1 online resource (viii, 155 leaves) / This study explores the ways in which female entrepreneurs in Zambia and South Africa use their cellular phones, as well as their interests and needs in using this technology. The findings in this study are therefore crucial to the body of knowledge on programmes that seek to uplift women's lives through the deployment of ICTs, since current policies do not make full provision for the use of mobile phones in female entrepreneurship. Information on female entrepreneurs and cellular phones was collected in the literature review. The scrutiny of various literature sources and the analysis of the responses from the interviews with the female entrepreneurs were carried out to arrive at answers to the following research questions: 1. Can telecommunications (specifically, cellular phones) increase the participation of women in the economy? 2. What are the consumer habits of female entrepreneur cellular phone users in Zambia and South Africa? 3. Are the communication needs of business women in Zambia and South Africa adequately met? 4. What are the obstacles that female entrepreneurs in Zambia and South Africa face in the use of cellular phones? 5. What are the similarities and differences in the consumer habits of female entrepreneur cellular phone users in Zambia and South Africa? In order to gather information on the consumer habits of female entrepreneurs in Zambia and South Africa, a survey was conducted of 100 female entrepreneurs. The female entrepreneurs identified in this survey consist of female business owners with no more than 50 employees each, from Gauteng Province in South Africa, and Lusaka Province in Zambia. The female entrepreneurs were identified through the accidental sampling technique, and a structured questionnaire was used to collect information from them. The findings of the investigation reveal that cellular phones have the potential to increase the participation of women in mainstream economic activity, since they are a useful means of communication that allow women from diverse backgrounds to communicate easily for both business and social purposes. Accordingly, national policy-makers in South Africa and Zambia need to investigate further the potential of using cellular phone or similar technology to empower small-scale businesswomen. The investigation also shows that the cellular phone consumer habits of female entrepreneurs in Zambia and South Africa differ when it comes to using cellular phones for business and social communication purposes. More Zambian women indicated that they use their cellular phones in business operations, while South African women showed a tendency to use their phones more for social purposes. The results of this investigation further illustrate that despite the importance in value which the mobile phone has for women entrepreneurs in both Zambia and South Africa, the communication needs of women's entrepreneurship are not adequately met. The main obstacles in meeting the communication needs of female entrepreneurs in Zambia and South Africa are inadequate network coverage and high prices. The study shows that a number of women (52,2%) indicated that they are inhibited from effective communication services and therefore resort to borrowing other people's mobile phones. The lack of empirical studies on the use of telecommunications by female entrepreneurs in both Zambia and South Africa attests to the fact that women's entrepreneurship is still an area that requires in-depth investigation. If various development efforts are to meet their targets, clearly the area of women's entrepreneurship and how various ICTs such as cellular phones are used therein needs urgent investigation. / Communication Sciences / M. A. (International Communication)

Communication / MA (Communication)

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / Background: While Selection of reverse transcriptase (RT) mutation has been reported frequently, protease (PR) mutations on antiretroviral therapy (ART) including boosted Protease inhibitor (PI) have not been reported as much in Zambia. Affordable in-house genotyping assays can been used to expand the number of patients receiving drug resistance geno-typing, which can aid in determining prevalence of RT/PI emerging mutations. Methods: A previously published drug resistance genotyping assay was modified and used to genotype RT and PR genes. 19 patients virologically failing first-line regimen and 24 failing second-line regimen were studied to determine resistance patterns. Virological failure was defined as failing to maintain <1000 copies/mL during ART. Only major and minor RT and PR mutations (IAS-USA 2010) were considered for analysis. The in-house assay was validated by comparing sequence data of 7 previously ViroSeq tested samples and 5 randomly selected samples to determine reproducibility. Results: The in-house assay efficiently amplified all 12 validation samples with the lowest sample scoring 99.4% sequence homology. The most common RT mutation was M184V (79% n=19) and (71% n=24) first and second-line respectively. No significant differences were reported in all the other RT mutations between first-line and secondline regimens. Drug resistant PI mutations (I54V, M46I and V82A all present 20.8%) were only found in the second-line regimen and were insignificant, p= 0.0562. Conclusion: The in-house assays can be used as alternatives for commercial kits to genotype HIV-1C in Zambia without compromising test quality. The insignificant PI drug resistant mutations which were found, despite virological failure in patients, could indicate a possibility of other mutations within the HIV-1 genome that could reduce PI susceptibility.

Thesis (MBA)-- Stellenbosch University, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The 1990s witnessed a substantial increase in privatization of SOEs in African countries. In some countries, like Zambia, privatization was greatly motivated by IFIs, through SAPs. However, for other countries like South Africa, the drive came from the desire to improve efficiency in the delivery of services and enhance economic growth. This study seeks to assess privatisation processes in Africa, with special reference to South Africa and Zambia. The motives for privatisation are discussed, as well as the role played by IFI in African privatisation programs. Privatisation in Zambia is regarded by many, including the World Bank as a success story. The government of Zambia, through the ZPA, has shown commitment towards privatisation and embarked on a rigorous privatisation programme which saw the transfer of 85 percent of the Zambia's economy to the private sector. In South Africa, privatisation's pace is slower than expected a nd there has been a shift of focus from pure privatisation to investment into efficiency of the state enterprises. There is no consensus from various stakeholders. The business criticises the government for the slow paced privatisation process, while organised labour, for fear of job losses, is putting resistance to the process. This study concludes by mapping a way forward for African countries. African countries should continue cautiously with the privatisation process. Proper regulatory framework should be established and issues like poverty reduction and long tern development should be addressed as well when drawing privatisation policies. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die 1990's getuig van 'n beduidende toename in die privatisering van ondernemings in staatsbesit (State-owned Enterprises - SOEs) in Afrikalande. In sommige lande, soos Zambië, is privatisering grootliks deur Internasionale Finansiële Instellings (IFI's) via Gestruktureerde Aanpassingsprogramme (Structural Adjustment Programmes - SAPs) gemotiveer. Die dryfkrag in ander lande, soos Suid-Afrika, spruit egter uit die begeerte om doeltreffendheid in dienslewering te verbeter en om ekonomiese groei te versterk. Hierdie ondersoek kyk na die assessering van privatiseringsprosesse in Afrika, met spesiale verwysing na Suid-Afrika en Zambië. Die beweegredes vir privatisering word bespreek, sowel as die rol wat IFI's in privatiseringsprogramme in Afrika speel. Baie mense en organisasies, insluitend die Wêreldbank, beskou die privatisering in Zambië as 'n suksesverhaal. Die regering van Zambië, via die ZPA, het hom tot privatisering verbind, en het 'n streng privatiseringsprogram aangepak waarvolgens 85 persent van Zambië se ekonomie na die private sektor oorgedra is. Die tempo van privatisering in Suid-Afrika is stadiger as wat verwag is, en daar is 'n klemverskuiwing van suiwer privatisering na 'n belegging in die doeltreffendheid van staatsondernemings. Daar is geen eenstemmigheid tussen die verskillende belangegroepe nie. Sakeondernemings kritiseer die regering vir die stadige privatiseringsproses terwyl georganiseerde arbeid, uit vrees vir verlore poste, die proses teenstaan. Hierdie studie sluit af deur 'n pad vorentoe vir Afrika-lande uit te stippel. Afrika-lande moet versigtig voortgaan met die privatiseringsproses. Behoorlike regulatoriese raamwerke moet gevestig word, en aangeleenthede soos armoedeverligting en langtermynontwikkeling moet aandag geniet wanneer beleid oor privatisering opgestel word.

The aim of this thesis was to provide a picture of the trypanosomosis and drug resistance prevalence in Eastern Province of Zambia, to understand the underlying factors of drug resistance (drug use habits), to improve the diagnosis of trypanosomosis in livestock and finally, to improve the diagnosis of isometamidium resistance in T.congolense. After an introductory part where available trypanosomosis and trypanocide resistance diagnostic methods are described and discussed, the body of the thesis is divided in two main sections. In the first section are presented the results of a cross-sectional and a longitudinal epidemiological survey describing the geographical distribution of trypanosomosis cases, of resistant isolates and of cattle treated with isometamidium chloride. The results of the monitoring of unsupervised treatments of cattle with isometamidium by farmers and veterinary assistants with the Isometamidium-ELISA technique are also presented. The second section describes the development of two new diagnostic methods, the first one allowing the diagnosis of trypanosome infections with high sensitivity and specificity through semi-nested polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism. This is the first report of a pan-trypanosome PCR test (a single PCR test for the diagnosis of all important pathogenic trypanosomes of cattle). The second new method that was developed allows the diagnosis of isometamidium resistant T.congolense strains by PCR-RFLP. This is the first report of a PCR based diagnostic test of trypanocide resistance in T. congolense.

This thesis contributes to research on agrifood systems in Africa. The research agenda is especially relevant in the context of revived developmental interest in agrifood sectors in Sub-Saharan Africa. Existing scholarship has tended to focus on economic restructuring and the way supermarkets and agribusiness firms increasingly transform African food economies. This thesis is an empirically grounded research endeavour that presents insights about key dynamics in the domestic food system in urban Sub-Saharan Africa, as seen through the case of Lusaka, Zambia. It also challenges existing scholarship by looking at transformations in domestic political economy contexts in Africa that promote the development of agrifood systems. The thesis is concerned with (1) what shapes Lusaka’s urban food system or what the key influencing factors are; (2) the institutions that are critical to the functioning of the urban food system; and (3) whether agribusiness firms and retailers govern economic interaction in Zambia or whether these firms and their economic interaction are governed by other institutions, and/or determined by the domestic political economy context. The thesis considers the changes in Zambia’s food system which point to growth paths that are intentionally pursued to strengthen the domestic economy so that it meets domestic priorities. Unexpectedly, this is not the concern of the state alone, but also of agribusiness firms. Other fascinating contradictions also became apparent in the course of the fieldwork, which looked at large agribusiness in the poultry sector, the Zambian National Farmers’ Union (ZNFU), the South African supermarket, Shoprite, urban markets, market traders and small-scale farmers, between January and November 2007. For instance, contractual arrangements between small-scale farmers and agribusiness firms are common, but the supply chain almost always incorporates intermediary traders; urban markets are formalising at management levels; and the supermarket faces growing pressure by the state to source locally. The methods consisted of in-depth interviews with the ZNFU, firms, farmers, traders, managers of urban markets and supermarkets, and the Ministry of Trade and Commerce. In sum, the thesis argues that urban food systems in Africa can be seen as situated or located in a domestic political economy, influenced by domestic and regional processes, and that they are the result of intersecting forms of governance by different firms and non-firm institutions. In offering a detailed case study of localised food systems in Africa, these findings lend to a robust research agenda on food studies and economic growth in Africa, and are well-placed to contribute to work on food security.

This practice based PhD project investigates the language ideologies which surround the specific multilingual context of rural primary education in Zambia. The project comprises of a creative documentary film and a complementary written submission. The fieldwork and filming of the project took place over 12 months between September 2011 and August 2012 in the community of Lwimba, in Chongwe District, Zambia. The project focuses on the experiences of a single grade one class, their teacher, and the surrounding community of Lwimba. The majority of the school children speak the community language of Soli. The regional lingua franca, and language of the teacher, however, is Nyanja, and the students must also learn Zambia’s only official language, English. At the centre of the project is a research inquiry focusing on the language ideologies which surround each of these languages, both within the classroom and the wider rural community. The project also simultaneously aims to investigate and reflect on the capacity of creative documentary film to engage with linguistic anthropological research. The film at the centre of the project presents a portrait of Annie, a young, urban teacher of the community’s grade one class, as well as three students and their families. Through the narrativised experiences of the teacher and children, it aims to highlight the linguistic ideologies present within the language events and practices in and around the classroom, as well as calling attention to their intersection with themes of linguistic modernity, multilingualism, and language capital. The project’s written submission is separated into three major chapters separated into the themes of narrative, value and text respectively. Each chapter will focus on subjects related to both the research inquiry and the project’s documentary film methodology. Chapter one outlines the intersection of political-historical narratives of nationhood and language that surround the project, and reflects on the practice of internal narrative construction within documentary film. Chapter two firstly focuses on the language valuations within the institutional setting of the classroom and the wider community, and secondly proposes a two-phase perspective of evaluation and value creation as a means to examine the practice of editing within documentary film making. Chapter three addresses the theme of text through discussing the role of literacy acquisition and use in the classroom and community, as well as analysing and reflecting on the practice of translation and subtitle creation within the project.

Countries in southern Africa have been implementing economic liberalisation policies for over two decades, with the aim of reversing years of economic decline. This process of economic liberalisation has been largely been influenced by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank policy prescription. While the developed world has been piling pressure on countries in the Sub-Saharan region to integrate their national economies into the global economic, different countries have responded differently in opening up their economies. For some, the new economic policy regime has entailed a shift from a state-run economy and focusing more on a free market economy. While some countries have taken a cautious approaching to economic liberalisation, Zambia went for rapid liberalisation, which has led to negative social consequences on employment and the livelihoods of the working class. Through the adoption and implementation of labour market flexibility policies, Zambia and other countries in the region have seen an upswing in new forms of employment such as casual labour, subcontracting and temporary employment, which have no protection and have exposed workers to exploitation. Employment levels have also dropped as the capitalist investors shed off massive numbers of workers in order to reduce labour costs. Local manufacturing industries, in most cases, have been forced to close down and lay-off workers due to unfair competition with cheap imported goods. Liberalisation in developing countries in general and southern Africa in particular, has entailed weakening the role of the state in national economic management. Governments are increasingly succumbing to the dictates of multinationals and are failing to enforce regulatory measures needed to protect the welfare of workers and their working conditions.

This report covers the work carried out to redesign the two existing conventional hydro power stations in Zambia on the Kafue river into the pumped storage facility with solar photovoltaic power so that security of supply and water conservation is achieved to reduce the power deficits during the dry and drought periods. The two stations are Kafue gorge upper power station (KGUPS) and Kafue gorge lower power station (KGLPS) with an installed capacity of 990 MW and 750 MW respectively. These two stations are dammed hydro power station with the reservoirs size of 785 106 m3 and 80 106 m3 respectively and situated on the 9000 hectares of land with the net head of 400 m. The two plants are situated 15 kilometres apart and the water inflow in the KGUPS is dependent on the water release from the holding dam Ithezi- thezi (ITT dam) situated 220 kilometres from the KGUPS dam. The work covered the sizing of the storage dams and determining the autonomy days needed in order to keep the station (KGUPS) running with minimal impact on power blackouts which were calculated at 5 days considering the size of the dam and the available energy. The financial calculation for the PV system was also carried out in this study except for the hydro system which was not carried out due to the time allocated to conduct this study. The proposed operation scheme for the two hydro stations and the solar PV system is also carried out in order to increase solar power penetration in the Zambian grid, reduce power deficit and conserve water during the days/times with enough solar power.   Designing of the system was carried out using Homer Pro software on which the hydro power station was modelled using the water influx into the turbines at KGUPS, the plant net head of 400 meters was also used with the calculated head losses of 7 % for the 4 meter diameter penstock between KGUPS dam, KGUPS machine hall to the KGLPS dam. The KGUPS dam was modelled as a natural battery so that charging is done using the water from the KGLPS dam, the battery with a total annual capacity of 428 GWh was modelled. PVsyst and PVGIS software tools were also used to simulate the production from the optimised PV system so that the accuracy of tools can be compared.   To cover the load of 777 MW/day (18.6 GWh/day), the available power to provide the necessary energy for the pumps was 270 MW as surplus power from the hydro power machines at KGUPS .The available power from solar PV plant of 236 MW maximum was achieved from the optimized 300 MW PV plant in the dry period of the day which occurs in the month of October, with 300 MW converter , 8 % penetration of solar into the Zambian grid and the pumping scheme was able to provide 589 hours of autonomy with 80 % average state of charge. The total maximum power of 390 MW was good enough to provide power to the two pumps of each 165 MW. From the simulations carried out in the increment of solar PV system from 50 MW to 350 MW, the reliance on hydro power can be reduced drastically and power deficits due to the drought situation as the case for the year 2016 can be alleviated. 300 MW PV plant was selected in order to match with the available land, machines to work as pumps and the initial investment cost to be loosely monitored. The optimized 300 MW PV system with the life of 30 years had a project capital cost of $113 million united states dollars with the levelized cost of electricity 0.0487 $/kWh. The solar PV plant has a payback period of 9 years considering the yearly production from solar PV of 534 GWh as simulated from Homer, PVGIS interactive tool gave an output of 491 GWh. Pumped hydro systems has the capability of utilizing the already existing structures like dams and turbines. They also have the capability of stabilizing the grid network and allow easy penetration of renewable energy technologies like wind and solar. With the government of Zambia pushing for more renewables in the grid by 2030, a pumped hydro project at KGUPS will certainly be able to stabilize the grid and provide a scheme that will be able to push thermal plants to run at full capacity and the efficiency can be improved. In accordance with the IEC TC (technical committee) [30] pumped hydro energy storage is a mature bulk energy technology offering stability and allowing the penetration of intermittent renewables like wind and solar.

Thesis (MTech (Tourism and Hospitality Management))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2018. / A well-packaged tourism product is the deciding factor in the choice of tourists about which destination to visit. A tourism product can be bundled with many tourism elements such as accommodation, attractions, activities and tours, price, image and climate. The tourism elements that build up a tourism product are the principle factors that contribute to the decision to choose one destination over another destination. Tourists can put a number of tourism products on the table, based on their needs and wants. However, they opt for one tourism product that promises to satisfy their demands. Destinations that offer unique tourism products are the most successful in a competitive industry since tourists will visit such destinations to fulfil their needs. However, even though some destinations like Victoria Falls offer unique tourism products, it is important to understand the nature and trends of tourists visiting this destination and their perceptions of the tourism product. This will assist in planning how to address any areas of concern as well as maintaining areas that are performing well. Limited research exists on tourist perspectives of the Victoria Falls tourism product and hence this is the focus of the current research. It will help in broadening the knowledge of the relevant tourism bodies in Zimbabwe on how tourists view the tourism product, as well as aiding sustainable development and growth of the tourism product. This study followed a quantitative methodology design. The interviewer administered 377 questionnaires on face-to-face basis to tourists on a voluntary participation basis. Systematic sampling was used to collect the data.Key findings indicate that despite the increasing number of females visiting this destination, males still dominate the tourist numbers. The majority of tourists fell within the age bracket of 21-50 years. The findings further show that availability of attractions, price of the tourism product, and accessibility of the destination play a paramount role in influencing tourists to visit the destination. Most tourists’ expectations were met and they would visit again in future and recommend the destination to friends and relatives. The most satisfactory results were noted on the attractions, activities, tours, and tourist accommodation. Despite these positive results, tourists felt that prices of accommodation, activities, tours, as well as dining, was too high. Furthermore, too many police roadblocks and unnecessary fines were noted as being detrimental to the tourism product. The researcher noted all concerns and made recommendations to overcome these negative aspects. The experience of tourists at a destination is strongly associated with an amalgamation of different elements of a tourism product. It is crucial to understand the performance of each tourism element as this contributes significantly to the success of the tourism product. The results of this study will afford the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority and Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority an understanding of the Victoria Falls tourism product from a tourist perspective. These entities will be able to improve the product, make it more attractive to tourists, and hence grow future visitor numbers. In addition, the results of this study create a baseline for future research. Monitoring of tourist perspectives over time and an evaluation and assessment of the tourist demands can be done, which will help in the modification and upgrading of the tourism product to match the demands of the consumers (tourists).