This dissertation aims at finding out the religious significance of Basotho ritual practices at births, weddings and funerals in Lesotho. The researcher combines literature review of scholars who have studied the Basotho socio-cultural life, with personal field study through dissemination of questionnaires, interviews and personal observations. Through this approach he finds out the various ritual practices that dot the Basotho life through the rites of passage, and then studies their religiousness in terms of traditional beliefs. He also finds out how these ritual practices have persisted in the face of Christian influence and western education, and how far they have been influenced. There is also an attempt to look into the importance of ancestor veneration in connection with Basotho beliefs and practices. The study reveals that the religious connotation of the ritual practices lies in how people seek transcendental meaning to life through the ritual practices. / Religious Studies and Arabic / M.A. (Religious Studies)

Learners in Lesotho Primary Schools struggle to communicate in English as a second language. The effect of this problem is observed in schools, national tests and examinations. This study focused on determining reasons for learners’ failure to communicate through English in Lesotho Primary Schools. The study was conducted in three Primary Schools in Berea District. Grade six learners and grade six educators were purposively selected as an appropriate sample as they are the senior grades who have experience in primary level. A combination of quantitative and qualitative research methods was employed in this research. The purpose of using these two methods was to allow the responses from quantitative research to be illuminated by the qualitative research. The data was gathered by a questionnaire for learners and interviews for educators. The study showed that some of the factors that contribute to learners’ failure to communicate in English are: non-implementation of English as a medium of instruction; failure to use variety of materials and methods; insufficient time to practice English components as educators teach less than six periods per week while they are expected to teach six periods per week; insufficient skills and techniques used to motivate learners to learn English as a second language; and inadequate interaction between the school and parents. / Inclusive Education / M. Ed. (Inclusive Education)

Since the first diagnosis of HIV/AIDS more than three decades ago, the epidemic remains a humanitarian challenge. In Sub-Saharan Africa, the infection rate has escalated at an alarming rate over the years. Lesotho is no exception. Multiple stakeholders have resorted to different media platforms, including community radio to communicate HIV/AIDS awareness messages with the aim of reducing the HIV infection spread. This study focuses on a community radio station as a way of making sense of HIV/AIDS communication. Using the case of MCRS, the study assesses the contribution of this community broadcaster on HIV/AIDS awareness in Mafeteng district, in Lesotho. Two theories: the Public Sphere Theory and the Agenda Setting Theory guided the study and were used to conceptualise the contribution of this community radio station towards contributing to HIV/AIDS awareness in the community of broadcast. In a bid to assess how MCRS programmes contribute to HIV/AIDS awareness and education; the researcher employed a qualitative research methodology. The data were collected using two data collection instruments, namely face-toface interviews and focus group discussions. Thematic analysis was used to deduce the meaning and present the findings. The findings reveal that MCRS programmes largely contribute to HIV/AIDS awareness in the community. The station’s programmes on HIV/AIDS awareness are easily understood and influence communities’ socio-behavioural change as they enlighten them about the dangers of HIV/AIDS and how to reduce its spread. The results also reveal that live broadcasts proved to be more effective as they encourage two-way communication whereby listeners are involved and participate in these HIV/AIDS programmes. It is therefore concluded that MCRS programmes have been useful in the dissemination of valuable HIV/AIDS awareness messages / Communication Science / M.A. (Communication Science)

Text in English with summaries in English, South Sotho and Xhosa / Bibliography: leaves 196-215 / This study explored the communicative strategies which were used by participants who were called in as witnesses before the Leon Commission and the Phumaphi Commission of Enquiry in Lesotho in 1998 and 2015 respectively. The study specifically looked into the types of communicative strategies employed, their linguistic realisations and their conversational effectiveness in providing required information to the commissions. It further compared the use of strategies by participants in both commissions. Data for this study was obtained from twenty-six audio recordings of twenty-six witnesses. The study established that participants used twelve types of communicative strategies which are classified under the following groups based on their functional characteristics: conversational category which includes strategies such as code-switching, fillers, vague language and circumlocution; a grammatical category that comprises personal pronouns, direct speech, passive voice and questioning; a sociocultural category that covers strategies such as figurative language, indirect communication, direct refusal and indirect criticism. The study established that communicative strategies such as code-switching, fillers, personal pronouns, and direct quoting were conversationally effective as participants strategically employed them to succinctly express themselves. However, strategies with concealing attributes such as those found under a sociocultural category and those under the grammatical category (passive voice and questioning) were considered conversationally ineffective as they withheld required information from the commissioners. The study further established that participants of the latter commission were even more unwilling to reveal information than those of the former, which suggests a growing unwillingness to share information to commissions of enquiry. / Phuputso ena e hlahlobile maano a puisano a neng a sebediswa ke dipaki ka pela Komishene ya Leon le Komishene ya Phumaphi ya dipatlisiso naheng ya Lesotho ka 1998 le 2015. Phuputso e nyebekollotse ka kotloloho mefuta ya maano a puisano a sebedisitsweng, tshebediso ya ona kahara puo le katleho kapa tshetiso ya ona ho fana ka tlhaiso-leseding e neng e hlokwa ke di Komishene. E boetse e bapisitse hore na dipaki dikomisheneng ka bobeli di sebedisitse maano ana jwang. Ditaba tsa boithuto bona di fumanwe ho tswa direkotong tse mashome a mabedi a metso e tsheletseng (26) tsa dipaki. Phuputso e netefaditse hore dipaki di sebedisitse mefuta e leshome le metso e mmedi (12) ya maano a puisano a arotsweng tlasa dihlopha tse latelang ho ipapisitswe le ditshobotsi tsa ona: sehlopha sa puisano se kenyelletsang maano a joalo ka tshebediso ya dipuo tse fetang bonngwe, ho kgitlela, puo e sa hlakang, le ho potoloha. Sehlopha se seng ke sa tlhophiso ya puo mme sona se na le maano a kang seemedi, puo e qotsitsweng, sehlwai-potoloho. Sehlopha sa setso sona se kenyeletsa maano a joalo ka mekgabo-puo, puo e potetseng, ho hana ka kotloloho, le nyefolo e kubutileng hlooho. Phuputso e netefaditse hore maano a puisano a joalo ka tshebediso ya dipuo tse fetang bonngwe, ho kgitlela, seemedi, le puo e qotsitsweng, di sebedisitswe hantle ka ha di atlehile ho thusa dipaki ho itlhalosa ka nepo le ho fana ka lesedi le hlakileng ditabeng tsa bona. Leha ho le joalo, maano a sa bueng puo-phara a kang a fumanwang tlasa sehlopha sa setso le a mang a sehlopha sa tlhophiso ya puo (a kang sehlwai-potoloho le dipotso), boithuto bona bo sibollotse hore a sebedisitswe ho sitisa tlhahiso-leseding e hlokwang ke bakomishenara. Phuputso e boetse e netefaditse hore dipaki tsa komishene ya morao-rao di ne di sa ikemisetsa ho fana ka tlhahiso leseding papisong le dipaki tsa komishene ya pele. Boithuto bona bo utullotse hore maikemisetso a ho fana ka tlhaiso-leseding ho dikomishene tsa dipatlisiso a qepha. / Esi sifundo sijonge ubuchule beendlela zonxebelelwano ezohlukileyo phakathi kwabantu ababemenyiwe ukuba bathathe inxaxheba njengamangqina kwiKhomishoni yoPhando KaLeon eyenzeka ngo1998 kunye neKhomishoni kaPhumaphi eyenzeka ngonyaka ka2015. Olu phando luye lwaqalasela ezindlela zokuqhakamishelana ezisetyenziswe apha, ukusetyenziswa kolwimi kunye nobuchule bokuthetha kula mangqina ngethuba enikeza ubungqina kwezi khomishoni. Olu phando luphinde lwathelekisa indlela amangqina asebenzise ngazo ezindlela zoqhakamishelwano kwezi khomishoni zombini. Ingqokelela-lwazi yolu phando ithathwe kumangqina angamashumi amabini anesithandathu apho kushicilelwe izimvo zawo kwezi khomishoni. Olu phando lufumanise ukuba la mangqina asebenzise ubuchule beendlela zonxebelelwano ezingamashumi amabini. Obu buchule beendlela zonxebebelwano ziqukwa ngokokusebenza kwazo ekuthetheni ngolu hlobo lulandelayo: ukuncokola okuquka ukuthetha iilwimi ezohlukeneyo ngexesha elinye, amazwi amafutshane angenantsingiselo asetyenziswa kwizimo ezinje ngokukhuza, ulwimi olungacacanga kunye nokusetyenziswa kolwimi ngendlela yokuba umntu athethe into inde apho ngeyethethe ngamagama ambalwa ukucacisa into afuna ukuyicacisa ngendlela engcono. Eyesibini yimo yokusetyensizwa kolwimi ngokuthetha nqo, ngokungathethi nqo kunye nokubanemibuzo. Eyesithathu kukujonga ulwimi nenkcubeko ngokuba kubukwe indlela abantu abasebenzisa ulwimi ngokweenkcubeko zabo apho bathetha besebenzisa iinkcazelo ezisuka kwiinckubeko zabo, ukungathethi nqo ngenxa yemo yabo yentlalo nokuthetha, ukungafuni ukuthetha ngenxa yezizimo zentlalo nenkcubeko kunye nokugxeka ngendlea ekwekwayo ngenxa yezizimo zentlalo nenkcubeko. Olu phando lubonise ukuba obu buchule beendlela zokuthetha lusetyenziswe ngamangqina ezi khomishoni luquke imo apho amangqina ebethetha iilwimi ezohlukeneyo ngexesha elinye, amangqina ayakwasebenzise amagama amafutshane angenantsingiselo asetyenziswa kwimo ezifana nokukhuza, aphinda acaphula. Ngowekenza ngolu hlobo, amanqina abanokalisile ukuba ezi ndlela zobuchule bokuthetha zincedisene nomsebenzi wezi khomishoni ngoba amangqina akwazile ukubangamaciko ekuchazeni izimvo zawo. Nangona kunjalo, ezinye iindlela zobuchule zoqhakamishelwano ezifana nezo zichaphazela inkcubeko nentlalo yabantu kunye nezokungathethi nqo, ziwachapahezele kakubi amangqina kuba zenze ukuba amangqina angakhululeki ekunikezeleni ubungqina apho kubonakale ukuba abakwazanga ukunikeza iinkcukaca ezibalulekileyo kwezi khomishoni ngenxa yoku. Olu phando luphinde lwabonakalisa ukuba amangqina weKhomishoni loPhando kaPhumaphi aye awodlula amangiqna weKhomishoni kaLeon ngokungafuni ukunikeza ngobungqina obuthile. Le nto ibirhanelisa ukuba bekukho umoya apha kwamangqina wokungafuni ncam ukunikeza ngobungqina kwezi khomishoni. / Linguistics and Modern Languages / D. Phil. (Languages, Linguistics and Literature)

The purpose of this study is to reveal that local churches are in a declining state. It further proves there is a need for strategies to turn around decline in local churches, with an emphasis on a case of Second Bethel, African Methodist Episcopal local church. To address the possible causes of the decline in local church membership, this study was conducted. The participants provided data indicating the causes of local church membership decline. The participants agreed that as per chapter four report what were the cause for this decline in membership This study presented several reasons why churches are declining in membership and possible strategies to curb a decline in membership into growing churches. / MA (Biblical Studies/Theology)--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2015.

The aim of the study was to evaluate type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) medicine management in Government Clinics in Maseru, Lesotho. A two-dimensional research method was employed, consisting of a literature review and an empirical investigation. The objective of the literature review was to provide information on the pathophysiology, signs and symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and clinical management of DM. The empirical investigation consisted of a descriptive pharmacoepidemiological study, in which data for analysis was collected retrospectively from patients‘ medical records (―bukanas‖) at dispensing points, a using data collection tool. The selected study sites were Domiciliary Health Center, Mabote, Likotsi, and Qoaling filter clinics in Maseru district of Lesotho. Data on costs of antidiabetic agents was collected from purchase invoices provided by the pharmacy department of Domiciliary Health Center. Results showed that the overall ratio of males to females was 1.3. There were no statistical difference in DM prevalence between males and females in the different clinics (p = 0.48). The mean age of males and females was 57.5 ± 14.2 years and 58.6 ± 11.3 years, respectively (Cohen‘s d = 0.07). DM was more prevalent in patients 59 to 69 years for both males and females, with the exception of Mabote and Qoaling filter clinics, where DM was more prevalent in patients 49 to 59 years. These differences in prevalence were not statically significant. Overall, 20% (n = 69) of the study sample had DM alone, while 80.0% of patients had DM concurrently with hypertension. The odds ratio implicated that women were 1.7 times more likely to have hypertension concurrently with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. The mean blood glucose level at 95% confidence interval for females and males were 10.1 ± 5.9 mmol/L (95% CI: 10.1–11.7) and 10.9 ± 6.2 mmol/L (95% CI: 11.0–14.0) respectively. The difference in the mean blood glucose levels of males vs. females was not statistically significant (p = 0.07). In both males and females there were outliers as high as 33.3 mmol/L. Metformin 850 mg given three times, metformin 500 mg three times a day, glibenclamide 10 mg daily and glibenclamide 5 mg twice daily are oral hypoglycaemic agents that were first, second, third and fourth choice treatment of DM at all four study sites at a frequency of 54.2% (n = 160), 27.7% (n = 82), 4% (n = 12) and 2.7% (n = 27), respectively. Actraphane® 20 units in the morning and 10 units in the evening was prescribed at a frequency of 11.6% (n = 432) in comparison to other Actraphane®-containing regimens. The frequencies of prescribing metformin and Actraphane® as combination therapies represented 10.6% (n = 40), 7.1% (n = 27), and 6.6% (n = 25), respectively, for Actraphane® 20 units in the morning and 10 units in the evening, plus metformin 500 mg three times per day; Actraphane® 20 units in the morning and 10 units in the evening plus metformin 850 mg three times per day; and Actraphane® 30 units in the morning and 15 units in the evening plus metformin 850 mg three times per day. The combination therapy of metformin and glibenclamide were prescribed at frequencies of 24.6% (n = 172), 22.9% (n = 160), and 13.4% (n = 94) respectively for glibenclamide 10 mg daily plus metformin 850 mg three times per day, glibenclamide 5 mg daily plus metformin 850 mg three times per day, and glibenclamide 5 mg once a day plus metformin 500 mg three times per day as first, second and third choice treatments at all study sites. The total cost incurred for all the oral drugs prescribed alone within different regimens was M75.6 with the weighted average cost per patient of M0.81 ± 2.06 per day compared to the cost of Actraphane® which was M40 660.52 per month at a weighted average daily cost of M21.43 ± 6.23 per patient. The overall cost of Actraphane® and metformin combination therapy amounted to M50 676.50, at an average cost per patient of M21.77 ± 6.80 per day. The cost of combination therapy consisting of metformin and glibenclamide amounted to M377.10, at a weighted average cost amounting to M0.49 ± 0.16 per patient, per day. Based on the results of this study some conclusions were reached on the prevalence of DM, prescribing patterns and the cost of antidiabetic agents. Recommendations pertaining to the clinics and further research were made. / MPham (Pharmacy Practice), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

The purpose of this study is to reveal that local churches are in a declining state. It further proves there is a need for strategies to turn around decline in local churches, with an emphasis on a case of Second Bethel, African Methodist Episcopal local church. To address the possible causes of the decline in local church membership, this study was conducted. The participants provided data indicating the causes of local church membership decline. The participants agreed that as per chapter four report what were the cause for this decline in membership This study presented several reasons why churches are declining in membership and possible strategies to curb a decline in membership into growing churches. / MA (Biblical Studies/Theology)--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2015.

Published Article / Teachers in Lesotho are confronted by a myriad of challenges, such as ensuring the meaningful inclusion of learners with impairments as well as adequately meeting their educational needs. This paper therefore, explores this challenge and how it impacts on teachers' abilities to deal it, and further recommend some teaching strategies to overcome it. An Attitudes Toward Inclusive Educational Scale (ATIES) questionnaire was adapted in this paper for the collection of data from 211 randomly-selected teachers from the Maseru and Berea districts of Lesotho. Findings as reported by teachers indicate, amongst many factors contributing to the challenges brought about by inclusive education, inadequate teacher training, inadequate resources, and a lack of support from authorities and parents. The revamp of classroom infrastructure and the review of teacher training approaches in Lesotho are vital policy imperatives to eradicate these educational challenges.

The aim of the study was to evaluate type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) medicine management in Government Clinics in Maseru, Lesotho. A two-dimensional research method was employed, consisting of a literature review and an empirical investigation. The objective of the literature review was to provide information on the pathophysiology, signs and symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and clinical management of DM. The empirical investigation consisted of a descriptive pharmacoepidemiological study, in which data for analysis was collected retrospectively from patients‘ medical records (―bukanas‖) at dispensing points, a using data collection tool. The selected study sites were Domiciliary Health Center, Mabote, Likotsi, and Qoaling filter clinics in Maseru district of Lesotho. Data on costs of antidiabetic agents was collected from purchase invoices provided by the pharmacy department of Domiciliary Health Center. Results showed that the overall ratio of males to females was 1.3. There were no statistical difference in DM prevalence between males and females in the different clinics (p = 0.48). The mean age of males and females was 57.5 ± 14.2 years and 58.6 ± 11.3 years, respectively (Cohen‘s d = 0.07). DM was more prevalent in patients 59 to 69 years for both males and females, with the exception of Mabote and Qoaling filter clinics, where DM was more prevalent in patients 49 to 59 years. These differences in prevalence were not statically significant. Overall, 20% (n = 69) of the study sample had DM alone, while 80.0% of patients had DM concurrently with hypertension. The odds ratio implicated that women were 1.7 times more likely to have hypertension concurrently with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. The mean blood glucose level at 95% confidence interval for females and males were 10.1 ± 5.9 mmol/L (95% CI: 10.1–11.7) and 10.9 ± 6.2 mmol/L (95% CI: 11.0–14.0) respectively. The difference in the mean blood glucose levels of males vs. females was not statistically significant (p = 0.07). In both males and females there were outliers as high as 33.3 mmol/L. Metformin 850 mg given three times, metformin 500 mg three times a day, glibenclamide 10 mg daily and glibenclamide 5 mg twice daily are oral hypoglycaemic agents that were first, second, third and fourth choice treatment of DM at all four study sites at a frequency of 54.2% (n = 160), 27.7% (n = 82), 4% (n = 12) and 2.7% (n = 27), respectively. Actraphane® 20 units in the morning and 10 units in the evening was prescribed at a frequency of 11.6% (n = 432) in comparison to other Actraphane®-containing regimens. The frequencies of prescribing metformin and Actraphane® as combination therapies represented 10.6% (n = 40), 7.1% (n = 27), and 6.6% (n = 25), respectively, for Actraphane® 20 units in the morning and 10 units in the evening, plus metformin 500 mg three times per day; Actraphane® 20 units in the morning and 10 units in the evening plus metformin 850 mg three times per day; and Actraphane® 30 units in the morning and 15 units in the evening plus metformin 850 mg three times per day. The combination therapy of metformin and glibenclamide were prescribed at frequencies of 24.6% (n = 172), 22.9% (n = 160), and 13.4% (n = 94) respectively for glibenclamide 10 mg daily plus metformin 850 mg three times per day, glibenclamide 5 mg daily plus metformin 850 mg three times per day, and glibenclamide 5 mg once a day plus metformin 500 mg three times per day as first, second and third choice treatments at all study sites. The total cost incurred for all the oral drugs prescribed alone within different regimens was M75.6 with the weighted average cost per patient of M0.81 ± 2.06 per day compared to the cost of Actraphane® which was M40 660.52 per month at a weighted average daily cost of M21.43 ± 6.23 per patient. The overall cost of Actraphane® and metformin combination therapy amounted to M50 676.50, at an average cost per patient of M21.77 ± 6.80 per day. The cost of combination therapy consisting of metformin and glibenclamide amounted to M377.10, at a weighted average cost amounting to M0.49 ± 0.16 per patient, per day. Based on the results of this study some conclusions were reached on the prevalence of DM, prescribing patterns and the cost of antidiabetic agents. Recommendations pertaining to the clinics and further research were made. / MPham (Pharmacy Practice), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

A qualitative, descriptive, explorative, and contextual research design was selected for this study. The purpose was to explore the phenomenon of mass hysteria among the Basotho in Lesotho and to develop guidelines which may facilitate early intervention and better management and control of mass hysteria outbreaks. The study area covered four of the ten districts in Lesotho. Four high schools where recent outbreaks of mass hysteria have been reported were included in the study. Semi-structured individual interviews and focus group interviews were conducted to collect the data. Purposive sampling was used to select young women in high schools who experienced mass hysteria; teachers who were present during mass hysteria episodes; a parent; and traditional healers and religious leaders who were involved in treating the affected.Thirteen individual interviews were held respectively with one victim of mass hysteria from a rural area, four school principals,a parent,five traditional healers, a priest and apastor. Three focus group interviews were conducted with thirty affected young women from three different high schools and two focus group interviews were held with twenty teachers from two different high schools.The data were transcribed verbatim and content analysis was done using open and axial coding. Four themes emerged from the findings, namely: manifestations of mass hysteria among the Basotho; interventions used by the Basotho to alleviate mass hysteria; Basotho’s views about the phenomenon of mass hysteria; and effects of mass hysteria onthe Basotho. The findings show that young women in Lesotho experience both physical and psychological symptoms during mass hysteria episodes and that it has a contagious effect. The interventions used by the Basotho to alleviate mass hysteria include traditional healing, herbal remedies, exorcism and prayer.The Basotho have different views about mass hysteria attributing it to either supernatural forces or natural illness. Episodes of mass hysteria have a negative impact on the victims,their families, and those who witnessed the episodes, causing confusion, fear and anxiety. Guidelines were compiled to assist teachersand health workers to improve the management and control of mass hysteria episodes in Lesotho. / Health Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies)