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The Influence of Clientelism on the Informal Sector in Zimbabwe : a Case Study of Glen View 8 Complex, Harare

- Tandire, Justin

Authors: Tandire, Justin
Date: 2021-04
Subjects: Patron and client -- Zimbabwe -- Harare , Informal sector (Economics) -- Zimbabwe -- Harare , Informal sector (Economics) -- Political aspects -- Zimbabwe -- Harare , Patronage, Political -- Zimbabwe -- Harare , ZANU-PF (Organization : Zimbabwe) , Zimbabwe -- Social conditions , Glen View Complex 8 (Zimbabwe)
Language: English
Type: thesis , text , Doctoral , PhD
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/177986 , vital:42896 , 10.21504/10962/177986
Description: This study focuses on the influence of clientelism in the informal sector of Zimbabwe in Glen View 8 (Complex). The study used the case of Glen view 8 (complex) in Harare Province. The study focused on political dynamics in the informal sector; livelihood strategies employed by informal sector operators; manifestation of “Big Men”, social networks in the informal sector; and different strategies employed by operators to overcome the problems of political manipulation, clientelism and patronage. It employs a qualitative research methodology to enable a nuanced comprehension of the clientelistic relationships that take place in the informal sector of Zimbabwe. Through in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, narratives and in-depth interviews with key informants, the study explored the clientelistic nature of the informal sector. The major findings of the study are that the informal sector in Zimbabwe is influenced by political patronage. It was established that patronage influences the informal sector in Zimbabwe in general and at Glen View Complex 8 in particular. Some of the operators revealed that patronage negatively affects their business as they are sometimes forced to attend political party meetings either at the complex or at ZANU-PF star rallies in town. The operators experience a plethora of problems such as lack of security, poor sanitation, stiff competition, poor infrastructure, lack of insurance and fire outbreaks. It has been revealed that most of the problems experienced at the complex are a result of the politicisation of the informal sector particularly by the ZANU-PF party. Operators at the complex have described the politicisation of the informal sector as a major drawback to their efforts of realising maximum benefits from their work. Therefore, the thrust of this thesis is premised on the de-politicisation of the informal sector as the starting point in the transformation of the activities of the operators. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Humanities, Sociology, 2021
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Date Issued: 2021-04

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Conceptualisations and pedagogical practices of academic literacy in Namibian higher education

- Julius, Lukas Homateni

Authors: Julius, Lukas Homateni
Date: 2021-04
Subjects: Information literacy -- Study and teaching (Higher) -- Namibia , Academic writing -- Study and teaching -- Namibia , Qualitative research -- Methodology , Academic language -- Namibia , Information literacy -- Social aspects
Language: English
Type: thesis , text , Doctoral , PhD
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/177293 , vital:42807 , 10.21504/10962/177293
Description: The purpose of this study was to investigate academic literacy development lecturers’ conceptualisations of academic literacy and resultant pedagogical practices in academic development courses at three different Higher Education Institutional types in Namibia. The research sites were a Traditional University, a University of Technology and a Comprehensive University. The focus was to understand the extent to which the academics’ conceptions of academic literacy and the resultant pedagogical practices in the academic development courses at these three Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) facilitate epistemological access into students’ chosen fields of study. Bernstein’s Pedagogical theory (1990), Genre theory (1996) and Halliday’s Systemic Functional Linguistics (1978) were used as the study’s theoretical lenses and analytical framework. An interpretative paradigm and a qualitative case study design were employed as the research approach. Semi-structured interviews, classroom observations and documentary evidence were used to generate data. Research findings revealed a common (mis)conception of the nature of academic literacy, the resultant inadequate learning support offered to students in the selected academic literacy development courses, and a clear divorcing of academic literacy interventions from the students’ ‘home’ or mainstream disciplines at the three HEIs. The participants understood academic literacy from an autonomous position as a set of generic skills which could be taught outside of mainstream classes. Moreover, findings revealed that this understanding impacted on the design and assessments of all the academic literacy courses across the three universities under study. The study calls for a context sensitive model through which academic literacy acquisition can be scaffolded to meet the discipline-specific epistemological needs of the students. , Elalakano lyehokololoningomwa lyomapekapeko ndika olyo okukonakona ehumithokomeho lyomikalo dhokulesha nokushanga meilongngo lyopombada (oAcademic Literaci) maaputudhilongi, okukonakona omafatululo giisimanintsa moAcademic Literaci osho wo okutala iizemo yomikalo dhayooloka dhokulonga noku ilonga iilongwa yayooloka miiputudhilo yelongo lyopombada moNamibia. Omapekapeko ngaka oga li ga ningilwa miiputudhilo yomaukwatya ta ga landula; Oshiputudhiilo shopamudhigululwakalo, Oshiputudhilo shopaunongononi, nOshiputudilo shomailongo gaandjakana. Oshintsa shopokati shomapekapeko ngaka osho okuuva ko ondodo yowino osho wo euveko lyoAcademic Literaci maaputudhilongi nonkene euveko nontseyo ndjika tayi longithwa oku eta oshizemo tashi humitha komeho euveko lyopombanda lyaalongwa yomailongo geewino dhayooloka miiputudhilo itatu yelongo lyopombanda; shino otashi kwathele aalongwa yamone ontseyo ndjoka tayi ya kwathele meilongo lyawo. Omapekapeko ngano oga longitha omadhiladhiloukithi (eetheori) ga Bernstein’s Pedagogical theori (1990), Genre theori (1996) na Halliday’s Systemic Functional Linguistics theori (1978), mokufatulula nokundjandjukununa iizemo yomapekapeko. Omodela yokukonakona iizemo yongushu tayi ziilile maakonakonwa, oya tala ekonakono ndika onga oshintsa shopokati, oyo ya longithwa, opo ku monike uuyelele wothaathaa. Omikalo dha longifwa mokukonakona noku gongela uuyelele momapekapeko ngano ongaashi, eenkundathana dhayaali, omatalelo geetundi oshoyo omakonakono giinyanyangidhwa tayi kwandjangele nepekapeko ndika. Iizedjemo yepekapeko ndika otayi ulike kutya opena engwangwano montseyo nenge mefatululo lyuukwatya woAcademic Literaci, shoka sha eta enkundipalo meyambidhidho hali pewa aalongwa miilongwa yeewino dhayooloka. Shika otashi ulike kutya kapena etsokumwe pokati keenkambadhala tadhi ningwa kaapudhilongi dhokulonga oAcademic Litraci miilongwa ya yooloka mbyoka tayi ilongelwa kaalongwa miiputudhilo itatu yopombada. iizemmo yepekapeko olyo tuu mdika oya ulike wo kutya aalongwa mboka yaza komailongo ga yooloka oha yi ilongo nuudhigu opo ya pondole ondondo yomadhiladhilo gopombanda meilongo lyuukumwe. Mokukonakona euveko lyoAcademic Literaci, epekapeko ndika olya ndhindhilike kutya aakuthimbinga oyena euveko lyankundipala lyoterma ‘Academic Literaci,’ ano ya nyengwa okukwatakanitha oohedi dhopetameko ndhoka dhina oku ilongwa meikalekelo - ano pondje yiilongwa ikwao. Oshikwao, iizemo oya ulike kutya euveko ndika otali nwetha mo etungepo lyoAcademic Literaci onga oshilongwa, osho wo omakonakono gasho miiputudilo yombombanda itatu yakwatelwa momapekapeko. Hugunina, epekapeko ndika otali ulike/gandja oshiholelwa shomodela ndjoka oAcademic literacy tai vulu okulongwa opo yi kwatelemo eilongo lyiikwatelela kiilongwa osho yo komaitaalo nokeempumbwe dhaalongwa miiputudhilo yopombabda. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Education, Centre for Higher Education Research, Teaching and Learning (CHERTL), 2021
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Date Issued: 2021-04

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A narrative study of students’ and staff’s experiences of living with HIV and AIDS at Rhodes University

- Tsope, Lindiwe

Authors: Tsope, Lindiwe
Date: 2021-04
Subjects: AIDS (Disease) South Africa Makhanda , HIV infections South Africa Makhanda , College students Health and hygiene South Africa Makhanda , Universities and colleges South Africa Makhanda Employees Health and hygiene , Stigma (Social psychology) , AIDS (Disease) Social aspects South Africa Makhanda , HIV infections Social aspects South Africa Makhanda , AIDS (Disease) Psychological aspects , HIV infections Psychological aspects , Health counseling South Africa Makhanda , Discourse analysis, Narrative
Language: English
Type: thesis , text , Doctoral , PhD
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/176894 , vital:42769 , 10.21504/10962/176894
Description: A narrative study of students’ and staff’s experiences of living with HIV and AIDS at Rhodes University Research on HIV and AIDS in university settings, especially research exploring the experience of living with the disease, has been minimal. As a response to the knowledge and research gaps, this thesis is a qualitative study involving students and staff living with HIV (LWH) and accessing treatment (ART) at the Rhodes University Health Care Centre. This study explored the personal and social symbolisms as well as meanings attached to living with HIV, through in-depth interviews with ten students and staff living with HIV, all purposively sampled and recruited through the Rhodes University Health Care Centre. Using social constructionism, symbolic interactionism and the theory of biographical disruption, the narratives revealed a positive and inspirational side of living with HIV and AIDS – especially emphasizing that PLWHA do not have to surrender to the deadly narrative of the disease. It became evident that stigma, both internal and external, largely influences illness narratives. Furthermore, the study revealed the social reconstruction of life narratives both in order to understand the illness in terms of past social experiences and to reaffirm the impression that life has a course and the self has a purpose. All participants found that accessing treatment from the Rhodes University Health Care Centre positively influenced their experiences of adherence and reconstruction of narratives. The study indicates that HIV-related interventions in place at the university need to pay more attention to the psychosocial needs of PLWH, involvement of PWLH, as well as keeping up with the continuously changing global HIV narrative. The study argues for more attention to in-depth experiences and personal narratives in HIV and AIDS, and PLWHA education at Rhodes University. , Thesis (PhD) -- Humanities, Department of Sociology, 2021
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Date Issued: 2021-04

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Long Waves of Strikes in South Africa: 1886–2019

- Cottle, Eddie

Authors: Cottle, Eddie
Date: 2020
Subjects: Strikes and lockouts South Africa , Long waves (Economics) South Africa , Business cycles South Africa , Industrial mobilization South Africa , Collective bargaining South Africa , Institutionalisation , Labor unions South Africa
Language: English
Type: thesis , text , Doctoral , PhD
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/163228 , vital:41020 , doi:10.21504/10962/163228
Description: Thesis (PhD)--Rhodes University, Faculty of Humanities, Institute for Social and Economic Research (ISER), 2020.
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Date Issued: 2020

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Design of immunosensor for the detection of C-reactive protein using oriented antibody immobilization

- Adesina, Abiola Olanike

Authors: Adesina, Abiola Olanike
Date: 2020
Subjects: Immunochemistry , Biosensors , C-reactive protein , Immunoassay , Cardiovascular system Diseases
Language: English
Type: thesis , text , Doctoral , PhD
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/163080 , vital:41010 , https://dx.doi.org/10.21504/10962/163080
Description: Early diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) has been a major challenge since CVDs are clinically silent. The current methods available for the diagnosis are not sensitive enough at the onset of the disease. Also, the use of sophisticated equipments and experts in the result interpretation has created a lot of barriers to the early diagnosis of CVDs. Biomarkers detection using electrochemical immunoassay offers great advantages in terms of sensitivity, miniaturization and low cost. This can be integrated into portable devices which can be made available in the remote areas for easy assessment of health care services. The fabrication of piezoelectric and electrochemical immunosensors for the detection of C-reactive protein (a cardiac biomarker) are presented in this thesis. The electrochemical immunosensor investigates the effect of linkers chain length on the analytical performance of the immunosensor. The fabricated immunosensors were based on two simple and sensitive label-free impedimetric assay. Oriented immobilization of anti-CRP monoclonal antibody (mAb) unto gold surface was achieved using carbohydrate specific boronic ester reaction for enhanced capture and specific detection of CRP protein. Quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D) was employed to establish the immunocomplex formation between the mAb and CRP antigen. This was achieved by forming a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of 4-mercaptophenylboronic acid (MPBA) onto the quartz crystal surface. The limit of detection (LoD) for the direct and sandwich immunoassay was 5.45 and 3.65 ng mL-1, respectively. The Au-MPBA-mAb/glucose immunosensor with the shortest chain length of boronic acid was fabricated. The use of SAM of 4-mercaptophenylboronic acid (MPBA) afforded a thio phenylboronic acid functionalized gold surface (Au-MPBA SAM). The anti-CRP-mAb capture antibody was immobilized in an oriented manner onto gold thiophenylboronic acid to yield an Au-MPBA-mAb surface. The non-specific boronic surface was blocked using glucose to yield an Au-MPBA-mAb/glucose. The modified gold surface could detect CRP antigen. The limit of detection (LoD) was found to be 9.82 and 6.23 ng mL-1 for the direct and sandwich immunoassay; respectively. The Au-MBA-APBA-mAb/glucose immunosensor was designed by forming a SAM of 4-mercaptobenzoic acid (MBA) onto gold electrode surface. The terminal -COOH group of the MBA SAM reacted with an amino (NH2) group the 4-aminophenylboronic acid (APBA) using EDC/NHS coupling. This was followed by the immobilization of the capture antibody and the blocking of non-specific binding sites using glucose. Improved analytical parameters were obtained with LoD for the direct and sandwich immunoassays found to be 2.90 and 1.20 ng mL-1; respectively. A more stable immunosensor utilizing electrochemical grafting was investigated for the fabrication of Au-PEA-SA-APBA-mAb/glucose. The enhanced stability of the immunosensor was through the electrochemical reduction of 4-aminoethyl benzene diazonium (AEBD) salt. The surface was further derivatized with succinic anhydride to have a carboxylic derivatized surface. Carbodiimide chemistry was used to form a covalent linkage between the APBA amine group and the surface -COOH terminal group to yield an Au-PEA-SA-APBA surface. The immobilization of mAb and glucose resulted in Au-PEA-SA-APBA-mAb/glucose immunosensor. For the detection and signal enhancement, the magnetic nanoparticles conjugated with anti-CRP polyclonal antibody (pAb) was prepared. The sandwich immunoassay was used to detect CRP by the first capture at Au-PEA-SA-APBA-mAb/glucose. This was followed by signal amplification using magnetic nanoparticles coated with a silica shell and conjugated to pAb (MNP-SiO-APTES-PBA-pAb/glucose). The limit of detection was found to be 560 pg mL-1 and much lower than sandwich immunosensor fabricated using SAMS. The signal enhancement, lower detection limits and high sensitivity were obtained due to the nanoparticles for the sandwich immunoassay. The linear range for all the fabricated immunosensor ranges from 10 – 100 ng mL-1. The sensitivity obtained for Au-MPBA-mAb/glucose, Au-MBA-APBA-mAb/glucose, and Au-PEA-SA-APBA-mAb/glucose were 0.691, 0.885, and 11.08 kΩ.ng-1.ml.cm-2 for the sandwich immunoassay. The piezoelectric immunosensor was regenerated using 0.1 M HCl without affecting the immobilized capture antibody. The real sample analysis was carried out in 10 % serum in a recovery study for all the fabricated immunosensor. The percentage of recovery was very close to 100 %. , Thesis (PhD)--Rhodes University, Science Faculty, Department of Chemistry, 2020.
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Date Issued: 2020

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Assessment of the microbial quality of various domestic rainwater harvesting systems and the suitability of a nano based treatment method

- Malema, Mokaba Shirley

Authors: Malema, Mokaba Shirley
Date: 2020
Subjects: Escherichia coli , Water harvesting , Microbial contamination , Water Purification , Physicochemical process
Language: English
Type: thesis , text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/110218 , vital:33249 , https://dx.doi.org/10.21504/10962/110218
Description: Thesis (PhD)--Rhodes University, Faculty of Science, Chemistry, 2020. , In most developing countries, people from rural and peri-urban settlements depend on harvested rainwater (HRW) as an alternative water source for drinking and other household purposes. Despite this reliance, there is little monitoring of the microbial quality of HRW in these areas. The most important issue in relation to using untreated harvested rainwater for drinking and other domestic purposes is the potential public health risks associated with microbial pathogens. Unlike chemical contamination, microbial contamination my lead to disease occurring rapidly, hence the need for frequent monitoring. Thus, the current study investigated the microbial quality of various domestic rainwater harvesting systems and the suitability of a nano based treatment method. The first experiments involved determining the microbial (Escherichia coli) and physicochemical quality (pH, turbidity, nitrate and chemical oxygen demand (COD)) of HRW in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Samples were collected from 11 tanks situated at the Rhodes University, Kenton-on-sea (coastal) and in homes in the Grahamstown area on a weekly basis between June and September 2016. The Colilert-18®/Quanti-tray® 2000 system was used for enumeration of E. coli while physicochemical parameters were measured using commercial kits. Results showed that all samples were contaminated with varying concentrations of E. coli ranging from 7 to 1055 MPN/100 mL. Physicochemical analysis revealed that pH ranged from 5.6 to 7.6 and Turbidity values obtained for all tanks were below 5 NTU except for tank 4 (5.12 ± 4.96 NTU) and 7 (5.58 ± 8.19 NTU). Nitrate levels (range: 5.95 to 28.12 mg L-1) and COD (range: 66.53 to 191.12 mg L-1) were higher than the recommended South African drinking water quality guidelines in most of the tanks. In the second experiments, the objective was to determine whether a modified hydrogen sulphide (H2S) test kit with an improved detection rate is an effective preliminary screening qualitative test that can be used for rainwater quality monitoring. The hydrogen sulphide method is a low-cost microbiological field-based test which can be used in areas where water testing facilities are limited. Harvested rainwater samples were collected from various tanks in the Eastern Cape and tested for contaminants of faecal origin using the modified hydrogen sulphide test kit, Colilert-18/Quanti-tray®/2000 and membrane filtration technique. Faecal coliforms were measured using membrane filtration, E. coli was measured using Colilert and correspondence rates were calculated with results of the improved hydrogen sulphide test kit. E. coli results ranged from <1 – >2419.6 MPN/100 mL while the faecal coliforms ranged from 0 – >300 CFU/mL. The agreement rate with hydrogen sulphide test and membrane filtration was 88% while the agreement rate for the Colilert and hydrogen sulphide test was 76%. The third experiments investigated the prevalence of pathogenic E. coli strains and their antimicrobial resistance patterns in HRW tanks in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. E. coli isolates obtained in the first experiments were further screened for their virulence potentials using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and subsequently tested for antibiotic resistance using the disc-diffusion method against 11 antibiotics. The pathotype most detected was the neonatal meningitis E. coli (NMEC) (ibeA 28%) while pathotype enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC) was not detected. The highest resistance of the E. coli isolates was observed against Cephalothin (76%). All tested pathotypes were susceptible to Gentamicin, and 52% demonstrated multiple-antibiotic resistance (MAR). The fourth experiments shed light on the occurrence of Legionella, zoonotic and fungal pathogens in the rainwater harvesting systems (RWHS) situated in different regions of South Africa. Rainwater samples were collected in urban and semi-urban areas from tanks situated in various areas in South Africa (Johannesburg, Pretoria and Grahamstown). Pathogenic organisms investigated were Salmonella, Shigella, Vibrio cholerae, Legionella and fungal isolates. Pure isolates were obtained and screened using PCR. Results revealed the presence of pathogenic bacteria and fungi in all the tested RWHS. In Grahamstown the most detected pathogen was Salmonella (73%) while Vibrio Cholerae was not detected. All the tested pathogens were present from the RWHS situated in Pretoria. Shigella was not detected from the RWHS in Johannesburg while others were detected. Identification of fungal isolates from HRW showed the presence of pathogenic fungi such as Aspergillus fumigatus, Cryptococcus laurentii, Aureobasidium pullulans and Mucor circinelloides. The last experiments, focussed on exploring a suitable treatment method for HRW where a nano compound quaternary imidazolium modified montmorillonite (MMT) was used as a potential household rainwater treatment option. Harvested rainwater samples were collected from the RWHS situated at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Pretoria South Africa. River and borehole water samples were included in the study to check the efficiency of the treatment method on various water sources. River water samples were collected from Olifants River, Witbank, South Africa while borehole water was collected from a privately-owned borehole in Pretoria. For inoculation studies, all the water sources were sterilised in batches of 1 and 2 L and inoculated with approximately 107 CFU/mL of overnight E. coli. Approximately 200 mg of the quaternary imidazolium modified MMT was added to the inoculated water and samples collected immediately after inoculation (time 0) and thereafter every hour for 5 hrs. The analyses were further conducted using unsterilised water samples (total bacterial count) and 500 mg of the treatment material. Complete inactivation of E. coli in sterilised HRW was achieved in 2 hrs for the 2 L water samples and 3 hrs for the 1 L water samples. Sterilised river water achieved complete E. coli inactivation in 4 hrs for the 1 L and 5 hrs for the 2 L samples while borehole water samples achieved complete E. coli inactivation in 5 hrs (2 L) and 6 hrs for the 1 L samples. In the unsterilised water sources (total bacteria), complete bacterial inactivation was observed in 5 hrs for both the 1 and 2 L harvested rainwater samples, 6 hrs in river water samples (both 1 and 2 L) and 8 hrs for borehole water samples (1 and 2 L). The results suggest that the treatment option was more efficient in harvested rainwater (required less time for bacterial inactivation compared to river and borehole water). The results of the current study are of public health concern since the use of untreated HRW for potable purposes may pose a risk of transmission of pathogenic and antimicrobial-resistant E. coli and other pathogenic organisms such as Salmonella, Shigella and Vibrio cholerae. It is therefore recommended that in cases where the tested harvested rainwater is used for potable purposes, simple treatment methods such as boiling and SODIS be applied so the harvested rainwater is fit for human consumption.
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Date Issued: 2020

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