No description available.

Originally presented as the author's thesis, Louvain. / Includes bibliographical references.

No description available.

The relation between verbal affixes and their effect on the predicate argument structure of the verbs that host them has been the focus of many studies in linguistics, with special reference to Bantu languages in recent years. Given the colonial policy on indigenous languages in Angola, Kikongo, as is the case of other Bantu languages in that country, has not been sufficiently studied. This study explores the form and function of six verbal affixes, including the order in which they occur in the verb stem. The study maintains that the applicative and causative are valency-increasing verbal affixes and, as such, give rise to double object constructions in Kikongo. The passive, reciprocal, reflexive and stative are valency-decreasing and, as such, they reduce the valency of the verb by one object. This study also suggests that Kikongo is a symmetrical object language in which both objects appear to have equal status. / African languages / M.A.

Ph.D. (Economics) / The main objective of this study is to assess the role of the informal sector in the economy of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) by assessing its linkage with the formal sector. An attempt to assess the linkage between the formal and informal sectors was carried out by using quantitative techniques that range from the construction of a Social Accounting Matrix (SAM) to the building of a Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) model to assess the impact of each of the sectors in the DRC economy. A new SAM that incorporates formal and informal sector is constructed whereby different techniques and methodologies are applied. The data sources and techniques used to build the SAM and CGE model are described. The DRC Formal Informal Sector Model (DRCFIM) is constructed based on ORANI model of the Australian economy. The generic edition of the model, ORANI-G, developed for CGE modellers was constructed by Horridge (1998). The model has a theoretical composition which is typical of a static Applied General Equilibrium (AGE) model. Nonetheless, one particularity of the DRCFIM is that it is a multi-sectoral CGE model that depicts the reflected structure of the DRC’s formal and informal sectors along with a diversity of linkages between various economic agents such as government, investors, traders and enterprises. DRCFIM is used to perform two policy simulations. The first policy simulation assessed the impact of land use on the DRC economy and the second is on trade liberalisation. In tracing the impact of the land use subsidy shock, output rises and domestic prices decline in most sectors, indicating considerable efficiency and lower costs per unit of output. Land use subsidy raises output in most sectors, stimulating the real GDP to rise by 0.34 and 0.26 percent in the short and long run respectively. Concerning the second policy simulation, we only allowed the import price to decrease by 5 percent in the model. As we would expect, gross domestic product, exports and employment rise when the import price on products is reduced by 5 percent in the short run.

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Engineering. Johannesburg, 2017 / The research was driven by the need to optimise the Ruashi Mining operation to prevent further high-grading without destroying the value of the mine. Ruashi Mining incurred a five-year stripping backlog caused by the drive to reduce costs. As a result of this, a decline in metal production was imminent in the subsequent years. The study was conducted mainly using SimSched Direct Block Scheduler (SimSched DBS) in comparison with schedules from Datamine Net Present Value Scheduler (NPVS) and MineSched. The scenarios investigated have shown that running a mine based on break-even cut-off grade does not optimise the net present value of an operation as shown through the results of Ruashi Mining. The research also proved that royalty affects the cut-off grade for Ruashi Mining, and cannot be ignored. The proper scheduling of wasting stripping resulting from cut-off grade optimisation has contributed to a timeous exposure of high grade to avert the decline in metal production. All the three scenarios have shown that high grade ore can be availed on time, thus producing a smooth metal output for the life of mine. Cut-off grade optimisation is very crucial for any mining organisation as it is the main driver of value. Ore reserves are important in the determination of a company’s share price. High cut-off grade results in fewer reserves, and vice versa. Since mineral reserves are the source of revenue, therefore, the higher the reserves, the higher the revenue. Low cut-off grade may result in the processing of material that does not give high profit at the beginning of the life of mine. This, therefore, lowers the mining company’s net present value. This makes it imperative to optimise the cut-off grade during the mine life in order to optimise the net present value. During mining operations, there are various stakeholders whose interests must be considered during cut-off grade optimisation because they derive many benefits from the mine. These stakeholders include shareholders, employees, government, the community and non-governmental organisations. Cut-off grade optimisation has shown that there is an opportunity to improve the net present value of Ruashi Mining. SimSched gives a higher net present value (NPV) compared to the current Ruashi life of mine schedule. This indicates that SimSched can be used to improve the NPV for Ruashi by producing an optimised schedule. It is important to note though that there is need for the software to have provisions to take into account the initial stockpile status so that there is a holistic approach to the schedule optimisation. The grade-tonnage curve is steeper closer to zero implying that a small change in cut-off grade has a huge impact on reserves. Based on the results of the study it was clear that optimisation in SimSched DBS results in a steeply declining cut-off grade policy compared to NPVS. In addition, optimisation in SimSched leads to highly accelerated mining rate and massive stockpiling. Royalty is a cost which has to be incorporated in cut-off grade optimisation. The study has shown that the cut-off grade for Ruashi is increased by 19.8%. Ignoring royalty may result in overvaluing of an operation. Environmental considerations favour the optimisation of the use of the mieral resources. Consideration of environmental costs lowered the cut-off grade for Ruashi by 16%. / MT 2017

From October-December 2013, we conducted a study of the newly discovered primate species lesula, Cercopithecus lomamiensis, in the DR Congo. We placed 41 camera traps inside a 4 km2 grid outside the proposed Lomami National Park (LNP). We compared an analysis of 140 lesula events over 1,683 camera trap days from the heavily hunted Okulu area to a pilot study (38 events over 462 camera trap days) at the Losekola study site within the LNP. Our data show an unexpected result: capture probability of lesula (0.08) is the same at both the hunted and non-hunted sites. This is in contrast to the sharp decline in capture probability of all other medium-to-large terrestrial mammals at the Okulu site. These findings suggest lesula’s cryptic behavior is an important adaptation buffering the species from the impacts of hunting. This study also expands knowledge on minimum group size, terrestriality, diet, and times of activity. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.A.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2015. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

M. Tech. Marketing / Describes the level of awareness of HIV/AIDS, exposure to information, accessibility to condoms and sexual conduct of inhabitants of Kinshasa regarding HIV/AIDS issues under the scrutiny of HIV social marketing campaigns. Secondly, the study aims at investigating the relationships between level of awareness of HIV/AIDS, exposure to information, accessibility to condoms, poverty/equity and sexual conduct amongst the inhabitants of Kinshasa. Thirdly, it intends to determine the difference between groups with regard to gender, age and socio-economic status.

Informal mining requires particular attention in the fight against poverty. In sub-Saharan Africa, the world's poorest region, more than ten millions of people have depended on it for livelihoods. The aim of this study was to investigate the causes and impacts of the suspension of informal mining in the eastern DRC, between 2010 and 2011, on rural livelihoods in Twangiza. The study being a qualitative case study, both primary and secondary data were collected through semi-structured interviews with a total of 21 respondents and analyzed using thematic methods. This study has found that geopolitical influences upon the DRC government‟s concerns over fraud, corruption, loss of state revenues and the perpetuation of conflicts associated with informal mining activities were the main causes of its suspension in the eastern DRC. In Twangiza however, although informal mining was still practiced until 2010 when it was suspended across the eastern DRC, it had already been illegalized since 2003, following the introduction of BANRO - a Canadian based multinational company – to mine in the area. This happened shortly after DRC‟s adoption of a predominantly neo-liberal driven Mining Code in 2001. This study has also found that the suspension of informal mining worsened the already venerable rural livelihoods in Twangiza as it resulted in increased unemployment, loss of income and food as well school dropouts by both pupils and teachers. To cope with these impacts many people decided to liquidate their assets, including livestock and land. While some of them managed to reemploy themselves by reinvesting in small businesses or migrating outside the community to search jobs, the most vulnerable had no option but to stay at home, resort to theft or prostitution. This study, therefore stresses the livelihood importance of informal mining in Twangiza, which is consistent with previous studies on informal mining and livelihoods among poor communities in developing countries, especially in Africa. It also questions the consistency of DRC‟s mining policy and provides some constructive recommendations on how mining should be used to promote sustainable development in the eastern DRC. / Thesis (M.Dev.Studies)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2012.

The cruelty and scope of the widespread criminality of humans in the world, which was a feature of the past century, was fuelled by scientific progress, egoism and humanity's power of destruction. The criminal consequences of the many imperialistic, hegemonic and barbarous wars in that century were immeasurable in terms of violations of human rights. Notwithstanding the emergence of international criminal justice through the experience of the International Criminal Military Tribunal of Nuremberg and Tokyo and later the ad hoc International Criminal Tribunal for former Yugoslavia and Rwanda, globally, impunity for egregious crimes continues. The establishment of the International Criminal Court (ICC) at the end of the 20th century was saluted as a major step forward in the evolution of international criminal justice. While previous tribunals were ad hoc, the ICC is permanent and has large territorial jurisdiction. This raises hope among the many Congolese victims of the first African World War, who view the ICC as a paradigm change that will put a stop to impunity for crimes against humanity and the crimes of genocide and war. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the past decades have been marked by instability and horrible armed conflicts (1996-97 and 1998-2003) which left several million people dead, and which were marked by gross war crimes. The negative consequences of those atrocities persist until today. While the ICC initiated the prosecution of some war criminals in 2004, most crimes committed before 2002 remain unpunished, because the ICC's jurisdiction is limited to after that time. It is therefore imperative to examine other mechanisms to deal with impunity for various grave crimes, including war crimes, perpetrated between 1996 and 2002. Thus the aim of this research is to contribute to the fight against impunity for crimes in the DRC by examining how other modes of jurisdiction such as the principle of universality can be applied, and to assess the need for the establishment of a specific tribunal for the DRC. Considering the inability and incapacity of the Congolese judicial apparatus, this study concludes by recommending the establishment of a Special Criminal Tribunal which can put an end to impunity for serious crimes committed in the DRC. / Thesis (LL.M.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2012.