Magister Artium - MA / Telecentres in Malawi are being established to bridge the digital divide. Though the basic assumption is that once telecentres have been established many will adopt them, they are being used by a relatively small percentage of the population. However, limited systematic research has been done to understand why. The purpose of this study was to examine factors influencing the acceptance and use of telecentres and their services in Malawi. Specifically, the study aimed at establishing: the access and usage patterns of telecentres and their services; relevance of telecentre service to the community members; factors affecting the usage of telecentres; and challenges facing telecentres and their users. The study employed Rogers’s Diffusion of Innovation Theory which explains how innovations are taken up. This was a quantitative and qualitative case study of one Multipurpose Community Telecentre: Lupaso Telecentre. Questionnaires were given to 130 users who visited the Telecentre during a two-week data collection period in May 2014. Face to face interviews were conducted with three telecentre staff and management committee; and one Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority staff, the implementers of the project. Document and records analysis and observation were used to verify data from the Telecentre users, staff and the management committee; and to formulate some questions for interviews with some key informants. The study reveals that a majority (94.6%) view the Telecentre as an important project; it is improving human skills, increasing the finances and strengthening social capital of the community members and many (85%) users are satisfied with Telecentre service. The negative finding is that only a few people use and benefit from the Telecentre; there is uneven access: users are generally male, young, with low educational and income levels, farmers and Nkhondes; and the ICTs are not the chief attraction. The study finds that convenience and cheaper services; compatibility of services with community’s needs; communication channels, social system, visibility of the benefits of using the Telecentre; and complexity of ICTs influence the use and non-use of the Telecentre. Furthermore, the Telecentre and users are facing several challenges that have a negative impact on telecentre usage. Some of the challenges are: lack of Internet searching skills, frequent blackouts, lack of local content and high costs of services. The study concludes that working on these factors and challenges may help in increasing user base. Hopefully, the results will help those implementing and operating the telecentres on how best to attract more users to the telecentres. The results also add to the body of literature in general

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / This research is in the area of child language acquisition, especially, acquisition of figurative language. It investigates how native Cicewa speaking children learn to interpret Cicewa idioms. This is done through examination of sociocultural contexts in which idioms are produced and consumed. It involves the identification of factors influencing children’s acquisition of idioms and strategies employed by children to interpret idioms. The study also investigates how children rerank language constraints in the process of acquiring Cicewa idiomatic meanings. The study is informed by two theories: Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) and Optimality Theory (OT). SFL is used to explore the sociocultural contexts within which Cicewa idioms are acquired, produced and consumed. It also helps to explain the social cultural factors influencing children’s choices of meaning options and idiom acquisition strategies. OT is used to establish how children rerank language constraints in the process of acquiring idioms in Cicewa with an aim to identify the developmental stages in idiomatic meaning acquisition. The study adopted cross-sectional and experimental designs. Experiments were conducted on 20 typically developing native Cicewa speaking children with ages 4, 6, 9, 12 and 14 drawn from Mpalume Village, in Chinamawali Township, Zomba Malawi. Deliberately developed stories, sentences containing idioms and idiom lists were used to collect data in five experiments. The data were analysed both qualitatively and quantitatively. Qualitative analysis involved identification of types of responses given by children, strategies employed by children to interpret idioms and factors that influence children’s interpretation and acquisition of idioms. Quantitative analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) to determine how often a response was given, differences in the responses given by children of different age groups and to establish if there was a relationship between idiom interpretation and the tested factors. The research finds that children produce more idiomatic interpretations when the idioms are presented in stories than when the idioms are presented in sentences and out of context. It also finds that idiom acquisition starts with idiom recognition at around 4 years and interpretation starts at around 6 years with a child interpreting idiomatic expressions involving daily activities of human experience. It also finds that 14 years is the age at which the child’s idiomatic knowledge starts to resemble adult’s knowledge although at this age acquisition of idiomatic meaning is still taking place. In addition, it identifies a number of strategies that children employ to interpret and acquire idiomatic expressions. Among the identified strategies ‘inferring from sociocultural context’ is the only successful strategy. Additionally, the thesis establishes that children learn first idioms that involve daily activities of human experience then idioms with clear cultural frames reference and finally idioms with obsolete cultural frames of reference. It also establishes that knowledge of the sociocultural context in which idioms are consumed is critical in idiomatic meaning acquisition. A child can have skills to use the contextual cues and have knowledge of the grammar but if s/he lacks the sociocultural knowledge cannot correctly interpret an idiom nor acquire it. It also establishes that the language constraints Full Interpretation and CONSISTENT are highly ranked dominating Relevance Principle at the initial stage in idiomatic meaning acquisition and that the two constraints are demoted as the child acquires idiomatic meaning. The thesis also identifies five developmental stages that children go through in idiom acquisition. These are Stage 1: 4 – 5 years, an initial stage in which a child is able to recognize an idiomatic expression as an instance of use; Stage 2: 6 – 8 years, a stage in which a child is able to interpret idioms of daily activities involving human experience when presented in supportive context; Stage 3: 9 – 11 years, a transitional stage in the development of idiomatic meaning in which a child is able to interpret idioms involving daily activities of human experience when presented without supportive context; Stage 4: 12 – 13 years, a stage in which a child is able to interpret idioms with clear cultural frames of reference when presented without supportive context and Stage 5: 14 years and above, a stage in which the child’s idiomatic knowledge is close to adults’ knowledge and a child is able to interpret idioms with absolete cultural frames of reference when presented without supportive context. The study makes a contribution to the idiom acquisition debate by pointing out that sociocultural knowledge is crucial in the acquisition of idioms thereby clarifying what goes on in the process of idiom acquisition. It has also identified and described developmental stages in idiom acquisition. The study is the first not only to use SFL, but more so in conjunction with OT to account for idiomatic meaning acquisition and interpretation. This eclectic mix of theoretical frameworks is novel and thus offers a new perspective of theorizing never done before. Thus, the thesis contributes to the development of linguistic theory, from both SFL and OT perspectives. Overall, the thesis concludes that children come to know an idiomatic expression as a text before they even understand the sociocultural context in which it is consumed. It argues that idioms are acquired as texts and they are acquired together with the sociocultural context in which they are acquired, consumed and produced, and therefore the sociocultural context forms part of the idioms.

Magister Scientiae (Physiotherapy) - MSc(Physio) / Stroke is the second leading cause of disability worldwide. Up to 60% of the survivors remain severely disabled. These people experience various challenges in such areas as self-care, mobility, accessing medical and rehabilitation services, transportation and finance. These affect them psychologically, physically and socially predisposing them to complications. Hospital based stroke records report on critical cases, which are not a true reflection of after effects of stroke in a community setting. The impact of stroke on patients and spouses cannot be underestimated considering that it is often sudden, giving no chance to patients or spouse to adjust to the predicament. The aim of this study was, therefore, to explore the challenges stroke patients and their spouses experienced during the rehabilitation process, from diagnosis through to treatment and discharge. The study was based on a qualitative approach, utilising an exploratory design. Data was collected using semi-structured in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. All interviews were tape recorded and transcribed verbatim. A thematic content analysis was used to analyse data. Ethical approval was sought from the University of the Western Cape and the College of Medicine Research Ethics Committee, University of Malawi. Permission was obtained from the General Manager of Malawi Against Physical Disabilities. The results indicates a range of challenges including dependence on spouse for basic self-care activities and activities of daily living, stress due to fear of dependence on their spouses, loss of opportunity for regular interaction with friends and family, limited facilities and accessibility to rehabilitation. Spouses are also burdened by of caregiving responsibilities. In conclusion, this study highlights that the consequences of stroke affect both patients and spouses in the areas of health, finance and social. There is need for rehabilitation professionals to give equal attention to the challenges experienced by spouses when managing stroke patients. The study recommends that accessibility to rehabilitation should be improved by increasing patients’ space at the centre, construction of more centres and expand CBR services to cover all districts in the country.

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / This study sought to investigate if there are common cultural elements for preventing and transforming violent conflict in selected patrilineal and matrilineal tribes in Malawi, as well as selected societies from other parts of Africa. The researcher argues that in both patrilineal and matrilineal tribes in Malawi, violent conflict prevention and transformation methods are inherently rooted in elaborate socio-political governance structures. This also applies to other societies in Africa, such as the pre-colonial traditional societies of Rwanda, the Pokot pastoral community in the North Rift of Kenya, the ubuntu societies in South Africa and the Acholi of Northern Uganda. The basic framework for these structures comprise the individuals (men, women and older children), as the primary building blocks, the family component comprising of the nucleus and extended families as secondary building block and traditional leadership component. Within these socio-political governance structures, individuals coexist and are inextricably bound in multi-layered social relationships and networks with others. In these governance structures, a certain level of conflict between individuals or groups is considered normal and desirable, as it brings about vital progressive changes as well as creates the necessary diversity, which makes the community interesting. However, violent conflicts are regarded as undesirable and require intervention. Consequently, the multi-layered social networks have several intrinsic features, which enable the communities to prevent the occurrence of violent conflicts or transform them when they occur, in order to maintain social harmony. The first findings show that each level of the social networks has appropriate mechanisms for dissipating violent conflicts, which go beyond tolerable levels. Secondly, individuals have an obligation to intervene in violent conflicts as part of social and moral roles, duties and commitments, which they have to fulfil. Thirdly, the networks have forums in which selected competent elders from the society facilitate open discussions of violent conflicts and decisions are made by consensus involving as many men and women as possible. In these forums, each individual is valued and dignified. Fourthly, there are deliberate efforts to advance transparency and accountability in the forums where violent conflicts are discussed. However, in general terms, women occupy a subordinate status in both leadership and decision-making processes, though they actively participate in violent conflict interventions and some of them hold leadership positions. In addition, the findings show that the tribes researched have an elaborate process for transforming violent conflicts. This process includes the creation of an environment conducive for discussing violent conflicts, listening to each of the disputants, establishing the truth, exhausting all issues, reconciling the disputants and in case one disputant is not satisfied with the outcomes of the discussions, referring the violent conflict for discussion to another forum. Furthermore, individuals in both patrilineal and matrilineal tribes are governed by moral values including respect, relations, relationships, interdependence, unity, kindness, friendliness, sharing, love, transparency, tolerance, self-restraint, humility, trustworthiness and obedience. These moral values enhance self-restraint, prevent aggressive behaviour, as well as promote and enhance good relationships between individuals in the family and the society as a whole. The researcher argues that the positive cultural factors for prevention and transformation of violent conflict, outlined above, which are inherent in the traditional African socio-political governance system should be deliberately promoted for incorporation into the modern state socio-political governance systems through peace-building and development initiatives as well as democratisation processes. This could be one of the interventions for dealing with violent conflict devastating Africa today.

Magister Legum - LLM

Magister Public Health - MPH / The introduction of antiretroviral therapy (ART) brought new hope to HIV patients as it has transformed a fatal disease to a chronic manageable condition. In 2009 there were over 920,000 Malawians infected with HIV and 110,000 new infections. Malawi like other countries in the sub-Saharan Africa has made great strides in ensuring access to ART. The government of Malawi introduced free antiretroviral therapy (ART) in June 2004. By 2010, a total of 250,987 patients in the country were receiving ART. The success of ART requires, amongst others, a sustained adherence rate to medication of more than 95% to prevent viral replication and the development of drug resistant HIV strains. Identifying the factors that influence adherence is essential for the long-term success of public ART programmes. This study explored patient, socio-economic, cultural, and religious and health systems factors that influence adherence to ART in Zomba district in Malawi. An explorative qualitative study was conducted amongst ART patients and health workers in four health facilities in Zomba district of the Southern Region of Malawi. Data collection was through individual in-depth interviews with 25 ART patients and semi-structured key informant interviews with 13 health workers that were actively involved in the ART programme. Data was audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Thematic and content analysis of transcribed data was done. The study found high individual commitment, having social support from family and friends and continuous good counselling to be facilitators to adherence to ART. HIV-related stigma and discrimination, none disclosure of HIV status, lack of partner support, travelling to attend funerals and religious beliefs were noted barriers to adherence. Health system factors such as congestion in the clinic, negative staff attitudes and a lack of privacy at the pharmacy were also identified as barriers to clinic attendance and keeping appointments. Although pill burden was not mentioned, patients reported drug reactions as a barrier to adherence. Although there is good road network in the district, transport cost was still mentioned as a hindrance to treatment adherence. Treatment success was reported to be both a facilitator and a barrier to adherence. HIV-related stigma and discrimination among people need to be addressed to increase support to PLWHIV and encourage disclosure of HIV status. The improvement of the socio-economic status of ART patients needs to be addressed to reduce dependence on support from other people and provide money to make follow-up appointments. The health systems need to reduce clinic congestion and waiting times so that patients are not deterred from accessing ART.

Behaviour and space utilisation of rock-dwelling cichlids were observed at Thumbi East Island, Lake Malawi. 1. Males of five species of the mbuna complex held long-term territories. Pseudotropheus elongatus "aggressive" vigorously defended a feeding area and sometimes a spawning site interspecifically, but did not feed in the peripheral part of their territory. Spawning sites of Pseudotropheus zebra, Pseudotropheus tropheops "orange chest", Labeotropheus fuelleborni, and Petrotilapia nigra were interspecifically-defended, while larger mating territories were defended against conspecific neighbours. Feeding areas were shared with many fish and often extended beyond the defended area. There was considerable variation in behaviour and space use within and between species and between times of day. 2. Non-territorial P. zebra used larger ranges than territorial conspecifics, and fed more on plankton, but individuals had preferred benthic feeding areas, often in conspecific territories. These 'floaters' were often aggressive. Both size and relative brightness independently predicted the outcome of aggressive interactions between floaters, and a site-specific dominance hierarchy was suggested, with some individuals appearing to be semi-territorial. 3. Males and females of 21 and 13 species respectively were found to establish temporary breeding territories. Overall breeding seasonality was bimodal, but reproductive timing and territory characteristics differed among species. Temporary territories had a considerable impact on the behaviour and habitat use of all resident mbuna species, even causing abandonment of territories. 4. Non-breeding Protomelas taeniolatus had limited home ranges, and showed little aggression. During the highly-synchronised reproductive season, males defended spawning sites and females fry-guarding territories. Most chases were directed towards the commonest fish, but predators were chased further and faster. Female behaviour changed over the guarding period. Females generally continued territorial defence after the brood had disappeared. Most broods contained fry of different sizes and species. Significant benefits were found for guarding females with clustered territories, but females did not appear to choose sites adjacent to conspecific parental females. 5. Territoriality in fish is taxonomically widespread and may serve several functions according to species, sex and developmental stage. It also varies according to genotype- and phenotype-limited strategies and short term costs and benefits. Territories may be simultaneously multifunctional.

No abstract available. / Dissertation (LLM)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / Centre for Human Rights / unrestricted

Climate change is now real. Both scholars and scientists agree that the earth‟s climate is changing and therefore argue that developing countries of Africa and Asia, which are considered to be especially vulnerable because of their overdependence on climate sensitive resources and low adaptive capacity, should focus on adaptation programmes to build the capacity of affected communities to adapt to and cope with the effects of climatic change. But climate change adaptation programmes do not happen in a vacuum. Among other things they require proper institutional frameworks to succeed. The study therefore analyzed climatic events affecting Salima district in Malawi, the causes and effects of these climatic events, the nature and role of various institutions in climate change adaptation programmes in the district and the institutional coordination of players at different levels. The study findings reveal that the major climatic events affecting Salima district are droughts, floods, dry spells and hailstorms. Various institutions supporting and implementing climate change adaptation programmes and their roles are also highlighted. The study findings further reveals that weak coordination between institutions at all levels (national, district and community) is one of the challenges affecting effective implementation of climate change programmes. The study recommendations have therefore emphasized the need to review and strengthen climate change management structures at all levels.

The study was carried out to assess the extent to which the intervention of traditional leaders is effective in mobilising support for community development projects and to examine the perceptions that communities have about the role of the traditional leaders in development projects. The study has been guided by the critique of neoliberalism which exposes the negative effects of implementing the Structural Adjustment Programmes (SAPs) in Third World countries. The literature that has been reviewed has looked at the historical and political background of the role of chiefs and other traditional leaders in order to assess the nature of participation that is promoted through their involvement in development projects. An overview of the neo-liberal prescription and its critique has been made in order to expose the effects of the oil embargo of 1973 and the debt crisis of the 1980s on the economies of Third World countries in general and Malawi in particular. On the basis of evidence which has been gathered through a survey and focus group discussion, the study has found that the intervention of traditional leaders is very effective in mobilising communities for development projects. It has further been established that communities have high regard for their traditional leaders and that they perceive them as crucial role players in the conception and implementation of development projects. The study has however established that traditional leaders use unorthodox means such as threats of punishment to solicit the cooperation of the community members which in essence is counterproductive to the participatory approach to development.