Customer satisfaction with the electronic banking services in Zimbabwe: a case of Mashonaland West Province, Zimbabwe.

Doctoral Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.With the constant advances in technology, it is expected that life should become easier in various way, one of these being that people would no longer have to wait in queues in banks as technology allows people to do most of their transactions by computer or cell phone. This research sought to gather information on customer satisfaction with the electronic banking (e-banking) facilities and services in Zimbabwe. The problem which was identified is that people spend a lot of time waiting in queues for services they could access much more quickly on e-banking platforms. Three e-banking platforms were examined, these being automated teller machines (ATMs), internet banking, and mobile banking (m-banking). The research took the form of a descriptive case study design. It also took a mixed method approach where both quantitative and qualitative data was used. Mashonaland West Province in Zimbabwe was the location for the study. Questionnaires were distributed in all seven districts of this province, on a pro rata basis depending on population size. According to the 2012 census survey in Zimbabwe, the total population of economically active people, between the ages of 15 and 64 years living in the province was 825 911 people. The researcher used Kredjice and Morgan’s table to calculate the sample size of 384 people. Two hundred and eighty-three (283) questionnaires were returned out of the three Hundred and eighty-four (384) questionnaires which were distributed, thus the response rate was 73.7%. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (version 20) was used to analyze the data. Results showed that e-banking services in Zimbabwe are satisfactory as there was not a single attribute of banking where the majority of people showed dissatisfaction. However, there is a need for Zimbabwean banks to continue to educate citizens on how to use e-banking facilities effectively. Internet banking had the lowest levels of reported user satisfaction with the problem emanating from a lack of internet access by the majority of citizens. There was also no significant gap realized between bank sector managers’ perceptions of customers’ needs and wants and the actual needs of customers. A model for adoption of electronic banking in Zimbabwe has been developed by the researcher and is made up of five key factors which determine the adoption of electronic banking in Zimbabwe, these are: education, accessibility, ease of use, friendliness, and security. These key factors determine the success of electronic banking in Zimbabwe. If this model is adopted it can assist Zimbabwe banks in new products development, improving service quality and therefore establish sustainable competitive advantage

The effectiveness and safety of micropulse transscleral cyclodiode photocoagulation therapy in glaucoma patients at Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa

Aim To determine the efficacy and safety of micropulse transscleral cyclodiode photocoagulation laser (MP-TSCPC), in terms of intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction, in refractory glaucoma eyes and in blind glaucomatous eyes that were not on antiglaucoma medications. Method 28 consecutive patients were prospectively recruited. Iridex G6 micropulse laser with its P3 probe was used. Baseline variables, including IOP, number of glaucoma medications and visual acuity (VA)were assessed. Success was set at a minimum of 20% reduction in baseline IOP, or a pressure drop to below 21mmHg at 6 months. Results Twenty-eight eyes of 15 female and 13 male glaucoma patients were enrolled. The mean baseline IOP was 40±11mmHg and the mean post laser pressures were 23±10mmHg at 1 week, 25±11mmHg at 4 weeks, 32±12mmHg at 12 weeks and 27±13mmHg at 24 months, representing a percentage drop of 40%, 35%, 30% and 35%, respectively. There was a reduction of one anti glaucoma agent in 11 (39%) patients. The overall success rate of MP-TSCPC was 71% with no serious complications noted. Conclusion In this small cohort of patients, micropulse transscleral laser cyclophotocoagulation was safe and effective in reducing IOP in glaucoma patients, with a success rate of 71%. Further studies are required to verify this finding

Inclusion for sustainable learning of hearing-and intellectually-impaired learners in a rural school context.

Doctoral Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.Abstract available in PDF

Compositional and lithological variation of the Platreef on the farm Nonnenwerth, northern lobe of the Bushveld complex : implications for the origin of Platinum-group elements (PGE) mineralization

Please read the abstract in the section 00front of this documentThesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2009.Geologyunrestricte

The petrography and geochemistry of the Platreef on the farm Townlands, near Potgietersrus, northern Bushveld Complex

The Platreef is a platinum group element (PGE) and base metal enriched mafic/ultramafic layer situated along the base of the northern (Potgietersrus) limb of the Bushveld Complex. It represents an important resource of PGE which is only in its early stages of exploitation. The present study contains a detailed petrographic and geochemical investigation of a borehole core drilled on the farm Townlands. At this locality, the Platreef rests on metasedimentary rocks of the Silverton Formation of the Transvaal Supergroup, and is comprised of three medium grained units of gabbronorite/feldspathic pyroxenite that are separated by hornfels interlayers. I refer to the three platiniferous layers as the Lower, Middle and Upper Platreef. The Middle Platreef is the main mineralized layer, with total PGE contents up to 4 ppm. The Lower and Upper Platreefs are less well mineralized (up to 1.5 ppm). Trace element and S-isotope data show compositional breaks between the different platiniferous layers suggesting that they represent distinct sill-like intrusions. The study also reveals a reversed differentiation trend of more primitive rocks towards the top of the succession. For example, pyroxene shows an increase in Cr2 O3 with height couples with a decrease in TiO2 . Olivine from the Upper Platreef has Fo contents between 80-83 (averaging Fo81) and those from the Middle Platreef have Fo from 78-83 (averaging Fo79 ). The Upper and Lower Platreefs have d 34S values averaging 80/00 while the Middle Platreef has d 34S values averaging 4 0 /00. All three Platreef layers have elevated d 34S values, indicating addition of 34S-enriched crustal sulphur. The model of contamination is supported by elevated K, Ca, Zr and Y contents in the Platreef relative to Critical Zone rocks from elsewhere in the Bushveld Complex, and by high Zr/Y ratios. Well defined correlations between concentrations of the individual PGE, and between the PGE and S suggest that the concentration of the PGE was controlled by segregating sulphide melt. Alteration of the rocks, possibly due to infiltration by fluids derived from the floor rocks, caused localized redistribution of Cu and, to a lesser degree, the PGE. A model is proposed whereby the Platreef magma assimilated calcsilicate and hornfels from the country rocks. The hornfels and calcsilicate of the Silverton Formation that forms the floor rocks to the Platreef on the farm Townlands constitute a possible source of the crystal sulphur. Release of S from the floor rocks caused S-supersaturation in the magma, followed by segregation of an immiscible sulphide melt. The sulphide melt scavenged the PGE from the silicate magma. The sulphides and the xenoliths were entrained by successive, metal-undepleted magma flows, causing high metal tenors in the sulphides and undepleted Ni contents in associated olivineDissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2006.Geologyunrestricte

Synthesis and evaluation of the medicinal potential of novel 4-hydroxycoumarin derivatives

Thesis (PhD)--Rhodes University, Faculty of Science, Chemistry, 202

Application of Baylis-Hillman methodology in the synthesis of HIV-1 enzyme inhibitors

The application of Baylis-Hillman methodology has afforded access to a range of β-hydroxypropionate ester-AZT conjugates as potential dual-action HIV-1 IN/RT inhibitors. Two families comprising a total of nine β-hydroxypropionate ester-AZT conjugates were synthesised. The first family was accessed using O-benzylated salicylaldehydes and methyl acrylate and the second from unprotected salicylaldehydes using tert-butyl acrylate as the activated alkene. Spectroscopic methods were employed to fully characterize the compounds. Propargylation of the respective Baylis-Hillman adducts was achieved via conjugate addition of propargylamine. The resulting products were then employed in Cu(I)-catalysed “click” reactions with azidothymidine (AZT) to yield the desired β-hydroxypropionate ester-AZT conjugates. Exploratory studies were also conducted to access 4-hydroxycoumarins from Baylis-Hillman derived adducts and to construct customized chiral Baylis-Hillman reaction sites. Many 4- hydroxycoumarins are known to exhibit a wide range of biological activities, and extending Baylis-Hillman methodology to access these systems is an important challenge. Two approaches were investigated. The first involved the formation of a 4-phthalimidocoumarin, aromatisation and hydrolysis of which was expected to lead to the 4-hydroxycoumarin target. The second, a variation of the first, involved the use of 4-(chrolomethyl)coumarin intermediates. Unfortunately, while various intermediates were prepared and characterised, neither approach led ultimately to the desired targets. N-substituted borneol-10-sulfonamides were constructed from camphor-10- sulfonyl chloride as chiral Baylis-Hillman reaction sites. In a preliminary study, however, none of the N-substituted borneol-10-sulfonamides exhibited Baylis-Hillman catalytic activity

A comparative study of fruit and vegetable consumption and its association with metabolic risk factors for non communicable diseases among rural and urban males in Zimbabwe

PurposeConsumption of fruits and vegetables reduces the prevalence of metabolic risk factors for NCDs. No studies assessing the relationship between fruit and vegetable consumption and metabolic risk factors for NCDs have been done in Zimbabwe. This study focused on the comparison of the consumption of fruits and vegetables between rural and urban settings and their relationships with metabolic risk factors for NCDs and demographic variables.MethodsA sample of 400 males was obtained from the two provinces, i.e., 200 men from Bulawayo (urban) and Mashonaland East (rural). The fruits and vegetables were measured using the World Health Organisation (WHO) stepwise questionnaire, which was translated in the Zimbabwean context.ResultsThe overall consumption of fruits and vegetables to the recommended level of 5 servings per day was 12. 1% (95 CI = 9.0–15.4). There were more people in rural settings (15.3, 95% CI 11.6–18.4) meeting the WHO recommended level of consumption of five servings of fruits and vegetables than urban settings (3.5, 95% CI 1.0–6.3; p < 0.001). The rural group had higher odds of having normal blood glucose level than the urban group (OR = 2.698; 95% CI = 1.796–4.053, p < 0.001). There was a 0.142-unit decline in blood glucose after adjusting for vegetable consumption (−0.142; 95% CI = −0.345 – −0.122, p < 0.033).ConclusionRural respondents consumed more vegetables and fruits than the urban respondents. The consumption of fruits and vegetables was associated with a decrease in blood glucose. There is a need for campaigns to educate the public on the importance of fruit and vegetable consumption to ensuring that dietary intake of fruits and vegetables is significantly improved