Magister Philosophiae - MPhil (Law) / When Zambia got its independence in 1964, there was neither a constitutional reference to local government nor constitutional provisions for local government finance. However, the new Zambian government inherited a relatively stable local government finance system. One year after Independence, councils operated under a new effected Local Government Act of 1965. The period 1965 to 1973 was a period of great success for local government, as it continued to enjoy stable and strong fiscal resources. Councils raised adequate own revenues from sources such as local electricity, water, housing and motor vehicle licensing. Local government also received adequate grants from the central government which were targeted for the development of each Council.

Thesis (DTech(Public Management))--Cape Technikon, Cape Town, 2002 / South Africa prides itself on its "rainbow nation" status. The term "rainbow nation" has frequently been used to reflect the diversity of the South African community. In the preamble to our present constitution, it is stated that South Africa belongs to all who live in it, and that diversity epitomises the unity of its people. However, if one takes a glance around many local government offices, particular at our senior and middle level management levels, our rainbow appears less colourful than we would like to think. Whatever its meaning, diversity has become a term used freely by both the previous and present government, neither being able to define its true meaning. In fact, they have used the term diversity in so many ways and in so many contexts that it seems to mean many things. With the diversification of local authorities, a new challenge has arisen for the local government manager when resolving, or at least ameliorating, some of the difficulties arising from the widespread diversity found in the workplace. The transformation of local authorities and the implementation of affirmative action programmes were the way government thought diversity should be effected, but this alone will not ensure the employment equity local government managers are seeking. The awareness of selected local government managers (internal managing of diversity) regarding diversity will provide an insight into their acceptance of diverse groups as being a vital resource for an organisation. In return, this will also reflect the commitment of selected local government managers (external managing of diversity) in serving their diverse local communities In this dissertation, the terms "selected local government manager(s)" will be used interchangeably with the term" public manager (s)". The core problem, which this study addresses, revolves around tile different belief windows and the effect these have on the local government manager's self-concept of diversity in the workplace. A belief window refers to an invisible window through which one views diversity This dissertation will attempt to provide the insights and awareness levels of local government managers in respect of diversity management as expounded in the paragraphs that follow. The theories of diversity management in the workplace are explored The focus is on the definition of terms within the study; what managing diversity is not; why diversity management; the different dimensions of diversity; the differences between managing diversity, valuing of differences and affirmative action; models for managing diversity in the workplace; and the consequences of ignoring diversity in the workplace.

Rescued from Japanese colonization after 36 years, Korea resumed independence as The Republic of Korea in 1948 grounded on liberal democracy. The democratic institution promised a system of separation of power, democratic rights and freedom for all people. In this context, local autonomy was experimented with but soon ceased due to internal instability and local government was suspended until the 1990s. Institutionally Korean central government undertook a steady shift toward decentralization over the past two decades or so, but that shift has more recently been tempered by the exercise of stronger central controls facing fiscal crises. This thesis argues that centralism is still a predominant ideology in intergovernmental relations despite the implementation of local autonomy. Central controls exhibited democratic change in some cases but the core nature of controlling local government has survived through institutional change appearing in different modes since the introduction of local autonomy. The democratic change in central control is declared to increase local autonomy. From this viewpoint, the democratic change in central control is assumed to improve the performance of local government based on the theory that the growth of local autonomy motivates local government to improve its performance. Financial crises were used to justify the revival of pervasive central controls. So this thesis is concerned with the relationship between central control and local performance in the context of fiscal crisis, whose focus is driven by the experience of fiscal crises over recent years in Korea. An extensive statistical analysis, drawing on a unique data base, reveals that, despite the local autonomy rhetoric, overall current central controls have a negative link with local government performance. Democratic change of central controls has not significantly improved the performance of local government. This evidence supports the view that even after the revival of local autonomy in Korea; central control plays a role of regulator rather than a role of constructive engagement with local government and emphasises institutional stability. Thus central government has not yet developed the creative potential of democratic local government and should more positively make an effort to establish democratic central-local government relations.

The political context of citizen participation in North American governments since World War II has largely been one of failure of non-elites to influence governments at all levels to accommodate their values and interests. Among concepts of government designed to facilitate the political efficacy cf such groups is that of decentralization of some powers of municipal government to the "neighborhood" or local area level in large cities. Municipal decentralization theory rests on assumptions that common interests can be identified with a definable local area and that political processes at that level reflect local political values and interests. The general hypothesis was that political processes in local areas reflect the diversity of political values and interests of the local area population and thus have the potential to legitimize decision-making at that level. Review of literature on democratic theory led to a postulate that a political process which reflects a constituency's values and interests is pluralistic and is perceived to be legitimate by political actors. It was also postulated that lines of political cleavage in the urban land development control issue area, the issue area chosen for this research, would follow social class lines. Working hypotheses were constructed based on the above two postulates and a definition of "legitimacy" of government. The general hypothesis was sustained by a limited comparative study of local area political processes in the Kitsilano and Grandview-Woodlands local areas of Vancouver, by study of one politically salient site-specific land development control issue in each. A combination of decisional and reputational techniques was used to identify influential political actors at the local area level and to identify key events. A qualification was observed in political actors' perception of legitimacy of a hypothetical local area government with some powers in land development control: the electoral process was perceived by most tc be an inadequate instrument of citizen control of government at that level. It was concluded that further research was warranted in means of facilitating political integration at the local area level, as existing community councils did not perform that function in the issues studied. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Community and Regional Planning (SCARP), School of / Graduate

No description available.

With increasing population comes the concern for waste disposal. The absence of sanitary disposal methods has left most city residents with open landfills as their only source of waste disposal. The resulting leachate formed from the decomposition of these waste materials is highly polluting and finds its way to the underground water supply. The study investigated the effects of open landfill sites on the underground water quality by examining the physical and chemical properties of underground water in hand-dug wells around the Solous landfill sites in Igando, Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State. Solous landfill is the second largest landfill by landmass and volume of waste in Lagos State. Systematic random sampling was used for data gathering. Eighteen hand-dug wells were sampled at increasing distances from the landfill site. Physical, chemical and microbiological parameters were analysed at the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA). Soil samples were also taken from both the A (0 – 30cm) and B (30 – 60cm) horizons of the water sampling points to determine the soil texture (silt, clay and loamy composition) and to show the impact of soil texture on ground water quality within the sampled area. The level of contamination of groundwater was also determined using the Contamination Index method. The results showed high degree of conformance with W.H.O standard with respect to the microbiological properties of the sampled groundwater. However, coliform tests indicated the potential presence of pathogens. Of the seven (7) physical parameters tested, conductivity was higher in one sample. The study of chemical properties from the eighteen wells showed five (5) parameters (dissolved oxygen, total alkalinity, iron, lead, nitrates and copper) above W.H.O limits in some samples. The water may therefore not be safe for human consumption and there is a serious need to monitor the groundwater quality in the area. The level of contamination of groundwater was also determined using the Contamination Index method. Areas of high and medium contamination were discovered. There was no area with low contamination level in the area sampled. Contamination levels were mapped to show the exact levels of contamination in the study area. The results of the soil analysis showed that the study area had soil that was mostly sandy in nature which may suggest an increase in parameters over time with significant health implications for the people who depend on surrounding wells for domestic use. The study also showed no significant variation in water quality with increasing distance from the dump site. Findings also indicated that the water around Solous 1 was of better quality for domestic use than groundwater around Solous 2 and 3 due to temporal reduction of contaminant concentration. There is therefore a need for adequate and proper planning, design and construction, and strategic management disposal of waste, as well as the implementation of a better sustainable environmental sanitation practice. / Environmental Sciences / M. Sc. (Environmental Science)

With increasing population comes the concern for waste disposal. The absence of sanitary disposal methods has left most city residents with open landfills as their only source of waste disposal. The resulting leachate formed from the decomposition of these waste materials is highly polluting and finds its way to the underground water supply. The study investigated the effects of open landfill sites on the underground water quality by examining the physical and chemical properties of underground water in hand-dug wells around the Solous landfill sites in Igando, Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State. Solous landfill is the second largest landfill by landmass and volume of waste in Lagos State. Systematic random sampling was used for data gathering. Eighteen hand-dug wells were sampled at increasing distances from the landfill site. Physical, chemical and microbiological parameters were analysed at the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA). Soil samples were also taken from both the A (0 – 30cm) and B (30 – 60cm) horizons of the water sampling points to determine the soil texture (silt, clay and loamy composition) and to show the impact of soil texture on ground water quality within the sampled area. The level of contamination of groundwater was also determined using the Contamination Index method. The results showed high degree of conformance with W.H.O standard with respect to the microbiological properties of the sampled groundwater. However, coliform tests indicated the potential presence of pathogens. Of the seven (7) physical parameters tested, conductivity was higher in one sample. The study of chemical properties from the eighteen wells showed five (5) parameters (dissolved oxygen, total alkalinity, iron, lead, nitrates and copper) above W.H.O limits in some samples. The water may therefore not be safe for human consumption and there is a serious need to monitor the groundwater quality in the area. The level of contamination of groundwater was also determined using the Contamination Index method. Areas of high and medium contamination were discovered. There was no area with low contamination level in the area sampled. Contamination levels were mapped to show the exact levels of contamination in the study area. The results of the soil analysis showed that the study area had soil that was mostly sandy in nature which may suggest an increase in parameters over time with significant health implications for the people who depend on surrounding wells for domestic use. The study also showed no significant variation in water quality with increasing distance from the dump site. Findings also indicated that the water around Solous 1 was of better quality for domestic use than groundwater around Solous 2 and 3 due to temporal reduction of contaminant concentration. There is therefore a need for adequate and proper planning, design and construction, and strategic management disposal of waste, as well as the implementation of a better sustainable environmental sanitation practice. / Environmental Sciences / M. Sc. (Environmental Science)

Challenges of access to education in the developing world and elsewhere appear to be widespread. Many declarations and conventions have been developed to assist countries to respond to the issue. While challenges of access are universal, Africa in general and sub-Saharan Africa in particular are presented with additional concerns about gender equality and gender parity. While learner numbers seem to be on the decline globally, dropout amongst girls is disproportionately greater than amongst boys. Even though school retention presents a challenge at all levels of the schooling system, it is more acute for girls at the secondary school level. This study was conducted to examine and understand factors that shape retention of secondary school female learners in two rural public schools in Alimosho Region of Lagos State, Nigeria. The study design was qualitative and interpretive in nature. Data collection strategies included administered questionnaires in two schools, focus group discussion with twenty female learners in two schools, case studies, individual interviews with four participants from two schools, and observation in English and Biology classes where the two teachers from the two schools participated in the interviews. Ethical clearance from Alimosho Educational Region office and the two schools was obtained before undertaking the study. Participants’ school principals also signed written consent forms before interviews. The female learners were briefed about the study interview activities and advised that their participation was voluntary and that they were free to withdraw at any point. This study drew on Sen’s (1989, 2000) capabilities theory to understand the phenomenon beyond dominant discourses on education that view education as a basic human right or that focus on economic and development gains. The key finding of this study is that in-school and out- of- school factors interact in complex ways to support female learner retention. Key among these are value placed on education by female learners and significant others, particularly parents; family support; and individual aspirations. Extra-curricular participation, government policy, role models, and peer support were also found to be important factors that mediate progression and retention.

Thesis (Ph. D. in Political Science)--Vanderbilt University, May 2010. / Title from title screen. Includes bibliographical references.

MAdmin / Department of Public and Development Administration / i This study focused on the challenges faced by Developmental Local Government in South Africa with specific reference to the Capricorn District Municipality. Local government in South Africa has undergone significant and far-reaching changes. The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa 1996 stipulates that local government is no longer expected to render basic services only, but also to serve as an agent of development. Mixed research method was used to obtain a picture on the challenges facing developmental local government. Mixed research method made use of qualitative and quantitative research methodology. Quantitative research methodology in this study was used because it enabled the researcher to test relationships, describe and examine cause and effect relations. Qualitative research methodology was used because it covers issues in great depth and detail and allows for the ability to interact with research subjects. For this study, the researcher used a non-probability sampling and its subtype purposive or judgmental sampling method to select the respondents of the study. The reason for using purposive sampling method was to produce a sample that can logically be assumed as representatives of the population.Two data analysis methods where used, that is thematic analysis and statistical analysis. Data collected through questionnaire will be analyzed using a computer program called Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 22.0. The findings of the study are:  With regards to the importance of developmental local government the findings revealed that developmental local government was important in that it had ensured effective service delivery.  With regards to the challenges facing developmental local government the study findings revealed that there were indeed challenges with regards to developmental local government. These challenges ranged from lack of understanding of the way local government operates, political differences amongst political parties and failure to implement local economic development policies.  The study findings revealed that the municipality has no stable financial resources to be able to sustain service delivery without national government support. It was further revealed that the municipality has a shortage of relevant critical skills and quality human resources with the required technical and managerial competence to ensure quality service delivery at the local government sphere.  The findings on the strategies that can be used to overcome the challenges of developmental local government revealed that communities need to be educated on the meaning and importance of developmental local government. v The recommendations of the study are:  The researcher recommends that for the communities to be fully aware of the new mandate of developmental local government there is need for Capricorn District municipality to embark on community awareness program to inform people on the importance of developmental local government.  Alternative service delivery methods should be pursued by the Capricorn District Municipality to reduce pressure on the available resources. Services should not be provided through traditional methods only.  It is recommended that the municipality need to improve on local participatory governance. Capricorn District Municipality must secure greater participation by residents in matters of governance. Participation will assist in communities to have an understanding of the way local government operates.  The researcher also recommends that municipal capacity building should be prioritized by the municipality. As a way of mitigating the challenges of critical skills shortages the researcher recommended that relevant municipal officials should attend service excellence training courses.  The researcher recommends that education on the meaning of developmental local government can enhance the performance of Capricorn district municipality