aims. Tesch’s framework for qualitative data analysis was used. UNISA, Botswana Ministry of Health and Wellness, and The Ministry of Defence, Justice, and Security granted the researcher the permission to conduct the study. Results The study found that most accidents are caused by the drivers’ carelessness followed by animals, both domestic and wild. The accidents had an impact on the health of drivers, passengers, and pedestrians. The accidents resulted in fatalities and lower limb fractures, upper limb fractures, and brain injuries. Over the past five years, Gaborone and Serowe recorded the highest cases of road traffic accidents. Most of the accidents occurred where there were no junction. Conclusion It is envisioned that the guidelines informed by research and literature will ensure a decrease in road traffic accidents and consequently fatalities and injuries among Botswana communities. / Health Studies / D. Phil. (Public Health)

The motivation of learners by teachers is key to learner academic success. Consequently, an understanding of the motivation strategies is important for teachers because learners have diverse learning needs and interest. This study conducted in one private school in Botswana is designed to explore the motivation strategies used in teaching and learning. The aim of this study is to establish the various motivational strategies used by teachers on learners to enhance their academic performance in the intermediate phase. To accomplish this, the objectives of the study are: - To explore what motivational strategies are that the teachers using currently - To determine why they are using such strategies - To establish the efficacy of such motivational strategies - To map alternate motivational strategies teachers that can use in their classrooms The theories that underpin the study are teacher leadership and theories of motivation. Three theories of motivation that were drawn on namely are Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, Herzberg’s Two - Factor Theory and Behavioural Theories. The related literature both national and international was examined to show how previous research informed the current study. A mixed methods case study design was employed. Questionnaires, focus group interviews and observations were used to generate data. The participants in the study were the intermediate phase teachers and assistant teachers and intermediate phase learners. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics and thematic content analyses. The findings revealed that most of the teachers were using a variety of motivational strategies which had a positive effect on the learner’s academic performance. The findings also revealed that meeting the learner’s needs is key to their learning success. Stemming from the findings, it is recommended that learner’s academic performance can be improved if the teachers could employ a variety of learner-centred teaching and learning activities, capitalize on the learners existing needs and also expand the learners’ opportunities by engaging in alternate learning strategies. / Educational Management and Leadership / M. Ed. (Education Management)