The other face of the Zimbabwean crisis: the black market and dealers during Zimbabwe’s decade of economic meltdown, 2000-2008

Abstract: This paper explores the Zimbabwean crisis from the lens of dealers who benefitted from the chaotic and highly speculative Zimbabwean economy during the decade of crisis (2000-2008). The impression created by the bulk of the literature that has been published on Zimbabwe during its decade of crisis is that the political impasse and economic meltdown left a trail of impoverishment in the country. This paper challenges this widely held perception by arguing that even though the Zimbabwean crisis wreaked havoc for most Zimbabweans’ livelihood, this is not entirely true for some of the dealers who made a ‘killing’ from Zimbabwe’s burgeoning black market during the decade of crisis

Covid-19 fully exposes Zimbabwe’s comatose economy

Abstract: Please refer to full text to view abstrac

Seeking barriers to the development of knowledge transgressivity potential (KTP) : lessons from a postgraduate student survey at the University of Johannesburg

Institutional mergers coupled with the distinction between teaching-focused ‘comprehensives’ and traditional, research-intensive universities are evidence of differentiation in action within South African higher education. Comprehensive institutions such as the University of Johannesburg (UJ) are relatively underresearched. A UJ-based survey of postgraduate students (n=300) suggests the possibility of knowledge transgressivity within and outside of UJ. However, the development of a transdisciplinary platform [to facilitate the evolution of knowledge transgressivity potential (KTP)] between natural and social science-focused postgraduates, is likely limited by perceptual class and race barriers, with the former proving most influential. Moreover, inter institutionalKTP between UJ, as a comprehensive, and WITS, as a traditional university, is present, but limited by material class barriers, such as fees differentials. Nevertheless, findings suggest that KTP could be developed at the junior postgraduate level if class perceptions and structural legacies are to be overcome. Comprehensives like UJ are capable of more than solely fulfilling an undergraduate teaching function as such, they should enjoy more research attention. While all South African universities contribute to transformation and competitiveness in distinct ways, the rigid demarcation, and potentially inadvertent ‘privileging’ of some South African universities, should be avoided. This is critical as such demarcation cannot lead to long-term institutional integration and increased potential for true knowledge transgressivity

DEVELOPMENT OF A SIMULATOR SOFTWARE ELEMENTS ON THE TOPIC “STRINGS IN C++” OF THE DISTANCE LEARNING COURSE “PROGRAMMING II”

In the article are discussed the creation of an algorithm and a simulator that are able to teach a user the full concepts of the subject “Programing II” on the topic “Strings in C++”.Науково-практичний семінар "Комп’ютерні науки та інформаційні технології" (КНІТ-2022). Випуск 1. Полтава: ПУЕТ, 2022

A comparison of injuries sustained on artificial and natural soccer turfs among premier soccer league football players in Zimbabwe

Thesis (MMed)--Stellenbosch University, 2015.ENGLISH SUMMARY : Background: The International Football Federation (FIFA), through their Goal project, renovated Rufaro stadium from natural turf (NT) to artificial turf (AT). This was met with mixed feelings especially with regard to injuries sustained by football players. There is no published scientific data on football injuries in Zimbabwe. Aim: To determine the frequency of injuries on AT and NT among Premier Soccer League (PSL) players in Zimbabwe. Objectives: To determine the attitudes of players regarding the different football playing surfaces, and the incidence, severity and injury types on AT and NT. Methods: The 2013 season's16 PSL teams were selected to complete questionnaires and injury report forms. Injuries recorded during matches on AT and NT were analyzed. Outcome measures were injury incidence (injuries/1000 player hours (Phrs) of exposure)compared for AT and NT using rate ratios (95% confidence intervals). All statistical significance were set at p<0.05. Results: A total of 325 players responded and 295(90.8%) preferred playing on NT. Of these, 250(76.9%) believed that AT was associated with more injuries. A total of 364 injuries occurred during 4455phrs of exposure giving an injury incidence of 81.7 injuries/1000phrs.A total of 69 games (1138.5phrs) on AT revealed an injury incidence of 85.2 injuries/1000phrs while 201 games (3316.5 phrs) on NT revealed an overall incidence of 80.51 injuries/1000-hrs.This analysis showed no statistically significant difference in the incidence of injury between AT and NT surfaces during matches played, [RR= 1.06; 95% CI: 0.84 – 1.34]. With regard to injury severity, the highest incidence occurred on the AT (31.62/1000phrs in the mild category) and the lowest incidence was on the NT (1.81/1000 phrs in the severe category) .The rate ratios for the severity were however not statistically significant. Comparison of the injuries according to body part injured largely revealed insignificant rate ratios. Conclusion: Football players believe that the AT is associated with increased risk of injury. There was no significant difference in injury incidence rates and severity between the AT and NT during the 2013 PSL season in Zimbabwe. The incidence of injury in this study was much higher than comparable European studies and is a need for further studies to explore the underlying reasons for this

‘Getting involved on campus’ : student identities, student politics, and perceptions of the Student Representative Council (SRC)

Abstract: Since 1976 when school students in Soweto took to the streets in active defiance of the apartheid state, students as a political constituency have always been admired, noted and feared for the political positions they have taken and campaigns launched. South African student organisations in the 1980s and 1990s a ligned themselves with mass democratic movements and engaged with and shaped their agendas. Commentators suggest however, that the nature and character of student organisations have changed in post-apartheid South Africa, and consequently, also students’ interest in ‘getting involved’. With regard to SRCs, while many authors argue that SRCs are no longer a ‘revolutionary force’ and have become either retrogressive or disempowered, others suggest that more effort needs to be made to understand the content of ‘new’ SRCs in post-apartheid South Africa and their appeal to diverse student populations. This paper seeks to establish the attitudes of University of Johannesburg (UJ) students towards voting for, and supporting, the Students Representative Council (SRC), and, for involving themselves in student politics at UJ. In making sense of students’ perceptions, the paper probes differences and similarities in terms of four key factors: gender, race, year of study, and residential background

Solution density modelling for single and mixed base metal electrolytes at ionic level

Solution density modelling is important in hydrometallurgical processes as accurate predictions of single and mixed electrolytes can be used in the design of equipment and their sizing, heat transfer calculations and choosing of materials for construction. This research project entails modeling of electrolyte solutions by extending the Laliberte and Cooper (compound level) model to ionic level where an electrolyte solution is modeled as a mixture of cations, anions and water molecules. This modeling predicts single and mixed electrolyte density as a function of electrolyte temperature in degrees Celsius; water, cation and anion apparent volumes in cubic centimeters; and their respective concentrations in the electrolyte as mass fractions. The model was developed by fitting single electrolyte density data reported in literature using the least squares method in Microsoft Excel®. The following 26 single electrolyte solutions were used in the fitting exercise: Al2(SO4)3, BaCl2, CaCl2, CdSO4, CoCl2, CuSO4, FeCl3, FeSO4, HCl, HCN, HNO3, K2CO3, LiCl, MgSO4, MnCl2, Na2SO3, NaF, NaI, NaOH, (NH4)2SO4, NiCl2, SrCl2, ZnCl2, ZnBr2, (NH4)2C2O4 and KNO2. The above electrolytes attributed to the following ions: Al3+, Ba2+, Ca2+ Cd2+, Co2+, Cu2+, Fe3+, Fe2+, H+1, K+1, Li+1, Mg2+, Mn+2, Na+1, NH4+1, Ni2+, Sr+2, Zn2+, SO42-, Cl-1, CN-1, NO3-1, CO32-, OH-1, SO32-, Br-1, F-1, I-1, C2O4-2 and NO2-1. This translated to a combination of at least 216 single electrolyte solutions which could be feasibly modeled, and a solution with at most 10 anions for mixed electrolytes, which is comparable with practical hydrometallurgical solutions. A database of volumetric parameters was generated comprising a total of 18 cations and 12 anions. The validation of the developed model was done by predicting densities for both single and mixed electrolytes not used in the fitting exercise. The average density error i.e. the difference between experimental and model density for the single electrolyte solutions was 22.62 kg m-3 with a standard deviation of 39.66 kg m-3. For the mixed electrolytes, the average density error was 12.34 kg m-3 with a standard deviation of 24.48 kg m-3. These calculated errors translated to a maximum percentage average error of less than 4% for single electrolyte solutions and maximum average percentage of less than 3% for mixed electrolyte solutions

Annona stenophylla aqueous extract stimulate glucose uptake in established C2Cl2 muscle cell lines

Background: Annona stenophylla is a folk medicine popularly used in Zimbabwe for the treatment of many ailments. This study was carried out to determine some of the possible anti diabetic mechanisms of its action using in vitro cell culturing methods.Methods: A. stenophylla’s effects on glucose uptake were tested using muscle cells (C2Cl2). Expression of glucose 4 transporters was determined by treating cell lines with plant extract. Total RNA was isolated and using RT-PCR, GLUT 4 expression levels were quantified. Translocation of GLUT 4 was assessed using FITC fluorescence measured by flow cytometry.Results: Treatment of cells with plant extract significantly increased glucose uptake in a concentration dependent manner, with the highest concentration (250 μg/ml) giving 28% increased uptake compared to the negative control. The increase in glucose uptake (2.5 times more than control) was coupled to increase in GLUT 4 mRNA and subsequently GLUT 4 translocation. Wortmannin expunged the A. stenophylla induced increase in GLUT 4 mRNA and glucose uptake.Conclusion: The results suggest that A. stenophylla aqueous extract increases glucose uptake partly through increasing the GLUT 4 mRNA and translocation potentially acting via the PI-3-K pathway. This study confirms the ethnopharmacological uses of A.stenophylla indicating potential for anti-diabetic products formulation.Keywords: Annona stenophylla, glucose uptake, GLUT 4, diabetes, wortmannin

Different nursery growing systems and growth media improved germination and seedling growth of fever tea (Lippia javanica)

An experiment was set up in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD)&nbsp;to examine the influence of nursery growing methods and growth medium on fever, tea germination, and seedling development. Two nursery growth methods (Conventional-CON and Float tray system FTs) and six different growing medium (pine bark, peat moss, coco peat, vermiculite, sand, and cattle manure) were used. ANOVA was used to compare treatment means, and means were separated using the Least Significant Difference (LSD) at a 5&nbsp;% significance level. The nursery growing method and growth material exhibited a strong interaction regarding the germination index, germination percentage, seedling height, leaf area, root length, density, and final crop stand. The float tray approach yielded the greatest germination index for peat moss and the lowest for cattle manure. In the float tray method, peat moss and coco peat had the highest germination percentages, whereas cattle manure&nbsp;had the lowest. Under the float tray technique, the tallest seedlings emerged in peat moss and the smallest in coco peat. Peat moss had the most leaf area in the float tray system, whereas coco peat had the least in the conventional technique. Peat moss in the float tray system had the highest root length density&nbsp;while coco peat in the conventional technique had the lowest. Peat moss in the float tray system had the highest final crop stand, whereas seedlings in the conventional and float tray systems had nothing. based on the findings, it is&nbsp;recommended&nbsp;that fever tea seedlings be grown on peat moss using the float tray metho