Unlocking the Potential of Zambian Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises "Learning from the international best practices - the Southeast Asian Experience"

This paper examines the SMEs performance in Zambia and attempts to identify some practical lessons that Zambia can learn from Southeast Asian countries (with reference to Malaysia) in order to facilitate industrial development through unlocking the potential of its SMEs sector. Malaysia and Zambia were at the same level of economic development as evidenced by similar per capita incomes but Zambia has remained behind economically and its manufacturing sector has stagnated as if both countries did not have similar initial endowments. It therefore, becomes imperative that Zambia learns from such countries on how they managed to take-off economically with a focus on SME development. Training (education), research & development, market availability and technological advancement through establishment of industrial linkages coupled with cluster formation were some of the outstanding strategies identified that Zambia could use as a “key” to unlock its SMEs’ potential as it strives to meet the UN MDGs in particular halving its poverty levels by 2015 and also realizing its vision of becoming a middle income earner by 2030

Zambian manufacturing performance in comparative perspective

This paper presents an analysis of Zambian manufacturing performance since 1964. It presents new estimates of labour productivity growth and total factor productivity growth. After a period of growth and labour productivity improvement till 1974, Zambian manufacturing suffered from increasing inefficiencies in an import substituting and interventionist environment. Growth of output slowed down, labour productivity and investment declined, though TFP showed some fluctuation. In the period of liberalisation between 1991-95, output shrank dramatically, TFP collapsed and labour productivity continued to decline. After 1995 indicators of performance point to a modest recovery. Following an industry-of-origin approach to international comparisons, the Zambian estimates are placed in comparative perspective in a binary comparison with the USA. In 1990, labour productivity in Zambia stood at 5.9 percent of the US level, while relative total factor productivity stood at 16.7 percent. Over time comparative labour productivity has been declining, indicating an increasing technology gap relative to the world frontier. By 1998, comparative labour productivity stood at 3.2 percent of the US level.

Estimating adult mortality in South Africa using information on the year-of-death of parents from the 2016 Community Survey

In developing countries, systems that collect vital statistics are usually inadequate to facilitate the direct estimation of adult mortality. This has necessitated the development of indirect methods such as the orphanhood method. These methods are however limited, i.e., the single-survey approach produces out of date estimates of mortality and the two-survey approach is affected by the differential reporting of orphanhood between two surveys. To avoid these limitations, this research considers an extension of the orphanhood approach pioneered by Chackiel and Orellana (1985) to estimate adult mortality using year-of-death data rather than the conventional form of the orphanhood data. This is because the year-of- death data can be used to produce accurate time locations to which estimates of mortality apply but more important, one can create a synthetic survey from a single survey and hence obtain more recent and accurate estimates of mortality. The single-survey orphanhood method is applied to survey data to obtain estimates of adult mortality and time location. A variation of the two-survey orphanhood method (Timxus 1991b) is also applied to survey data and the synthetic survey that is created from year-of-death data in order to derive estimates of adult mortality. In addition, the age range of respondents is extended down to age O to include year-of-death data from younger respondents on the assumption that underestimating orphanhood due to the adoption effect is minimal. This is done to investigate if the estimates derived from the two-survey method can be improved. Further, a cohort survival method that involves the calculation of a survival ratio for each age group at the first survey and the equivalent older ages groups at the second survey is applied to investigate the possibility of producing useful estimates of adult mortality based on cohort survival. The level and trend in mortality estimates calculated from the single-survey, two - survey and the cohort survival approaches are discussed and compared to the estimates from the Rapid Mortality Surveillance (RMS) which are used as a benchmark for the trend and level of adult mortality in South Africa. The estimates produced using the single-survey method appear too low, while those from the two-survey method appear to be reasonable for the conventional from of the orphanhood data. Extending the two-survey method to include younger respondents produces estimates that are too low indicating that both the conventional form of the orphanhood data and the year-of-death data suffer from the adoption effect. The cohort survival approach produces reasonable estimates that are consistent with the RMS benchmark for both the conventional form of the orphanhood data and year-of-death data

Governance arrangements for the Zambian information legislation

Thesis presented in partial fulfillment for the degree of Master of Management (in the field of Public Policy) to the Faculty of Commerce, Law, and Management, University of the Witwatersrand October 2017The purpose of this study was to investigate factors leading to problems experienced in the governance system in the management of access to information legislation in Zambia. The study aimed to answer the question what are the governance challenges for the Zambian access to information law? The literature review discussed the main concepts of this research such as transparency and accountability and also looked at Governance as the field of study that this research is based. The study was qualitative in nature used the case study research design. The data collection method utilised was interviews using the semi- structured interview schedule. The method of data analysis selected was content analysis, focusing on Elite and Policy network theories to aid the analysis of findings. Findings showed that there is a fragmented system of governance in the country, one that does not seem responsive to the needs of the people. The study identified some of the challenges to the Zambian governance system such as the lack of understanding of democracy, lack of civic education by government, and high levels of both illiteracy and poverty.MT 201

Zambian Manufacturing Performance in Comparative Perspective

Zambian, manufacturing, performance

Promoting sustainable community development through corporate social responsibility initiatives : a case study of a manufacturing organization in Zimbabwe.

Master of Commerce. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2017.Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has been identified and adopted by large businesses as a business strategy to enhance company performance. It is globally used to link business and society through sustainable development and good governance. Studies show that CSR in large firms, specifically in developing countries or emerging economies are under researched and is still associated with large firms from developed countries. Companies in emerging economies play a pivotal role in the economic development of their countries. The main objective of this study, is to ascertain how a manufacturing organisation is promoting sustainable community development by engaging CSR initiatives in an emerging country, like Zimbabwe. In particular, the study explores the perceptions large businesses have towards CSR, the drivers of CSR activities in the large firms and what they are engaging in to make a lasting impression in the communities where they are located. Furthermore, the study seeks to explore the benefits and challenges of implementing CSR initiatives and the strategies employed by the organizations to overcome some of the challenges they encounter, and to promote community development through these programs. A non-systematic literature review approach was conducted where insights were drawn from a wide range of secondary sources such as peer reviewed journal articles and non-peer reviewed publications on the topic. Qualitative research methods were used to collect primary data. An exploratory case study approach was adopted as a qualitative method technique to understand the benefits that are brought about by implementing CSR related strategies internally and externally by the organisation. Fourteen (n=14) managers were invited to participate in the study. Convenience sampling technique was used to select participants for the study. Content analysis was used to analyse the qualitative data. The empirical findings reveal that the large business in the case acknowledged CSR as a business concept. The results indicated that their CSR activities are mainly hampered by the prevailing volatile economic environment, which is further strained by having a specific department or allocated manager to deal with CSR as a business strategy, minimal access to information and a shortage of manpower. Finally, the results revealed that the large business preferred to raise money through various internal and external programs and engage in partnerships with other large businesses as a solution to implement CSR initiatives in the surrounding communities. The government needs to introduce a regulatory framework in a policy that encourages large businesses to engage in CSR initiatives especially, considering the harsh economic environment. This approach will redefine the voluntary nature of CSR and mitigate some of the daily challenges that communities encounter in their pursuit for sustainable development

Sexually segregated habitat selection in Daubenton’s bat Myotis daubentonii

Sexual segregation is a phenomenon present in many vertebrate taxa, including the bat order Chiroptera. Sexual segregation is a social and/or habitat separation based on sex and is driven by varying causes such as sexual dimorphism, resource and physiological limitations, predator avoidance and many other factors. It can be intrasexual and intersexual, as observed in the focal species of this study, Myotis daubentonii – Daubenton’s bat. Most studies of this temperate bat have been conducted in regions with an altitudinal gradient which have shown that the Daubenton’s bat exhibits a temporal, intra- and inter-sexual segregation across an altitudinal gradient. With females and some males preferring the downstream and more productive habitats whilst other males create upstream colonies in the suboptimal foraging and roosting microclimates. In this study, carried out in the central and southern parts of Sweden, I conducted a landscape analysis on mist net trapping data, accumulated over a period of 34 years (1986 -2020) to determine if sexual segregation occurred by habitat selection within a region with no significant elevation gradient. The results indicated that some landscape features were different between foraging sites where only males were found and those that had only females or both males and females. These included differences in the size of forests, distance to and size of water surfaces, built-up areas, and open lands, in addition to a sexually segregated habitat selection was observed across latitudinal and longitudinal gradients

Solid-liquid mass transfer in a Peirce-Smith converter: A physical modelling study

Pyro-metallurgical processes are multiphase in nature involving gas-liquid-solid interactions. In the Peirce-Smith converter operation, the additions of cold solids in liquid matte in the form of fluxing agents (silica sands) for slag liquidity, process scrap and reverts for temperature control is a common practice. It is reasonable to postulate that with such practice, solid-liquid mass transfer step may play an important role in the performance and attainment of liquid bath homogeneity of the process. In this work, solid additions were simulated with sintered benzoic acid compacts spatially positioned in a 1:5 water model of a Peirce-Smith converter. Water and kerosene were used to simulate matte and slag respectively. Solid-liquid mass transfer was characterized by experimentally determined mass transfer coefficient, K (ms-1) values of benzoic acid sintered compacts and calculated dimensionless turbulence characteristic, Tc values. The mass transfer coefficients and dimensionless turbulence characteristic values were highest at the bath surface and near plume region. The values decreased in identified dead zones in the regions close to the circular side walls of the model. The results revealed that the mass transfer coefficients and turbulence characteristics were different with respect to different submergence levels of the compacts. These findings lead to the conclusion that the fluid flow was stratified within the vessel

Investigating the influence of electrolyte composition on electrodeposition in copper electrowinning

Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2020.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The major concern in copper electrowinning is to deposit smooth, dense, pure copper at high current efficiency and low energy consumption. Electrolyte physicochemical propertiesnamely density, diffusion coefficients and conductivity affect the mass transfer and energy consumption in the cell. These properties are dependent on electrolyte composition. Control of growth and structure of the deposit determines the deposit morphology/smoothness and is strongly dependent on the current distribution over the cathode surface. The study investigated the influence of electrolyte composition on copper deposition via consideration of electrolyte physicochemical properties and current distribution in the cell. The electrolyte components were copperions, sulphuric acid, iron ionsand polyacrylamide(PAM)additive. The effect of other factors such as cell/electrode alignment on current distribution cannot be ignored, but were beyond the scopeof study, therefore were kept constant.The research approach was divided into two stages: establishing the relationship of electrolyte composition to physicochemical properties and modelling a copper electrodeposition process to predict current distribution at the cathode surface. A 5 factor, 2 and 3 level design of experiment was performed to determine the effect of copper (35 and 45 g/l), sulphuric acid (160 and 180 g/l), iron (1, 3 and 6 g/l), PAM additive (2, 5 and 10 mg/l) and temperature (45 and 55°C) on electrolyte density, conductivity and diffusion coefficient in synthetic copper electrowinning electrolytes. Density and conductivity were measured using a pycnometer and conductivity meter respectively. Diffusion coefficients were determined from the limiting current using linear sweep voltammetry.COMSOL Multiphysics, a finite element software was used to generate an electrowinning model for predicting current distribution at the cathode surface. Experiments were conducted for model validation. The current density was determined from deposit thickness by applying Faraday’s law. The results showed that increase in copper, acid, and iron concentration increased density but decreased iffusion coefficient. Conductivity improved with addition of acid but reduced with addition of metallic elements (copper, iron). The polyacrylamide additive had no effect on the properties. It was suggested that the addition of high atomic weight (copper, iron) elements increased density whilst impeding the movement of ions in the electrolyte whereas hydrogen ions improved electrolyte conductivity. Mathematical correlations for each property as a function of electrolyte composition were developed and were supported by previous studies.The copper electrowinning model predicted outputs such as species concentration and current distribution. Model and experimental current distribution compared well with each other. High current densities were observed near the cathode top and bottom with relatively uniform distribution at the cathode centre. This was attributed to the mass transfer phenomena, which facilitated less resistive path of ions in these regions. The model under-predicted the current density magnitude likely due to model limitations. The influence of electrolyte composition on current distribution profile was minimal, the effect was primarily on the magnitude of current density. Experimental and modelled current density both slightly increased with increase in copper concentration whereas variation in acid concentration caused a slight increase only in experimental current density, the modelled current density values remained the same.AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die groot kommer in koperelektroherwinning is om gladde, digte, suiwer koper by hoë stroom effektiwiteit en lae energiegebruik te deponeer. Elektroliet fisikochemiese eienskappe, genaamd digtheid, diffusie koëffisiënte en geleidingsvermoë, affekteer die massa-oordrag en energie gebruik in die sel. Hierdie eienskappe is afhanklik van elektrolietkomposisie. Beheer oor groei en struktuur van die deposito bepaal die deposito morfologie/gladheid en is grootliks afhanklik van die stroomdistribusie oor die katode-oppervlak.Die studie het die invloed van elektrolietkomposisie op koperdeponering ondersoek via oorweging van elektroliet fisikochemiese eienskappe en stroomdistribusie in die sel. Die elektrolietkomponente was koperione, swaelsuur, ysterione en poliakrielamied-(PAM) bymiddel. Die effek van ander faktore soos sel-/elektrodebelyning op stroomdistribusie kan nie geïgnoreer word nie, maar is buite die bestek van die studie, en is daarom konstant gehou. Die navorsingsbenadering is verdeel in twee stadiums: die bepaling van die verhouding tussen elektrolietkomposisie en fisikochemiese eienskappe, en modellering van ’n koperelektrodeponeringsproses om stroomdistribusie by die katode-oppervlak te voorspel. ’n 5-faktor, 2-en 3-vlak ontwerp van eksperiment is uitgevoer om die effek van koper (35 en 45 g/l), swaelsuur (160 en 180 g/l), yster (1, 3 en 6 g/l) PAM-bymiddel (2,5 en 10 mg/l) en temperatuur (45 en 55 °C) op elektrolietdigtheid, geleidingsvermoë en diffusiekoëffisiënt in sintetiese koper elektroherwinning elektroliete te bepaal. Digtheid en geleidingsvermoë is gemeet deur ’n piknometer en geleidingsvermoëmeter onderskeidelik te gebruik. Diffusiekoëffisiënte is bepaal uit die beperkte stroom deur liniêre stryk voltammetrie te gebruik. COMSOL Multiphysics, ’n eindige element sagteware is gebruik om ’n elektroherwinningmodel te genereer om stroomdistribusie by die katode-oppervlak te voorspel. Eksperimente is uitgevoer vir modelvalidasie. Die stroomdigtheid is bepaal uit depositodigtheid deur Faraday se wet toe te pas.Die resultate het gewys dat verhoging in koper-, suur-en ysterkonsentrasie digtheid verhoog het, maar die diffusiekoëffisiënt verlaag het. Geleidingsvermoë het verbeter met byvoeging van suur maar verlaag met byvoeging van metaalelemente (koper, yster). Die PAM-bymiddel het geen effek op die eienskappe gehad nie. Dis voorgestel dat die byvoeging van hoë atomiese gewig-(koper, yster) elemente digtheid verhoog het terwyl die beweging van ione in die elektroliet belemmer is, waar waterstofione elektrolietgeleidingsvermoë verbeter het. Wiskundige korrelasies vir elke eienskap as ’n funksie van elektrolietkomposisie isontwikkel en ondersteun deur vorige studies.Die koperelektroherwinningmodel het uitsette soos spesiekonsentrasie en stroomdistribusie voorspel. Model en eksperimentele stroomdistribusie het goed vergelyk met mekaar. Hoë stroomdigthede is waargeneem naby die katode se bokant en onderkant met relatiewe uniforme distribusie by die katode se vimiddel. Dis toegeskryf aan die massa-oordragfenomeen, wat ʼn laer weerstandpad van ione in hierdie streke gefasiliteer het. Die model het die stroomdigtheidgrootte ondervoorspel, waarskynlik as gevolg van modelbeperkinge.Die invloed van elektrolietkomposisie op stroomdistribusieprofiel was minimaal, die effek was primêr op die grootte van stroomdigtheid. Eksperimentele en gemodelleerde stroomdigtheid het beide effens verhoog met verhoging in koperkonsentrasie, waar variasie in suurkonsentrasie ’n effense verhoging slegs in eksperimentele stroomdigtheid veroorsaak het, die gemodelleerde stroomdigtheidwaardes het dieselfde gebly.Master