African Feminist Theories and the Gendered Dimensions of Climate Change in Africa

This paper analyses how African feminist theories can provide nuanced insights into the gendered dimensions of climate change across the continent. African feminist theories provide important insights into the everyday lived experiences of women within African spaces, allowing for a contextual analysis of the impacts of climate change. There has also been a growing recognition of the need to identify gender-differentiated impacts of climate change (Tuana 2013). The main argument is not only that climate change will be experienced by men and women differently but also that women will be more severely hurt by the impacts than men (MacGregor 2010). Yet this theorisation still needs to employ theoretical lenses that place African women at the centre of analysis. African feminist theories will be utilised to provide a theoretical account of embodied gender differences grounded in the complex realities of African women’s everyday experiences. African gender theories argue that research on women’s realities should be fully grounded in and informed local realities. African feminist theories are neither unitary nor homogenous but represent a radical rethinking of women’s experiences on the continent. The theories, however, speak directly to two concepts which will be key to this study: positionality and intersectionalities. By positionalities, the study will analyse how experiences of climate change depend on where women are situated and the conditions within which they exist that shape access and control of resources for resilience. The paper will thus focus on highlighting the intersectional complexities characterised by generational, class, identity, racial schisms and ethnic coalitions, as well as contradictions that define every day for women in different conditions on the continent

The Competition Act of 1995: a Legal Analysis

A legal analysis of the relevance and/ or importance of Zimbabwe's Competition Act of 1995.The objective of this paper is to undertake a broad analysis of the desirability or otherwise of instituting competition law in Zimbabwe and an analysis of the Act itself in an endeavour to ascertain whether or not technically it is good law. For one to effectively discharge this mandate it is essential that one starts with a broad overview of competition and antitrust policies and legislation in order to ascertain an ideal structure within which such a policy can be adopted for Zimbabwe. To this end a brief analysis of the Zimbabwean economic structure is essential in order to illustrate the flaws in that structure which would have to be combated by a competition law. It is also necessary to look at what can be considered to be generally acceptable characteristics of effective competition law. It is only after this has been done that one can specifically evaluate the enacted legislation. It will therefore be necessary before rendering judgement on the Act to undertake a comparative study of similar legislation in other countries with the objective of borrowing from the strengths of other legislation governing different jurisdictional entities. Interviews were conducted with various interest groups with a view to ascertaining the different perceptions of the new law

Roles Played by the Governments on Agricultural Logistics Operations during the COVID-19 Pandemic and Lockdown. A Systematic Literature Review

This paper documents the roles played by governments in agricultural logistics operations during the global COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown. Specifically, the paper reports on the roles played by the Chinese Government as a case study for developed countries and the roles played by the East African countries’ governments. Systematic literature review was carried for existing literature published between December 2019 and June 2021. Hence, the study conducted systematically by reviewing related literature on roles played by governments in agricultural logistics operations during the global COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown. The paper found that every government has tried to put efforts to ensure the movement of agricultural products within and across the supply chain partners including exemption of food delivery trucks from road restrictions, fining some price-gouging businesses who seemed to make food less affordable; establishing measures to ensure availability of supplies of agricultural inputs for production, provision of technical services and financial support, introduction of robot delivery and exemptions from Value Added Tax (VAT) to agricultural products and related inputs. This study is review in nature and it based on China and East Africa countries only from December, 2019 to June 2021. So, empirical study is needed on this study. Also, adding study period could improve the quality of results. The study make immense contribution to the existing literature on the role of government in enhancing agricultural logistics amidst global supply chain disruption

Is the United Nations Machinery an Effective Instrument for Peace?

A ZLRev. article on the role of the UN as an effective peace maker.It has sometimes been argued that aggression and conflicts are qualities inherent in human beings and as such conflicts will always be with men unto eternity. It is not the objectives of this paper to trace either the historic origin of conflicts or the political economy underlying these conflicts. The objective of this paper is to analyse the mechanisms by which modern conflicts are regulated. A critical analysis will be made of the United Nations organisation and its subsidiary organs in order to ascertain whether they are in fact capable and do indeed either prevent armed conflicts or contain conflicts which arise

Efficacy of top-down approaches to post-conflict social coexistence and community building: Experiences from Zimbabwe

This paper provides an assessment of the work done by the Organ on National Healing, Reconciliation and Integration (ONHRI) in post- 2008 Zimbabwe. ONHRI was employed by the Zimbabwean government (precisely as Government of National Unity) to ensure national healing and integration. The efficacy of top-down approaches to social cohesion in post-conf lict contexts is questioned. The paper outlines how political expediency, mistrust and polarisation debilitated the work of ONHRI. There was little consultation done in creating ONHRI, especially with communities affected by political violence. Academics, civil society, smaller political parties and private entities were left out of the process of creating social cohesion mechanisms. For the Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF), the Organ was a concession on their part to the demands of the MDC and this led to problems in implementing its mandate. What transpired became a political cat and mouse game in which actors at the national level frustrated the process of uncovering the truth and the promotion of healing. ONHRI’s work has to be understood within a context of political competition in the Government of National Unity (GNU) in which self-interest overtook the mandate of the Organ. The paper therefore argues that Zimbabwe lost an opportunity to entrench grassroots social cohesion and healing processes.Keywords: National healing, social cohesion, Zimbabwe, Global Political Agreement, transitional justic

Sexual dysfunction in premenopausal women treated for breast cancer – implications for their clinical care

Breast cancer is the commonest cancer in women globally. Early stage diagnosis in young sexually active women, coupled with advances in adjuvant therapy has contributed to an increase in the number of young survivors. A diagnosis of breast cancer may affect the woman’s self-esteem, sexuality and intimate relationships. Surgical alteration or loss of the breast, a symbol of femininity and sexuality, may negatively impact her body-image. Chemotherapy may cause ovarian damage leading to premature menopause. The psychological effects thereof may impair the man’s ability to offer emotional support to the woman as well as affect their relationship. These may affect a survivor’s sexual functioning and quality of life. This paper reports on four pre-menopausal women treated for breast cancer and the sexual sequels thereof. It is aimed at raising awareness amongst health providers managing women with breast cancer in sub-Saharan Africa on the impact thereof of their quality of life as well as sexual functioning. Treatment of breast cancer has focused mainly on improved survival with no due consideration of its impact on quality of life. There is need for multi-disciplinary approach in managing these patients to address all concerns in a wholesome manner. (Afr J Reprod Health 2016; 20[2]: 122-128).Keywords: Breast cancer, young women, sexual dysfunction, sub-Saharan Afric