The impact of current visa regime policy on tourism recovery and development in Zimbabwe

This paper reports the results on the impact of the current visa regime policy on tourism recovery and development in Zimbabwe. The focus was on finding out how the visa regime could impact on efforts to bring into the country more visitors following the decline in visitor inflows from 2000 to 2008. Data was collected from selected visitors from different member states which require visas to enter into the county in the period between January 2010 and July 2010.The findings shows that visa restrictions play a small part in discouraging visitors to visit Zimbabwe. The visa regime policy was designed in such a way that it was easy for passport holders from traditional markets to have relatively easy passage into Zimbabwe. It was also discovered that visa restrictions were part of international travel conditions but how to get the visa became the competitive advantage or disadvantage a destination can have compared with its competitors. Zimbabwe’s traditional markets believed that the visa was not difficult to get nor was it too expensive as to scare away visitors. However, the emerging markets such as China who are in Group C had problems getting the visa as they were required to apply for the visa before traveling to Zimbabwe

The efficacy of power sharing politics in Zimbabwe: Lessons from Malaysia

This paper looks at the changing political equation in Zimbabwe since the emergence of powerful opposition at the turn of the century. As a result new political players and entrepreneurs have entered the political market and in the process challenging the founding fathers of the nation. An unprecedented political and economic crisis added new complexities to the future of the country and political rules of the game. In this sense, a new political regime arose in the form of a power-sharing framework involving the main political players in 2008. So, what lessons can Zimbabwe learn from the Malaysian consociational arrangement? The central proposition of this paper is that Zimbabwe can learn a lot from Malaysia despite the apparent differing circumstances and dynamics between the two countries

The Impact of Oil Price Changes on FTSE/JSE Industry Indices Performance

The impact of oil price changes on stock market index of the JSE, South Africa, was examined using NARDL model using 2008 -2017 monthly data of aggregated industrial indices. All-Share index was incorporated in the estimation equation to represent market factors. The results indicate that in the short-term, the indices responded asymmetrically to oil price changes whilst in the long-term they responded symmetrically. Oil & Gas, Industrials, Consumers services and Technology indices followed oil price change direction whereas Consumer goods and Financials indices opposed oil price change direction. Healthcare and Telecommunications responded in one direction irrespective oil price change direction

Accumulation of multiple heavy metals in plants grown on soil treated with sewage sludge for more than 50 years presents health risks and an opportunity for phyto-remediation

Long-term application of sewage leads to heavy metal accumulation in soils, causing serious risks to plants, humans, animals and the environment, and phytoremediation could be essential. A study was conducted to determine the concentration of heavy metals in self-seeding vegetables, amaranthus (Amaranthus dubius), tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), black nightshade (Solanum nigrum), Rumex pulcher and turf grass, grown on land treated with sewage sludge for over 50 years. A pot experiment was conducted to determine phytoremediation potential of Indian mustard (Brassica juncea), lucern (Medicago sativa), vetch (Vicia sativa), rape (Brassica napus) and ryegrass (Lolium perenne), using the same soil. Another pot experiment was conducted to determine effects on tissue metal composition of Indian mustard of adding increasing concentrations of EDTA. All the self-seeding vegetables had tissue Zn, Cu, Cr, Ni, Cd and Pb concentrations higher than toxicity thresholds. Turf grass tissue had higher concentrations of all the metals than all the self-seeding vegetables growing on the soil. Indian mustard and rape had the highest biomass and tissue concentration of most of the metals studied. Addition of EDTA to the soil drastically increased uptake of Zn, Cu, Cd and Pb but not Cr and Ni. The findings of this study imply that self-seeding vegetables and turf grass growing on the polluted soils pose serious health risks and that Indian mustard, and to some extent rape, have potential for phytoremediation, especially if grown on the soil treated with EDTA.Keywords: heavy metals, phytoremediation, risk, sewage sludge, turf grass, uptak

Poly(acrylonitrile/methyl acrylate) copolymers and clay nanocomposites : structural and property relationships

Thesis (MSc (Chemistry and Polymer Science))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009.Thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science (Polymer Science) at University of Stellenbosch.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The preparation of poly(acrylonitrile/methyl acrylate) [poly(AN-co-MA)] copolymers and poly(AN-co-MA)/clay nanocomposites, via emulsion polymerization, their characterisation, and the relationships between their molecular structures and physical properties are described. The copolymer composition was varied, and the properties of the products were analysed and correlated to copolymer composition. The free volume properties of the copolymer were dependent on the glass transition temperature (Tg), which is dependant on the copolymer composition. The copolymer crystallinity decreased with increasing MA content. The decrease in crystallinity and increase in both o-Ps lifetime and o-Ps intensity with decreasing Tg was caused by the enhanced chain mobility brought about by the incorporation of methyl acrylate. The poly(acrylonitrile-co-methyl acrylate)/clay nanocomposites with 60% AN:40% MA (mol:mol) ratio were prepared using montmorillonite clay modified via adsorption, using 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulphonic acid (AMPS), via in-situ intercalation polymerization. The poly(AN-co-MA)/clay nanocomposites with different clay loadings showed no difference in morphology. They exhibited improved thermomechanical properties and higher thermal stability than the neat copolymers. The melt rheology results of these nanocomposites showed an improved storage modulus as well as increased shear thinning behaviour with increasing clay content. However, the nanocomposites exhibited long-time relaxation behaviour and their chemical structures evolved during analysis. This was attributed to cyclisation reactions taking place at the temperature used during the oscillatory tests. The sorption isotherms of water vapour in these nanocomposites followed a dualmode sorption behaviour (BET type II mode). Hysteresis was observed in sorption/desorption isotherms of these nanocomposites. The equilibrium water uptake was higher in the nanocomposites compared to the neat copolymers, and it increased with increasing clay content, especially at high water activities (0.8). Although diffusion and permeability decreased with increasing clay content the solubility increased due to the hydrophilic nature of the clay. Despite the decrease in diffusion and permeability parameters the free volume hole radius of the nanocomposites remained constant, but a slight decrease in free volume hole number was observed.AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die bereiding van poli(akrilonitriel/metielakrilaat) [poli(AN-ko-MA)] kopolimere en poli(AN-ko-MA)/klei nanosamestellings deur middel van emulsiepolimerisasie, hul karakterisering asook die ooreenkoms tussen hul molekulêre strukture en fisiese eienskappe is beskryf. Die kopolimeersamestelling is gevarieer, en eienskappe is geanaliseer en dan gekorreleer met die kopolimeersamestelling. Die vrye-volume eienskappe van die kopolimeer was afhanklik van die glasoorgangstemperatuur (Tg) wat weer afhanklik is van die kopolimeersamestealling. Die kristalliniteit van die kopolimeer het verminder met die hoeveelheid MA teenwoordig. Die afname in kristalliniteit en toename in beide die o-Ps leeftyd en o-Ps intensiteit met afname in Tg is veroorsaak deur die beter kettingbeweegbaarheid wat veroorsaak is deur die byvoeging van metielakrilaat. Die poli(akrilonitriel-ko-metielakrilaat)/klei nanosamestellings met 60% AN:40% MA (mol:mol) verhouding is berei deur die gebruik van montmorillonietklei, gemodifiseer deur die adsorpsie van 2-akrielamido-2-metiel-1-propaansulfoonsuur (AMPS) deur middel van 'n in-situ interkaleringspolimerisasie. Die poli(AN-ko-MA)/klei nanosamestellings het, ten spyte van die verskillende hoeveelhede klei wat gebruik is, geen verandering in morfologie getoon nie. Hulle het wel beter termodinamiese eienskappe en hoër termiese stabiliteit as die oorspronklike kopolimere getoon. Die smeltreologie resultate van hierdie nanosamestellings het ‘n beter stoormodulus getoon, sowel as toenemende skuifverdunningsgedrag met 'n verhoogde klei inhoud. Tog het die nanosamestellings lang tyd-ontspanningsgedrag getoon en die chemiese struktuur het verander tydens analise. Dit word toegeskryf aan die sikliese reaksies wat plaasvind by die temperatuur wat gebruik is tydens die ossillatoriese toetse. Die sorpsie isoterme van waterdamp in hierdie nanosamestellings het ‘n dubbel-styl sorpsiegedrag gevolg (BET tipe II styl). Histerese is waargeneem in sorpsie/desorpsie isoterme van hierdie nanosamestellings. Die ewewig in wateropname van die nanosamestellings was hoër as vir dié van die oorspronklike kopolimere en dit het toegeneem met 'n toenemende klei inhoud, veral by hoë humiditeit (0.8). Al het die diffusie en deurlaatbaarheid afgeneem met 'n toename in die klei inhoud, het die oplosbaarheid toegeneem as gevolg van die hidrofiliese karakter van die klei. Ten spyte van die afname in diffusie en deurlaatbaarheidsparameters, het die radius van die vryevolume openinge van die nanosamestellings konstant gebly, maar ‘n klein afname in die aantal vrye-volume openinge is gevind

The competitiveness and performance of the Zimbabwe poultry industry

Thesis M.Com. (Development Theory and Policy) -- University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Commerce, 2014This dissertation analyzes the competitiveness and performance of the Zimbabwean poultry industry in the context of trade liberalization, given that both poultry output and the main inputs (animal feed and breeding stock) are tradable. Poultry is an important product as the main source of protein for consumers. It also has strong links to agriculture through the production of animal feed. Despite the rise in chicken demand over the years as a cheap source of protein, the poultry industry in Zimbabwe still faces a number of challenges which the government claims include stiff competition from cheap imports, rising input costs of maize and soya meal and illegal imports being sold at sub-economic prices. This study evaluates these factors and the impact of changing trade protection. The methodology used in this study is both qualitative and quantitative. An analysis is done on trade tariffs particularly focusing on their effect to the poultry industry. Disaggregated trade and tariff data was used to analyze the evolution of tariff regime in the industry and to calculate the effective rate of protection of the poultry sector. A value chain approach was used to understand the linkages and interests that exist in this industry. The poultry industry has been affected by imports starting 2007 and has not been exporting since then as the industry struggled to compete on the domestic market. The study showed that the effective rate of protection calculation is complicated by the different trade regimes which currently exist. If the main international competition is from South Africa then the existence of the bi-lateral agreement between Zimbabwe and South Africa means that the poultry sector has not been protected. The study has shown that the breeding subsector is characterized by a duopoly since there are only two breeding firms in Zimbabwe and the comparison carried out revealed that Zimbabwean prices of day old chicks are above those of comparable countries in the region such as South Africa. The study shows that prices for GMO maize used in South Africa are substantially cheaper than Zimbabwean prices, thereby making Zimbabwean producers uncompetitive. The study recommends policies that attract investment in the breeding sub-sector of the value chain to increase competition, a review of GMO maize policy and reducing tariffs of imported raw materials used in the poultry industry

Typological characterisation of farms in a smallholder food-cash crop production system in Zimbabwe – opportunities for livelihood sustainability

The diversity of smallholder farms in space, resource endowment, production and consumption decisions are often a hindrance to the design, targeting, implementation and scaling out of agricultural development projects. Understanding farm heterogeneity is crucial in targeting interventions that can potentially contribute to improved crop productivity, food security and livelihood sustainability. The study sought to define and understand farm typology in a resettlement smallholder food-cash crop production area in Zimbabwe. Data was collected from five focus group discussions (FGDs), and 102 household interviews. Principal component analysis (PCA), multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) and cluster analysis were used to analyse quantitative and qualitative data variables and aggregate farms into clusters according to production means, socio-economics and demographics. The three identified farm types were (i) resource-endowed, commercial oriented farms, (ii) medium resourced and (iii) resource constrained farms practising subsistence and income oriented production. Labour was cited as a major challenge, with high labour cost relevant for type I farms, while household size has more bearing for type II and III farms. Ownership of tillage implements and operations varied from mechanised on resource endowed farms, to animal drawn on some medium and resource constrained farms. The farms exhibited variable livelihood strategies and all clusters exhibited market participation, albeit to varying extents. Thus strengthening of market links is imperative. Use of multivariate methods allowed for identification of the most discriminating variables for farm delineation and subsequent clustering of farms forms the basis for further exploring variability across farm types for the targeting of management interventions for livelihood sustainability

The implementation of peace and security programme initiative in Nigeria: The role of NEPAD

The New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) as an Agency of the African Union was established in 2001 by the African leaders with the view of eradicating poverty in Africa.The NEPAD programme initiatives encompasses the political, economic and social-cultural development of the African states through partnership with the private and public sectors, the international community and countries in and outside Africa.Through thematic areas of NEPAD such as, democracy and political governance has encompassed the peace and security programme initiative of NEPAD as a priority to be achieved. This then forms the objective of this paper to be studied considering the insecurity challenges that faced the Nigerian state as a member of the African Union and co-initiator of the NEPAD programme initiative.Since 2009, the Nigerian state is faced with the activities of the Boko Haram militant group whose engagement has led to activities such as burning and bombing of people’s houses, churches, Mosques and public buildings, killing of innocent lives including but not limited to both Christians and Muslims, attack on security operatives and schools which include bombing of structures.This paper therefore, is to study the strategic plan of NEPAD in implementing the peace and security objective for the purpose of promoting peace and political stability in Nigeria.The methodology adopted in this research is the review of previous literature, the use of descriptive, historical, and interpretative methods of analysis, with the available research materials. The findings thus reveal that, issues such as zoning of political and elective positions should be addressed in the Nigerian constitution in order to accommodate the six geopolitical zones so as to promote unity, political stability, peace and security within the Nigerian state

Assessing soil carbon and carbon dioxide effluxes under different vegetation cover conditions in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

Albany thicket is prevalent in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Its spread has diminished through overgrazing and heavy browsing by animals, land clearance and urban expansion. The result is highly degraded land characterized by invasion of alien species. There is a wealth of documented evidence on the high carbon sequestration ability of thicket biome, but not much has been done to assess its effect on carbon dioxide emissions from the soil. Given that the concentration of atmospheric greenhouse gases has been constantly rising since the industrial era, it is imperative to assess the influence of thicket biome as a source or sink of these gases. There is evidence of shifts in the climate in southern Africa as reflected by changes in rainfall patterns, increased temperatures, recurrent droughts and fires. As such, the historical rainfall variability in an Albany thicket region and its interaction with the temporal land use / cover changes was studied. This served to give some background information about the study area for more detailed study on C and carbon dioxide effluxes in thicket vegetation under different levels of degradation. This study thus aimed to determine the influence of thicket vegetation at various levels of degradation on soil carbon and carbon dioxide fluxes. The impact of plant photosynthetic pathway on soil C residence time and gas effluxes were analysed to elucidate on the land-use and cover patterns occurring in the area. All this was done to shed some light on the role of soil and thicket vegetation on carbon dioxide emissions and C storage in the spectrum of a shifting climate. The main area of research was Amakhala reserve in an Albany thicket in Eastern Cape Province; and it concentrated on three land cover types namely intact thicket, degraded thicket and grassland. The objectives mentioned above were achieved by assessing historical rainfall variability from 1970 to 2010 through trend and time series analysis at nine rainfall stations located at Amakhala reserve, Grahamstown, Bathurst, Port Alfred, Uitenhage and Port Elizabeth. The land use changes that have occurred in the Albany thicket region covering Amakhala reserve, Grahamstown, Bathurst and Port Alfred were also assessed for 1989, 1999 and 2009 through satellite image analysis with Idrisi Andes GIS software; then their interaction with rainfall variability were determined. To elucidate on the vegetation species composition and land use / cover changes that have occurred in the study area, plant biomass as well carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) isotope measurements were done. Plant biomass was assessed for the dominant species through use of pre-existing allometric equations that required data on plant basal diameter, canopy area, stem numbers and height. The plant carbon was then estimated through use of a conversion factor of 0.48 on above-ground biomass, while soil organic C was determined through the modified Walkely - Black method. Carbon and N isotope ratios were determined from the foliar material of three replicate samples of dominant plant species then analyzed through mass spectrometry. Soil carbon dioxide effluxes were then monitored in each of the intact thicket (IT), degraded thicket (DT) and grassland (G) over a 10 month period; by measuring the net carbon dioxide exchange rate (NCER) through the dynamic chamber method. An automated carbon dioxide exchange analyzer, coupled to a soil temperature probe and photosynthetic active radiation (PAR) sensor was used; with NCER measurements taken every 20-30 days. Soil temperature, moisture, penetration resistance and PAR readings were taken during each assay and later used to interpret the NCER. Results showed that long term variability in annual rainfall had a declining trend at Grahamstown (r = -0.59), Uitenhage and Bathurst stations (r = -0.32 at both stations), but was not significant at Amakhala, Port Alfred and Port Elizabeth stations. Most reductions in rainfall occurred in the 1980s and 1990s with the autumn, winter and summer rainfalls, the daily rainfall index and the daily rainfall subclasses of 10 mm and above showing a similar trend. The land use change detection gave a significant increase in proportion of degraded and transformed (moderately degraded) land between 1989 and 2009 with most of the increases occurring from 1989 to 1999, while farmland area decreased by 1.8 percent over the years. Thus the Albany region had over 30 percent of its land occupied by transformed vegetation, with heavy browsing and uncontrolled grazing being attributed to the destruction of pristine vegetation. Land-use change to game ranching and goat pastoralism was attributed to the reduction in farmland. Rainfall variability – land use change linkages were most significant in 1999 that recorded the least rainfall and had the lowest mean, maximum and sum of the NDVI. Grahamstown had the most significant rainfall-NDVI trends as it had the lowest NDVIs in 1999 when rainfall was lowest, the highest NDVI in 1989 when rainfall was highest and moderate NDVIs in 2009 when rainfall was moderate. Vegetation at the IT was characterized by a dense thicket with diverse growth forms of canopy trees, woody shrubs, succulent shrubs and ephemerals which mostly had the C3 type of pathway. This was in contrast with the IT soil isotopy that showed more positive C isotope ratios, indicating a switch between C3 and CAM photosynthesis in original vegetation. Most of the canopy trees had disappeared in the DT to be replaced by herbs, shrubs and grasses. As such, there was a huge difference in isotope ratios between DT plants and soils with the plants having mostly C3 metabolism while the soil showed a predominance of CAM plants in previous vegetation, indicating significant changes in land cover. The G site mostly comprised the grasses Themeda triandra and Panicum maximum and a few herbs. It maintained a dominance of C4 metabolism in both plants and soils showing very little change in species composition over the years. Because of the higher species diversity at IT, its soil organic C was quite high reaching levels of 3.4 percent (i.e. 3.4 t C / ha) in the top 10 cm then decreasing with depth (p < 0.001); but was moderate at DT (1.1-1.3 percent) and very low at G ( 0.5 percent C) (p < 0.001). In the same manner above-ground biomass was highest at IT i.e. 330 000 kg/ha; but was only 22 000 kg/ha in DT and as low as 6 700 kg/ha in G vegetation. High biomass at IT was mostly attributed to the succulent shrub Portulacaria afra and the canopy trees Euclea undulate, Rhus longispina and Schotia afra. This above-ground biomass translated to biomass C amounts of 158 000 kg/ha at IT, 10 600 kg/ha at DT and 3 200 kg/ha at G. Thus the IT had the highest while G the least and DT moderate plant and soil C sequestration ability. In all, the conversion of IT to DT led to a net loss of 147 000 Kg of biomass C / ha and 12 000kg less organic C / ha of land. Soil carbon dioxide effluxes were however variable between seasons as they were affected by differences in soil properties and seasonal weather patterns. High soil moisture levels (up to 16 percent gravimetric moisture) resulted in reduced soil penetration resistance (1 to 4 Kg/cm2) which raised effluxes at G and DT sites (up to 1.2 μmols m-2 sec-1) in winter, while low moisture (2 percent) resulted in hard dry soil (14 Kgm-2 penetration resistance) with suppressed CO2 effluxes in spring (0.2 μmols m-2 sec-1) especially in DT and G soils. Rising temperature generally caused accelerated gas emissions but only when moisture was not limiting (as was the case in IT). Thus the high summer temperatures (up to 40oC) gave lower effluxes especially in DT and G (< 1 μm-2sec-1) due to limited moisture supply (< 10 percent); while the Autumn period that had very high temperature (up to 48 oC) and good moisture (up to 16 percent) saw accelerated soil CO2 emissions (averaging 2 μmols m-2 sec-1) from all cover types. The high biomass and litter fall at IT served as ready substrate for soil respiration as long as moisture was not limiting and temperatures were favourable, while reduced cover at DT resulted in poor moisture conservation and creation of hard dry soils in spring and summer with reduced respiration. It was concluded that the DT had high CO2 effluxes in winter and reduced emissions in summer; while the opposite was true for the IT. All the cover types had minimal CO2 effluxes in spring and accelerated emissions in autumn. The grassland on the other hand was a fairly moderate source or sink of CO2 in most seasons compared with the other two covers. It was observed that an environment of good moisture and low-moderate temperatures (such as that in the winter) minimises effluxes while maintaining good plant productivity. It was concluded that thicket vegetation is a good sink of carbon that should be preserved in its natural condition to optimize its carbon sequestration potential. All three land covers served as sources or sinks of CO2 depending on soil and seasonal conditions. Thus high moisture and low penetration resistance generally increased effluxes of thicket ecosystems. The effect of increasing temperature on effluxes was only significant when moisture was not limiting. Conditions of good moisture and low-moderate temperatures gave reasonable amounts of effluxes while maintaining good plant productivity. Though the dry soil conditions significantly reduced effluxes in all land covers; they were not desirable since they decreased plant productivity and ultimately its C sequestration potential. Moreover, prolonged dry conditions only serve to exacerbate recovery of thicket plants as they increase mortality of canopy species in degraded and transformed areas in comparison with intact thicket

THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE LEGISLATIVE CORRUPT PRACTICES ON THE DEMOCRATIC CONSOLIDATION IN THE NIGERIA'S FOURTH REPUBLIC

This study analyses the corrupt practices in the Nigerian democracy with specific reference to national legislatures. Using thematic analysis after conducting semi structured interviews, the paper argues that, legislative corrupt practices have become one of the greatest threats to the Nigeria democratic consolidation; it reveals that, corrupt practices are responsible for the poor implementation of public policies in health, education and other infrastructures, it also contributes to the youth unemployment, poverty and national crisis. The paper opines that, corrupt practices of legislative members are inimical and obstacle to democratic consolidation in Nigeria, since the legislature is an institution that is expected to consolidate democracy. Until the institution has been strengthened in its oversight function, scrupulous screening of the legislature is undertaken before the election, the strengthening of recall back mechanism, and the comprehensive approach to deter corrupt practices by the anti-graft institutions, consolidated democracy would not be attained in Nigeria