Opportunities Threats and Challenges in Anarchistic and Autarkic States-Utopian States versus Dystopian States-Plight of Communities and Individuals in the Modern World

This research looks at the hypothetical state of no governments and no external trade, the autarky situation as well as the ideal utopian democratic state juxtaposed as Utopia versus Dystopia. This essay is motivated by the current world situation of global internet connectivity which transcends borders and defies government regulation. The essay focuses on examining what opportunities would be presented in a situation of no government and also what challenges and threats would exist in such an instance bordering on Dystopia. The paper comprises findings that have been drawn from analyzing the different opinions, facts and findings from researchers on the topic of public policy. It fundamentally addresses the question from an assumption that there were no governments and concludes by drawing on the importance of public policy and why this is essential in order to avoid anarchy that arises as a result of not having laws and regulations to control the behaviors of societies and individuals in those Hobbesian societies. The findings in the paper are that a state of no government presents itself as a state of confusion and that it descends into the extreme form of a totally unregulated free market capitalist approach for communities and societies. This, in the end, results in lawlessness that to an extent permits the emergence of anarchist states where the rich take advantage of their power and become more powerful than societies or states as exemplified by the MNCs. The purpose of government is to provide essential services and ensure that the rights of individuals are protected. Without the regulatory and protective umbrella of government, the concept of protection and extending the benefits of external trade become the preserve of rich individuals who may brutally exploit and assault the poor to the point of enslavement and exploitation

Understanding Postgraduate Student Preferences for University Choice in Zambia: The Case of ZCAS University

The aim of this study was to ascertain the university brand model that characterizes postgraduate student choice of ZCAS University. The brand model comprises brand attributes that attract postgraduate students to the university, the information sources they consult, who influences their decisions and what makes the university unique. The study was qualitative in design, while sampling of research participants was done purposively. Three focus group discussions involving seventeen first years part time and open distance e-learning postgraduate students, and five semi-structured interviews with marketing and recruitment staff at ZCAS University were used to collect data on the brand model. Thematic analysis and content analysis were then used as the primary data analysis techniques. Results of the study revealed that reputation, teaching quality, student support, fees and facilities were the top five ZCAS University brand traits that underpin postgraduate students’ choice of the university. With respect to competitive advantage, facilities, teaching quality reputation and accreditations are perceived to be the university’s primary unique characteristics. The study further identified friends, self, workmate and family as the greatest influencers of postgraduate student choice of the university; while websites, social media, print media and television are believed to be the most consulted information sources by prospective postgraduate students

The Impact of Youth Unemployment on the Zambian Economy

This research looks at the issue of youth unemployment and how this affects the Zambian economy. The paper focuses on examining how the productive age in Zambia has been disadvantaged by the introduction of some regulations and policies. The paper brings into perspective the shrinking employment opportunities for the youth and how this effects productivity in key economic sectors such as mining, agriculture and the private sector. The findings indicate that the increase in the pensionable age disadvantages the youth and further increases the unemployment rate for the youth and women. The findings have also brought out the challenges that are faced by the unemployed youth and how they have been forced to engage in crime and political violence in order for them to make a living. The youth in Zambia represent 60% of the total employable age yet instead of being in well-paying and productive jobs; they are involved in crime, prostitution, drug abuse and alcohol abuse. The research outcomes also indicate that the definitions of a youth in the Zambian youth policy and the definitions of a youth by the United Nations are different and this may pose a challenge in terms of statistics and planning purposes. The paper takes a secondary research approach by reviewing research findings that have been drawn from analysing the different opinions, facts and findings from researchers on the topic of youth unemployment and government policies and laws on youth employment. Indicators from the findings are that youth unemployment is a global problem, which affects even rich countries such as the UK that has a huge GDP than that of Zambia. The conclusion in the paper is that there is a direct connection between youth unemployment and economic growth and that governments must ensure that they put youth employment at the centre of national economic planning. Keywords: unemployment, youth, government, economy, policy, labour, productivity DOI: 10.7176/JESD/11-6-09 Publication date:March 31st 202

COVID-19 Destructive Aftermath with Greater Opportunity for Innovation and Marketing in Zambia's Industries

COVID-19 is perhaps the most feared pandemic of the 20th century not because of its mortality rate but rather because of its impact on the world economies. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), COVID-19 has so far claimed one million lives world over against an accumulated 38.4 million infections globally(World Health Organisation, 2020). Although the mortality rate of COVID-19 cannot be quantified yet it is said to be relatively low.Health experts still argue that the pandemic is ongoing and we might see an increase in thenumber of infections. However, with the possibility of a vaccinebeing developedlooming, it may not be the case. It is predicted not to surpass the mortality of earlier pandemics such as the Spanish flu and others(Visitsak , et al., 2020).IJSRED-International Journal of Scientific Research and Engineering Developmen

A Measurement of the 2022 Budget Allocations on Marketing Performance Across Key Economic Sectors: A Zambian Perspective

The Ministry of Finance in Zambia announced a 173 billion national budget with an increase of CDF funds. The increase in CDF funds is expected to result into high economic growth and ultimately increase marketing performance across the key economic sectors which are Agriculture, Tourism, Mining and commerce. This research measures the impact of the 2022 resource allocations on the marketing performance in each key economic sector. There has been no measure of the relationship between budgetary allocations and marketing performance across the key economic sectors particularly for the 2022 national budget. The research used a survey with 110 respondents who provided answers to address the research questions. The major finding was that there is a relationship between resource allocation and marketing performance across the economic growth sectors

Enhanced infection prophylaxis reduces mortality in severely immunosuppressed HIV-infected adults and older children initiating antiretroviral therapy in Kenya, Malawi, Uganda and Zimbabwe: the REALITY trial

Meeting abstract FRAB0101LB from 21st International AIDS Conference 18–22 July 2016, Durban, South Africa. Introduction: Mortality from infections is high in the first 6 months of antiretroviral therapy (ART) among HIV‐infected adults and children with advanced disease in sub‐Saharan Africa. Whether an enhanced package of infection prophylaxis at ART initiation would reduce mortality is unknown. Methods: The REALITY 2×2×2 factorial open‐label trial (ISRCTN43622374) randomized ART‐naïve HIV‐infected adults and children >5 years with CD4 <100 cells/mm3. This randomization compared initiating ART with enhanced prophylaxis (continuous cotrimoxazole plus 12 weeks isoniazid/pyridoxine (anti‐tuberculosis) and fluconazole (anti‐cryptococcal/candida), 5 days azithromycin (anti‐bacterial/protozoal) and single‐dose albendazole (anti‐helminth)), versus standard‐of‐care cotrimoxazole. Isoniazid/pyridoxine/cotrimoxazole was formulated as a scored fixed‐dose combination. Two other randomizations investigated 12‐week adjunctive raltegravir or supplementary food. The primary endpoint was 24‐week mortality. Results: 1805 eligible adults (n = 1733; 96.0%) and children/adolescents (n = 72; 4.0%) (median 36 years; 53.2% male) were randomized to enhanced (n = 906) or standard prophylaxis (n = 899) and followed for 48 weeks (3.8% loss‐to‐follow‐up). Median baseline CD4 was 36 cells/mm3 (IQR: 16–62) but 47.3% were WHO Stage 1/2. 80 (8.9%) enhanced versus 108(12.2%) standard prophylaxis died before 24 weeks (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) = 0.73 (95% CI: 0.54–0.97) p = 0.03; Figure 1) and 98(11.0%) versus 127(14.4%) respectively died before 48 weeks (aHR = 0.75 (0.58–0.98) p = 0.04), with no evidence of interaction with the two other randomizations (p > 0.8). Enhanced prophylaxis significantly reduced incidence of tuberculosis (p = 0.02), cryptococcal disease (p = 0.01), oral/oesophageal candidiasis (p = 0.02), deaths of unknown cause (p = 0.02) and (marginally) hospitalisations (p = 0.06) but not presumed severe bacterial infections (p = 0.38). Serious and grade 4 adverse events were marginally less common with enhanced prophylaxis (p = 0.06). CD4 increases and VL suppression were similar between groups (p > 0.2). Conclusions: Enhanced infection prophylaxis at ART initiation reduces early mortality by 25% among HIV‐infected adults and children with advanced disease. The pill burden did not adversely affect VL suppression. Policy makers should consider adopting and implementing this low‐cost broad infection prevention package which could save 3.3 lives for every 100 individuals treated