Chapter 8 Non- South African SADC Navies and Maritime Security in the Post- Cold War Era

Africa, Cape of Good Hope, maritime security, naval history, piracy, Suez Cana

The role of the judiciary in protecting the right to freedom of expression in difficult political environments: a case study of Zimbabwe

The right to freedom of expression is with no doubt one of the most important rights in all democratic societies. The southern African sub-region is however lacking when it comes to the protection of this right. There are either highly repressive laws which result in the right being practiced but to a limited extent. In other cases the media is owned by the elite in society which results in the majority not being represented in the independent media and at the same time, the public media is often abused by the governing elite. The scene is therefore that both the public media and private media are representative of the elite. The research seeks to explore the protection of human rights, particularly the right to freedom of expression in politically volatile environments. The research focuses on Zimbabwe but comparative analysis has also been drawn with other jurisdictions moreso South Africa. It is important to note that Zimbabwe has ratified both the International Covenant on Civil Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ rights both of which protect the right to freedom of expression. It is however not enough that states ratify international and regional instruments without domesticating the instruments at the national level. The domestication of the international and regional instruments is meant to ensure that individuals enjoy these rights. Freedom of expression is highly volatile in Zimbabwe. The legislature has been accused of taking away the right which has been granted to citizens by the Constitution through its highly repressive laws. The Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA), the Public Order and Security Act (POSA), and the Official Secrets Act are some of the laws which have been put under spotlight in Zimbabwe. There is therefore a conflict between the legislature, the press and individuals in Zimbabwe. In Zimbabwe like many democratic states, there is separation of powers between the legislature, the executive, and the judiciary. The legislature is the decision making structure that enacts policies in their capacity as representatives of the people; the judiciary is the mediating body that adjudicates decisions between the organs of state as well as between those organs and individuals and the executive enforces decisions. The findings of the research are that despite the ratification of international and regional instruments dealing with the right to freedom of expression and the protection of the right to freedom of expression in the constitution, there still exist repressive laws in Zimbabwe which to a great extent limit the right to freedom of expression. These laws in light of the prevailing environment in Zimbabwe are often used to deprive citizens and journalists of information and their right to freedom of expression. The judiciary finds itself in a difficult position as the executive does not comply with its rulings. The independence of the judiciary, in light of the environment is also compromised by the threats to the judges, the appointment process and ‘gifts’ given to the judges for example, farms. The research analyses the history and theories of freedom of freedom of expression in Zimbabwe, the laws regulating the right and the case law dealing with this right. Finally there is a comparison between Zimbabwe and South Africa and conclusions and recommendations are made based on the discussion in the dissertation. Among the recommendations is that civil society should be involved in educating individuals especially journalists about the right to freedom of expression. Further, the judiciary should also take a more proactive approach in the protection of the right

Finite-Size Scaling of the Level Compressibility at the Anderson Transition

We compute the number level variance $\Sigma_{2}$ and the level compressibility $\chi$ from high precision data for the Anderson model of localization and show that they can be used in order to estimate the critical properties at the metal-insulator transition by means of finite-size scaling. With $N$, $W$, and $L$ denoting, respectively, system size, disorder strength, and the average number of levels in units of the mean level spacing, we find that both $\chi(N,W)$ and the integrated $\Sigma_{2}$ obey finite-size scaling. The high precision data was obtained for an anisotropic three-dimensional Anderson model with disorder given by a box distribution of width $W/2$. We compute the critical exponent as $\nu \approx 1.45 \pm 0.12$ and the critical disorder as $W_{\rm c} \approx 8.59 \pm 0.05$ in agreement with previous transfer-matrix studies in the anisotropic model. Furthermore, we find $\chi\approx 0.28 \pm 0.06$ at the metal-insulator transition in very close agreement with previous results.Comment: Revised version of paper, to be published: Eur. Phys. J. B (2002

The Historicity of Media Regulation in Zambia; Examining the Proposed Statutory Self-Regulation

The media in Zambia have been in a state of uncertainty since Zambia reinstated democratic governance in the early 1990s. Despite promising initial steps to deregulate the media that started under President Chiluba’s government in the mid-1990s, achieving these objectives in successive years has proved difficult. Successive governments have exhibited increasing aversion towards free and independent media, instead increasing efforts to regulate. This is significant, because comparisons with Kaunda’s autocratic era before 1991 cast the state in a friendlier light towards the media, defying normative theories. After both the Media Ethics Council of Zambia and Zambia Media Ethics Council (ZAMEC) failed as self-regulatory mechanisms in the mid to late 2000s, current state efforts have turned to create a hybrid statutory self-regulatory framework. This is a challenge because Zambia’s democracy has come under pressure from increasing political intolerance. Furthermore, while media professionals support the idea of regulation to strengthen professionalism, they often disagree on the value of statutory self-regulation and its implications. This study used the In-Depth Interview approach on 23 media professionals and documentary analysis to sketch the history and future implications of media regulation efforts in Zambia. Results show a checkered past but present an even more complicated future. The history of the Independent Broadcasting Authority shows that the proposed statutory self-regulatory framework presents more challenges to the media than ever before. This paper aims to contribute to global media studies and specifically the problems of regulation, the state, and media freedom in an African context

The Anderson Transition in Two-Dimensional Systems with Spin-Orbit Coupling

We report a numerical investigation of the Anderson transition in two-dimensional systems with spin-orbit coupling. An accurate estimate of the critical exponent $\nu$ for the divergence of the localization length in this universality class has to our knowledge not been reported in the literature. Here we analyse the SU(2) model. We find that for this model corrections to scaling due to irrelevant scaling variables may be neglected permitting an accurate estimate of the exponent $\nu=2.73 \pm 0.02$

Determination of the minimum infusion rate (MIR) of alfaxalone required to prevent purposeful movement of the extremities in response to a standardised noxious stimulus in goats

OBJECTIVE : To determine the minimum infusion rate (MIR) of alfaxalone required to prevent purposeful movement of the extremities in response to noxious stimulation. STUDY DESIGN : Prospective, experimental.Animals Eight healthy goats; four does and four wethers. METHODS : Anaesthesia was induced with alfaxalone 3 mg kg 1 intravenously (IV). A continuous IV infusion of alfaxalone, initially at 0.2 mg kg 1 minute 1, was initiated. Following endotracheal intubation the goats breathed spontaneously via a circle breathing circuit delivering supplementary oxygen.The initial infusion rate was maintained for 30 minutes before testing for responses. The stimulus was clamping on the proximal (soft) part of one digit of the hoof with Vulsellum forceps for 60 seconds. In the absence or presence of purposeful movement of the extremities, the infusion ratewasreduced or increased by 0.02 mg kg 1 minute 1 and held constant for 30 minutes before claw-clamping again. Alfaxalone MIR was calculated as the mean of the infusion rates that allowed and abolished movement. Cardiorespiratory parameters were measured. Recovery from general anaesthesia was timed and quality scored. Results are presented as median (range). RESULTS : The MIR of alfaxalone was 0.16 (0.14– 0.18) mg kg 1 minute 1 or 9.6 (8.4–10.8) mg kg 1 hour 1. Induction of and recovery from anaesthesia were excitement-free. Cardio-respiratory changes were minimal, although compared to baseline HR increased, and at 2 minutes postinduction,(prior to oxygen supplementation), PaO2 decreased significantly from 84 (80–88) to 70 (51– 72) mmHg [11.2 (10.7–11.7) to 9.3 (6.8–9.6) kPa]. Sporadic muscle twitches, unrelated to depth of anaesthesia, were observed during the period of general anaesthesia. Time (minutes) to sternal recumbency and standing were 4.0 (3.0–10.0) and 41.5 (25.0–57.0) respectively. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE : Alfaxalone can be used for total intravenous anaesthesia (TIVA) in goats and is associated with minimal adverse effects. Oxygen supplementation is advised, especially when working at higher altitudes.Jointly funded by the National Research Foundation (NRF), the Beit Trust and the University of Pretoria.http://onlinelibrary.wiley.comjournal/10.1111/(ISSN)1467-29952016-01-31hb201

The minimum infusion rate of alfaxalone during its co-administration with lidocaine at three different doses by constant rate infusion in goats

OBJECTIVE : To determine the minimum infusion rate (MIR) of alfaxalone required to prevent purposeful movement in response to standardized stimulation while co-administered with lidocaine at three different doses by constant infusion rate infusion (CRI) in goats. STUDY DESIGN : Prospective, blinded, randomized crossover, experimental. ANIMALS : A total of eight healthy goats: four does and four wethers. METHODS: Anaesthetic induction was with lidocaine at 1 mg kg−1 [low dose of lidocaine (L-Lid)], 2 mg kg−1 [moderate dose (M-Lid)] or 4 mg kg−1 [high dose (H-Lid)] and alfaxalone at 2 mg kg−1. Anaesthetic maintenance was with alfaxalone initially at 9.6 mg kg−1 hour−1 combined with one of three lidocaine treatments: 3 mg kg−1 hour−1 (L-Lid), 6 mg kg−1 hour−1 (M-Lid) or 12 mg kg−1 hour−1 (H-Lid). The MIR of alfaxalone was determined by testing for responses to a stimulation in the form of clamping on a digit with a Vulsellum forceps every 30 minutes during lidocaine CRI. Basic cardiopulmonary parameters were measured. RESULTS : The alfaxalone MIRs were 8.64 (6.72–10.56), 6.72 (6.72–8.64) and 6.72 (6.72–6.72) mg kg−1 hour−1 during L-Lid, M-Lid and H-Lid, respectively, without any significant differences among treatments. Compared to the initial rate of 9.6 mg kg−1 hour−1, these reductions in MIR are equivalent to 10, 30 and 30%, respectively. Significant increases in heart rate (HR) and arterial carbon dioxide partial pressure (PaCO2) and decreases in arterial haemoglobin saturation (SaO2), arterial oxygen partial pressure (PaO2) and respiratory frequency (fR) immediately after induction were observed during all lidocaine treatments. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE : Lidocaine reduces the alfaxalone MIR by up to 30% with a tendency towards a plateauing in this effect at high CRIs. Immediate oxygen supplementation might be required to prevent hypoxaemia.The Beit Trust and National Research Foundation of South Africa.https://www.journals.elsevier.com/veterinary-anaesthesia-and-analgesia2019-05-01hj2018Companion Animal Clinical StudiesSchool of Health Systems and Public Health (SHSPH

Critical parameters for the one-dimensional systems with long-range correlated disorder

We study the metal-insulator transition in a tight-binding one-dimensional (1D) model with long-range correlated disorder. In the case of diagonal disorder with site energy within $[-\frac{W}{2},\frac{W}{2}]$ and having a power-law spectral density $S(k)\propto k^{-\alpha}$, we investigate the competition between the disorder and correlation. Using the transfer-matrix method and finite-size scaling analysis, we find out that there is a finite range of extended eigenstates for $\alpha>2$, and the mobility edges are at $\pm E_{c}=\pm|2-W/2|$. Furthermore, we find the critical exponent $\nu$ of localization length ($\xi \sim |E-E_{c}|^{-\nu}$) to be $\nu=1+1.4e^{2-\alpha}$. Thus our results indicate that the disorder strength $W$ determines the mobility edges and the degree of correlation $\alpha$ determines the critical exponents.Comment: 6 pages, 6 figure