The tragic events within the South African Development Community (SADC) countries e.g. Civil war and conflicts in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), evoked a rethinking on the pivotal role assigned to the United Nations (UN) and the international community in African conflict resolution. Subsequently, there emerged clarion calls for African solutions to African conflict,. with foreign intervention only playing a complementary role. This unfolding of events put a democratic South Africa in a good stead to take this initiative in the SADC region. In this study, the nature of South Africa's involvement in conflict resolution within SADC region. is outlined. The main objective is to outline reasons which have moulded South African intervention in Lesotho, and its impacts on her perceptions about prospects for future African initiatives in the twenty first century. South Africa adopted a remarkably ambivalent foreign policy towards the region and indeed the rest of the continent. It is however, in the light of that development that a democratic South Africa became a dominant member state within SADC to enable her the capabilities of bringing African solutions (SADC in particular) to African conflicts. It is on this note that South Africa has intervened successfully towards resolving the Lesotho conflicts. South African foreign policy objective of enhancing international peace and security by maintaining efforts towards a lasting resolution of conflicts, stability and security situation in Lesotho achieved, and the general elections were ultimately held. It is however, acknowledged that South African government has made a firm commitment to developing its role as a voice for the global South. In supporting this statement, South Africa should seriously develop a reputation, culture and capacity as a patron of peace promotion which means continuing with investing political will and resources in mediation and human resources, and also engage in a concerted campaign to improve the peace-keeping ability and security mechanisms of the SADC through a commitment of technical and human resources. / (M.Soc.Sc.) North-West University, Mafikeng Campus, 2005

Thesis (MMed) -- Stellenbosch University, 2010. / Bibliography / Objective: The objective of this retrospective cohort study is to assess whether demographic and anthropometric parameters, laboratory tests, co-morbidity, co-infection, treatment regimen, IRIS and adherence to treatment predict the expected response to HAART and differences if any, in the pattern of response as measured by CD4 count, weight gain and haemoglobin levels in two cohorts of patients in Roma, The Kingdom of Lesotho. Method: Data were collected randomly from a computerised database of the Antiretroviral Centre of the hospital and two cohorts of 151 subjects in each of the two arms of the study were identified from hospital records from January 2008. Each of these subjects was followed up over a period of 12 months with data obtained for at least 2 visits within the 12 month span. Data were obtained at baseline, 3 months and also at 6 and 12 months marks. Data on characteristics were compared between the two arms. Variables that may be potential confounders were identified and univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were carried out to establish differences independent of confounding factors for the combined endpoints as well as for each endpoint separately. Results: In all 302 patients had their records analysed and comparison of clinical and immunological response patterns in patients taking AZT and TDF-containing ART regimens and the possible prediction of which the regimen would be better and within which population. Despite the perceived mismatch between two NRTIs it can be concluded from the results of this study that, overall, the inclusion of AZT in treatment regimen showed a modest protective effect over the TDF counterpart as measured by the endpoints of the discriminative powers of the Receiver Operating Curves of the explanatory variables being 66% , 77% and 66% for CD4, Haemoglobin and Weight respectively, and 63%, 70% and 65% for the same variables in the AZT and TDF arms of the study respectively. Conclusion: In a population of HIV patients on treatment in resource-limited settings AZT-containing regimens appear to show a slight improvement over the TDF-containing ones.

L’évolution des dinosaures sauropodomorphes et la radiation des grands sauropodes sont encore loin d'être comprises, ni même datées avec précision. Si les premiers sauropodes semblent apparaître à la fin du Trias, ils ne se diversifient qu'à partir du Jurassique moyen. L’incertitude entourant la définition à donner au clade Sauropoda est une des principales causes de l'absence de consensus quant à la transition prosauropodes – sauropodes. C’est ce problème du « stem-group » des sauropodes qui est abordé dans cette thèse. Certains prosauropodes sont ainsi aujourd’hui considérés comme des sauropodes à part entière par certains auteurs. Ces taxons basaux diffèrent cependant beaucoup selon les auteurs. La multiplication des analyses cladistiques n’a rien résolu puisque celles-ci n’ont jamais été comparées entre elles.La découverte en 2008, par une équipe du MNHN, dans le Jurassique inférieur du Lesotho, d'un squelette de prosauropode articulé sert ici de base à une étude anatomique et systématique des sauropodomorphes basaux. De nombreux autres restes de dinosaures inédits du Lesotho appartenant aux collections du MNHN viennent compléter le matériel d’étude. Parmi ceux-ci, du matériel rapporté au prosauropode de Maphutseng et des fossiles attribués au genre Meroktenos sont entièrement décrits en détail pour la première fois.Une comparaison critique et détaillée des analyses phylogénétiques antérieures a été réalisée en utilisant la méthode de cladistique comparée telle qu’elle a été formalisée par Sereno en 2009. Elle a permis de démontrer l’impact très important du choix des caractères et de leur codage sur la topologie des arbres. Suite à cela, un premier retour sur une liste compilée de 449 caractères a été effectué. Il a nécessité la vérification d’une matrice de 15 000 à 20 000 cellules, et plus de 1300 mesures. Ce retour aux caractères ont entraîné la suppression de plus d’une centaine de caractères, et la création d’une matrice inédite de 49 unités taxonomiques et 308 caractères. Les résultats de l’analyse phylogénétique de cette matrice, bien que préliminaires, soulèvent plusieurs points intéressants. Plusieurs clades, généralement retrouvés dans les analyses les plus récentes publiées par d’autres auteurs, n’apparaissent pas. En revanche, des clades qui n’avaient jusque-là jamais été retrouvés font leur apparition. Les différentes analyses pointent également du doigt le problème de l’origine des Sauropodomorpha, et relancent le débat sur l’origine du clade Sauropoda. / The evolution of sauropodomorph dinosaurs and the radiation of the large sauropods are still far from being understood and well-dated. If the first sauropods seem to appear at the end of the Triassic, they don’t start to diversify before the Middle Jurassic. The uncertainty surrounding the definition of the clade Sauropoda is one of the main causes of the lack of consensus regarding the prosauropod – sauropod transition. It is this issue of the “stem-group” of sauropods that is dealt with in this thesis. Some prosauropods are now considered to be sauropods by some authors. These basal taxa differ a lot depending on the authors. The multiplication of the cladistic analyses didn’t solve the problem as they never were compared.The discovery in 2008, by a MNHN team, in the Early Jurassic of Lesotho, of a prosauropod articulated skeleton is used herein as the basis for anatomical and systematic study of basal sauropodomorphs. Many other new dinosaur remains from Lesotho, housed in the MNHN collections, complement the study material. Among these, material referred to the Maphutseng prosauropod and fossils referred to the genus Meroktenos are described in details for the first time.A critical and detailed comparison of previous phylogenetic analyses is performed, using the comparative cladistics method as formalized by Sereno in 2009. This work allowed to highlight the significant impact of the choice of characters and their scoring on the topology of the trees. After that, a first reappraisal of a list of 449 compiled characters was carried out. It required the reexamination of a matrix consisting in 15 000 to 20 000 cells, and more than 1300 measures. This work led to remove more than one hundred morphological characters, and the building of a new matrix including 49 taxonomic units and 308 characters. The results of the phylogenetic analysis, although preliminary, raise some interesting points. Several clades, often recovered in the most recent analyses published by other authors, are not recognized here. However, clades that had, until then, never been found, are recovered. The different analyses also point out the hurdle of the origin of Sauropodomorpha, and reopen the debate on the origin of Sauropoda.

This study focuses on the transnational role and involvement of interest groups in the water politics of two Southern African international river basins – the Kunene and Orange Rivers. The thesis is in part based on the theory of social constructivism, with the purpose of investigating the extent to which the collective transnational activities of interest groups, regarding the implementation of WRMPs in selected Southern African international rivers, lead to the undermining of the acceptance of the actions and policies that are authorised at the state level of world politics. Two case studies were analysed namely the proposed Epupa Dam and the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP). Regarding the problem statements and the chosen theoretical approach, a number of findings were made. Firstly, interest groups posed a substantial challenge to the national and international ‘agential power’ of the states., although the erosion of the policies initiated at the state level differed in respect of the two cases. In the Kunene River basin, the interest groups have moderate international ‘agential power’ and moderate to high domestic ‘agential power’. Namibia’s international and domestic ‘agential power’ is substantially lower than that of the interest groups, mainly on account Angola opposing plans for a dam at Epupa. In the Orange River basin, the interest groups have high domestic ‘agential power’, especially the Lesotho interest groups, and moderate international ‘agential power’. The reason for the high domestic ‘agential power’ of the Lesotho-based interest groups is Lesotho’s reflexive ‘agential power’. This reflexivity is a direct consequence of Lesotho’s changing identity from a politically unstable to stable state. South Africa’s international and domestic ‘agential power’ is higher than that of the interest groups, mainly because the South African government went ahead with plans to construct the LHWP in an era where there was little opposition to the project. Since there was no interest group involvement during the planning phase of the LHWP from 1956 to 1986, there was no interest group challenge of the LHWP. Also, the interest groups could not effectively challenge the economic power of South Africa. Furthermore, the ANC changed its stance from being anti-LHWP in the 1980s to pro-LHWP when it became the ruling party. This meant that the Project was backed by the ruling party’s ideological power. Thus, it was concluded that interest groups had a significant role and influence on the water politics regarding the WRMPs in the international river basins of Southern Africa. The thesis contributes to the body of research on water politics in a number of ways. First, the study contributes to an understanding of the reasons why interest groups are transnationally involved in water politics and of the roles they play in this process. Second, a theory of water politics (hydro-normative commensalism) was developed, that primarily focuses on the role of norms in water politics. Third, a new definition of water politics was developed, stating that water (hydro-) politics is the transnational interaction, through norm creation and utilisation, between a plethora of non-state and state actors, varying from individuals to collectivities, regarding the allocation and use of, and perception towards domestic and international water resources. The relationship between the state and interest groups is increasingly transnational because of a diminishing capacity of the state to insulate itself from the influences of non-state actors regarding the implementation of policies. / Thesis (DPhil (International Politics))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Political Sciences / unrestricted

MAIR / Department of Development Studies / See the attached abstract below

This thesis describes in detail how a mobile Geographical Information System (GIS) was designed, implemented and evaluated for the prevailing circumstances of a land regularisation project in Lesotho in Southern Africa. The GIS was developed as an application for the Android platform, primarily with the tablet-computer format in mind, to be used for land registration field work. The main purpose of the paper is to determine whether an ad hoc mobile GIS solution can improve the efficiency of the field work as well as the integrity of the data collected in the field work of the land regularisation project in Lesotho. The aim is also to evaluate the performance and usefulness of modern tablet computers in this context. The application was developed and tested on site in Lesotho on two tablet computers borrowed from Samsung Electronics AB in Sweden. After the development phase, the solution was later implemented on tablet computers of a different model for the remainderof the land regularisation project in Lesotho. The design process started with a field visit where the work-flow of the project was analysed. From this a needs analysis were formed together with the management staff on site that served as a base for the development process. The development and implementation was then performed with continuous communication and evaluation with the personnel of the project. As the development progressed, the solution was also tested and evaluated continuously in the field work. Not only did the solution perform well both software- and hardware-wise, despite strong sun from high altitudes and lack of internet connection in Lesotho, it also exceeded the expectations of the staff. The solution significantly improved the work environment for the field workers of the project and the efficiency was raised, according to the evaluation. A unified management staff concludes in the evaluation of this paper that they will consider using tablet computers together with an ad hoc application for the field work of their next project. / Denna rapport beskriver i detalj hur ett mobilt geografiskt informationssystem (GIS) utvecklades, implementerades och utvärderades inom ett fastighetsindelningsprojekt i Lesotho i södra Afrika. Lösningen utvecklades som en ad hoc-applikation för operativsystemet Android, i första hand med pekdatorformatet i åtanke, för att användas i fältarbetet inom projektet. Det huvudsakliga syftet med studien är att undersöka huruvida en mobil GIS-lösning kan förbättra fältarbetets effektivitet men också om kvaliteten kan höjas för data insamlat i fält i Lesotho-projektet. Ett annat mål är att utvärdera nyttan av moderna pekdatorer och hur de presterar inom ett lantmäteriprojekt i Afrika. Applikationen utvecklades och testades på plats i Lesothos huvudstad Maseru på två pekdatorer som lånades från Samsung Electronics AB i Stockholm. Lösningen implementerades även på pekdatorer av en annan modell när utvecklingsprocessen närmade sig sitt slutskede och metoden kom att användas fram till projektets planerade slut i augusti 2013. Utvecklingsarbetet inleddes med ett fältbesök för att få en förståelse för de egenskaper som applikationen behövde ha. En behovsanalys togs fram tillsammans med beslutsfattarna i projektet. Med utgångspunkt i dessa behov utvecklades applikationen genom nära kommunikation och samarbete med projektets personal. Mot slutet av utvecklingsskedet testades och utvärderades lösningen i fält och förbättrades sedan genom att de kommentarer och förslag som mottogs från fältpersonalen beaktades. Den framtagna lösningen fungerade med gott resultat, både i mjukvaru- och i hårdvaruhänseende, trots stark och högt stående sol och avsaknad av tillförlitlig mobil internetanslutningi Lesotho. Lösningen överträffade även förväntningarna hos projektets personal och den förbättrade fältarbetarnas arbetsmiljö avsevärt. I utvärderingen av den här studien framgår att projektledningen avser utreda möjligheterna att använda en liknande lösning för fältarbetet i framtida projekt.

The protection of clients in their dealings with insurance advisors is very important. This is mainly because clients are not too knowledgeable about insurance products. This lack of knowledge makes vulnerable to exploitation by insurance advisors. It is the duty of the regulator of insurance to ensure adequate protection of clients in their dealings with insurance advisors. However, this may not be easily attainable in a jurisdiction like Lesotho where there is only one regulator for all financial institutions, the Central Bank of Lesotho. This more so because insurance is very complex as there are different persons and contracts involved. The client has to firstly deal with insurance advisors or intermediaries before an actual contract of insurance comes into existence. In Lesotho the insurance sector is regulated by the Insurance Act 18 of 1976. Although there are systems in place regarding the regulation of the insurance industry, they are not adequate nor guarantee effective protection of the clients. These measures are mainly focused on the relationship between the Commissioner and the insurance advisors and not the relationship between the insurance advisors and the clients. The ineffectiveness of the current regulatory framework in Lesotho was exposed by the MKM situation in 2007 which showed that clients in Lesotho are to a very large extent left unprotected against insurance advisors. Even the proposed Insurance Bill of 2013 which was meant to address problems not addressed by the Insurance Act, does not offer any assistance as it contains no provisions on the protection of clients. The problem with the legal framework in Lesotho is that does not address the most important of protection of clients in their dealings with insurance advisors. This is also due to the fact that there is only one regulator for all financial institutions and this places a very burdensome duty on the Central Bank of Lesotho. In order to find solutions to this problem, a comparative study based on literature was done between Lesotho and South Africa. This is because South Africa on the other hand is more advance. The current legal framework in South Africa ensures the protection of clients in their dealings with insurance advisors. The non-banking institutions such as insurance advisors are regulated by the Financial Services Board. There are systems in place in South Africa regulating the conduct of insurance advisors towards clients. The Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services Act is one of the measures in place meant to ensure that those who render advice are fit and proper by requiring them, amongst others, to be in possession of relevant academic qualifications and operational ability to dispose of their duties in terms of the Act. This is different from the position in Lesotho where the only piece of legislation regulating the insurance advisors is the Insurance Act. Furthermore, by virtue of section 2B of the General Proclamation of 1884, the common law of South Africa is applicable in Lesotho so it is important to examine the changes that South Africa has made to it common law on which Lesotho mostly relies. The results show that the clients in Lesotho are to a very large extent left unprotected against insurance advisors as the current legal framework offers them no protection. The legal framework in South Africa on the other hand affords clients more protection. However, economic position of Lesotho it would not be ideal to take all measures applicable in South Africa and apply them to Lesotho as they are. Based on these findings recommendations made include that the Commissioner must engage in consumer education to ensure that clients know about their rights in dealings with insurance advisors. Another recommendation made is that the current legal framework be amended to include provisions relating to the protection of clients. It is also recommended that the Central Bank of Lesotho is well equipped to deal with matters relating to the protection of clients. / LLM (Estate Law), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

The protection of clients in their dealings with insurance advisors is very important. This is mainly because clients are not too knowledgeable about insurance products. This lack of knowledge makes vulnerable to exploitation by insurance advisors. It is the duty of the regulator of insurance to ensure adequate protection of clients in their dealings with insurance advisors. However, this may not be easily attainable in a jurisdiction like Lesotho where there is only one regulator for all financial institutions, the Central Bank of Lesotho. This more so because insurance is very complex as there are different persons and contracts involved. The client has to firstly deal with insurance advisors or intermediaries before an actual contract of insurance comes into existence. In Lesotho the insurance sector is regulated by the Insurance Act 18 of 1976. Although there are systems in place regarding the regulation of the insurance industry, they are not adequate nor guarantee effective protection of the clients. These measures are mainly focused on the relationship between the Commissioner and the insurance advisors and not the relationship between the insurance advisors and the clients. The ineffectiveness of the current regulatory framework in Lesotho was exposed by the MKM situation in 2007 which showed that clients in Lesotho are to a very large extent left unprotected against insurance advisors. Even the proposed Insurance Bill of 2013 which was meant to address problems not addressed by the Insurance Act, does not offer any assistance as it contains no provisions on the protection of clients. The problem with the legal framework in Lesotho is that does not address the most important of protection of clients in their dealings with insurance advisors. This is also due to the fact that there is only one regulator for all financial institutions and this places a very burdensome duty on the Central Bank of Lesotho. In order to find solutions to this problem, a comparative study based on literature was done between Lesotho and South Africa. This is because South Africa on the other hand is more advance. The current legal framework in South Africa ensures the protection of clients in their dealings with insurance advisors. The non-banking institutions such as insurance advisors are regulated by the Financial Services Board. There are systems in place in South Africa regulating the conduct of insurance advisors towards clients. The Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services Act is one of the measures in place meant to ensure that those who render advice are fit and proper by requiring them, amongst others, to be in possession of relevant academic qualifications and operational ability to dispose of their duties in terms of the Act. This is different from the position in Lesotho where the only piece of legislation regulating the insurance advisors is the Insurance Act. Furthermore, by virtue of section 2B of the General Proclamation of 1884, the common law of South Africa is applicable in Lesotho so it is important to examine the changes that South Africa has made to it common law on which Lesotho mostly relies. The results show that the clients in Lesotho are to a very large extent left unprotected against insurance advisors as the current legal framework offers them no protection. The legal framework in South Africa on the other hand affords clients more protection. However, economic position of Lesotho it would not be ideal to take all measures applicable in South Africa and apply them to Lesotho as they are. Based on these findings recommendations made include that the Commissioner must engage in consumer education to ensure that clients know about their rights in dealings with insurance advisors. Another recommendation made is that the current legal framework be amended to include provisions relating to the protection of clients. It is also recommended that the Central Bank of Lesotho is well equipped to deal with matters relating to the protection of clients. / LLM (Estate Law), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

This research investigates progress in the integration of information and communication technology (ICT) into curriculum-based teaching and learning in the Lesotho secondary and high school science classroom, with the aim of establishing how effective e-learning and integration of ICT can be supported. E-learning was perceived by education stakeholders in Lesotho as an effective way to enhance teaching and learning. To this end, Lesotho embarked on three partnership projects, namely SchoolNet, Microsoft STIC and NEPAD e-School Projects. There is a volume of research, international and regional, on e-learning and ICT integration, mainly conducted by European and American researchers. This study by an African author, therefore, fills a gap. Using a variant of action research, the author undertook six studies over four years, investigating the extent of computing infrastructure in schools and ways in which e-learning was implemented in subject-based teaching. In particular, he studied barriers to ICT implementation in Lesotho; advantages and disadvantages of combining e-learning with classroom practice; the perceptions, aptitude and skills of Lesotho science teachers and students; professional development programmes; and preparations for introducing e-learning, including infrastructural issues. Literature studies were conducted, following which pertinent concepts from the literature were used to generate a framework of evaluation categories and criteria for addressing the research questions of this study. The criteria were translated into questions and evaluation statements for data collection instruments for the empirical studies. Triangulation in data collection and analysis was provided by applying multiple and mixed data collection methods: questionnaires, interviews, observations and case studies, to gather data from principals, teachers and students in selected schools across the three projects and in varying regions of Lesotho. The study identified notable progress, but determines that more remains to be done, on an ongoing basis, to support secondary and high schools in Lesotho with implementation plans and strategies. The study concludes with guideline and recommendations for educators. / Computing / D. Phil. (Mathematics, Science and Technology Education)

No description available.