Browsing by Title
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Molomo, M.G. (Pula: Botswana Journal of African Studies, NaN, 2000)[more][less]
Abstract: Electoral systems are manipulative instruments that determine how elections are won and lost. Botswana is widely regarded as a frontrunner in democratic politics, but the electoral system that it operates has been wanting in some respects. Tthe First-past-the-post system has helped to consolidate democratic practice, and also provides for an effective link between Members of Parliament and their constituencies, but empirical evidence suggests that it is the least democratic electoral system. Its winner-take-all practic distorts electoral outcomes, and often produces minority governments. The article proceeds to discuss proportional representation (PR) and semi-proportional representation, and outlines their strengths and weaknesses. The paper concludes that since both the FPTP system and PR systems have inherent limitations, the best system would be one that draws on the best aspects of each system. The anicle recommends a variation of the Mixed-Member Proportionality system. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/900 Files in this item: 1
Molomo2_PBJAS_2000.pdf (880.6Kb) -
Mwikisa, P. (University of Botswana, Department of English, http://www.ub.bw, NaN, 2008)[more][less]
Abstract: The paper offers a reading of Shakespeare's the Tempest, Othelo and Titus Andronicus that sees the plays' black characters as disporic protagonists seeking alternative constructions of difference from those that are demanded by the dominant white patriarchal culture. The paper deploys two fairly well-known strategies for non-canonical readings of canonical texts. Firstly, the apocryphal approach offers an account of the significance of the fact that details of the origins of the black characters in the plays seem suppressed. Secondly, drawing on post colonial discourse of the body, the paper reads the characters themselves as texts or spaces in which conflicting discourses can be written and read.I argue that reading the plays this way helps us to understand the struggles of diasporic characters as they attempt to inscribe their presence in the dominant cultures of the west and also to see in their struggles reflections of the trajectory of texts from marginalized communities in the era of global multinational capitalism. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/853 Files in this item: 1
Mwikisa_MJLL_2008.pdf (3.718Mb) -
Kiker, G.; Munoz-Carpena, R.; Wolski, P.; Cathey, A.; Gaughan, A.; Kim, J. (Inderscience, http://www.inderscience.com, NaN, 2008)[more][less]
Abstract: In this paper, we present a review and conceptual design to integrate hydrological/ecological models, global uncertainty and sensitivity analysis, integrative modelling and decision analysis for complex and adaptive transboundary challenges. The research uses the transboundary issues within the Okavango River basin, a shared water resource among the nations of Angola, Namibia and Botswana, as an example for constructing these integrated tools. The objective of this paper is to present a design that integrates a set of tools that builds systematically on past basin modelling research to incorporate the inherent uncertainty within the system and its application for answering practical management questions. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/864 Files in this item: 1
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Sebudubudu, D. (Made Plain Commucation, NaN, 2008)[more][less]
Abstract: Botswana has since 1965 held nine successive multi-party elections, making it Africa's longest running democracy. Although elections are high tension events, they have not sparked violence in Botswana- a rare feature in the African continent. This chapter provides an assessment on how the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) contributes to the national integrity system of the country. This chapter examines the role and structure of the commission; the resources it accounts for; its mechanisms for redress, as well as its relationship with other national integrity pillars. The aim of this assessment is to provide an overview of the laws that establish and govern the commission, and the practical situation. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/592 Files in this item: 1
Sebudubudu_TACB_2008.pdf (1.331Mb) -
Ringrose, S.; Vanderpost, C.; Matheson, W.; Wolski, P.; Huntsman-Mapila, P.; Murray-Hudson, M.; Jellema, A. (Elsevier Ltd; www.elsevier.com/locate/jaridenv, January NaN, 2007)[more][less]
Abstract: This work seeks to determine whether riparian woody plant variables respond to drying and salinity regimes in the semi-arid distal Okavango Delta, northern Botswana. Structural and compositional variables were obtained from 47 field sites. Mapping using satellite imagery illustrated differences in the character of riparian zones in terms of species composition and provided data on flood frequency. Salinity data plots show increases downstream. Results imply that woody plant variables respond to desiccation-driven change due to water-table lowering (reduced recharge) and increased salinization through distinct changes in tree and shrub height, plant density and species richness. In the wetter, intermediate distributaries, key biotic indicators of ecosystem change comprise structural variables such as decreases in canopy cover per cent and tree height and increases of shrub height, which are indicative of mainly ground-water declines. Biotic indicators in the less frequently flooded receiver channels comprise plant density and species richness increases involving mainly brackish ground-water-tolerant and dryland species which are indicative of both ground-water declines and/or salinization. These indicators could provide useful parameters for use in long- and short-term monitoring aimed at assessing desiccation-driven change in different parts of the Okavango Delta and possibly other semi-arid wetlands. The indicators are important as a less-expensive alternative to drilling as a means of verifying ground-water declines and/or salinization. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/161 Files in this item: 2
license.txt (1.998Kb)Ringrose_et_al_JAE_07.pdf (1.322Mb) -
Malumbela, G.; Moyo, P.; Alexander, M. (Elsevier http://www.elsevier.com/locate/conbuiltmat, NaN, 2011)[more][less]
Abstract: Corrosion crack widths are often used by structural engineers in the field to predict level of steel corrosion as well as residual load-bearing capacities of corroding RC structures. This paper presents further work on this matter but with focus on corrosion crack patterns and how they affect rate of crack widening. It is based on results from a research where 17 quasi-full-scale (153 254 3000 mm) RC beams were corroded under various levels of sustained loads. The rate of widening of corrosion crack widths was found to be very much dependent on crack patterns. Deformation of cover concrete under each crack pattern was discussed. It was found that at maximum crack widths below 0.6 mm, the majority of beams exhibited nearly similar crack patterns as well as rate of widening of corrosion cracks. A mass loss of steel of 1% corresponded to a maximum crack width between 0.14 and 0.22 mm. At large crack widths (>0.6 mm), various beams exhibited very different rates of crack widening. It was shown that at crack widths above 0.6 mm, to be conservative an increase in mass loss of steel of 1% corresponded to corrosion crack widening of 0.02 mm. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/676 Files in this item: 1
Malumbela1_CBM_2010.pdf (1.399Mb) -
Banda, A.; Mubyana-John, T.; Taylor, J.E. (Global Science Books, http://www.globalsciencebooks.info/, NaN, 2011)[more][less]
Abstract: The influence of burning on soil microbial dehydrogenase activity, nitrogen content and fungal population along the Boro route in the Okavango Delta was assessed in the flood and dry seasons. Soil samples from the burnt plots and the adjacent control un-burnt plots were cultured on agar plates using dilution methods. Fusarium spp. were dominant while Aspergillus species were low in burnt plots. The other fungi such as Drechslera sp., Exophiala jeanselmmei, Penicillium compactum and Chrysosporium merdarium were only in the burnt plots as compared to unburnt control plots. However, fungal diversity and soil dehydrogenase activity reduced after 6 months of burning showing significant increase in Chrysosporium merdarium in almost all the burnt plots. The influence of burning on soil nitrogen was insignificant instead flooding had a stronger influence on nitrogen content than burning. The results indicate that burning increased fungal diversity and biomass, however, reduces overall microbial enzyme activity after burning without influencing soil nitrogen and pH. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/919 Files in this item: 1
Mbuyana_AJPSB_2011.pdf (220.0Kb) -
Phibion, O.S. (IJSRE, http://www.ijsre.com, June NaN, 2012)[more][less]
Abstract: This article examines choral contests in Botswana’s music education. Choral contests have been conducted for many years in Botswana and predate the introduction of formal music teaching in schools. These early contests were often annual choral competitions (tonic sol-fa notation) and were organized through the Botswana Teachers Union or community organizations such as churches. These early choral competitions in fact laid a foundation for formal music teaching in schools. Data for this study was collected through the researcher’s participatory observation as a college choir conductor, a community choir conductor and a competition adjudicator. Rather than empirical research, this article is based on a critical argument about issues the author has experienced. At the time of writing this article, there has been very little to no documentation of Botswana choral music. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/1037 Files in this item: 1
Phibion_IJSRE_2012.pdf (1.046Mb) -
Magogwe, J.M. (University of Botswana, Department of English, http://www.ub.bw, NaN, 2008)[more][less]
Abstract: This research seeks to examine the role that context or learning situation plays in strategy choice by comparing the strategy patterns of a private English medium secondary and a government secondary school in Botswana. More specifically, the main ofjectives of this study are to, firstly, investigate whether the type of school influences the choice of language learning strategies of its students: secondly, to find out whether private English medium secondary school students use more strategies than government secondary school in Botswana: and, thirdly, to explore the role played by gender on the choice of language learning strategies. Form four students from oneprivete English medium senior secondary school and one government senior secondary completed the strategy inventory for language learning (SIILL). The data was analysed using descriptive statistics to calculate means and standard deviations of strategies and inferential statistics such as ANOVA to establish the relationships between group and individual strategies. The findinds of this study showed that the choice of strategies was not greatly influenced by the type of school from which the student came. However, this study found that government school students relied more on the use of dictionaries. On the other hand, private English medium students volunteered to look for conversation partners in order to get practice in speaking English. In relation to gender, the findings of this studyconfirmed other previous findings that female students use more language learning strategies than do male students. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/859 Files in this item: 1
Magogwe_MJLL_2008.pdf (3.125Mb) -
Mubyana, T.; Krah, M.; Totolo, O.; Bonyongo, M. (Journal of Arid Environments. http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/622855/description#description, NaN, 2003)[more][less]
Abstract: The effect of flooding on soil total nitrogen, phosphorus and microbial population in different vegetation zones (floodplain, island and woodland) and profile depth (0?1, 0?5, 2?0, 3?0, 4?0 and 5?0m) of the Okavango Delta was studied from February to July 1999. Total nitrogen significantly differed with soil profile depth, moisture regime and months. In the woodlands, insignificant total nitrogen was detected at all depths except at 0?1m, where 0?03% and 1?17% were detected in February and March, respectively. In the island samples, only 0?05% was detected at 4m in February. Nitrogen in the floodplain samples was concentrated in the A1 horizon where 0?12%, 0?61% and 0?03% were detected in February, March, and May, respectively. Organic phosphorus significantly differed with vegetation zone but not with months and depth. Although organic phosphorus was low (0?02–0?52%) at all sites, it was liberally distributed throughout the profiles. On the island, actinomycetes were only detected up to 2m in February and up to 3m in July. Fungi concentrated in the top 0?5m (103–105). In both the floodplain and island samples, bacteria concentrated in the upper 3m. However, after May, populations decreased significantly. In the floodplain, significant actinomycetes populations were only detected in the upper 0?5m. Generally, organic phosphorus showed positive correlations with fungal populations. This study indicates that these soils are low in total nitrogen and phosphorus. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/293 Files in this item: 1
Influence of seasonal flooding.pdf (3.953Mb) -
Dikinya, O.; Hinz, C.; Aylmore, L.G. (Csiro, http://www.publish.csiro.au/nid/84.htm, NaN, 2007)[more][less]
Abstract: The paper examines the effects of electrolyte concentration and sodium adsorption ration (SAR) on the relative saturated hydraulic conductivity (RHC) and the ionic behaviour of calcium (Ca) and sodium (Na) ions in the Na-Ca echange complex. Batch binary exchange and saturated column transport experiments were carried out to quantify these effects using agricultural Balkuling soil and mining residue. Generally, RHC has been found to decrease with time, with increasing SAR and with decreasing electrolyte concentration. The more rapid decrease in RHC in the mining residue, particularly at the lowest concentration (1 mmol/L), was consistent at all SAR values. The decreases in RHC were likely to be caused by partial blocking of pores by dispersed clay particles, as evidenced by the appearance of suspended clay particles in the effluent during leaching. Significant differences in RHC were abserved in the passage of fronts of decreasing electrolyte concentration for CaCl2 and SAR 15 solutions through the soil columns. These differences were attributable to structural alterations (slaking) of the media and the nature of the particles released and mobilised within the porous structure at a given point in the column. Measurements at the critical threshold concentration and turbidity increase in SAR to 15 is initially accompained by erractic RHC, presumably due to the break up of soilaggregates under the increased swelling forces. The less coherent mining residue soil was substantially more vulnerable to blockage of pores than the Balkuling soil in which clay particles are likely to be more readily mobilised, and hence available to re-deposit and occlude the matrix pores. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/312 Files in this item: 1
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Nijegorodov, N.; Winkoun, D.P.; Nkoma, J.S. (Elsevier Science Ltd http:www.elsevier.com/locate/saa, NaN, 2003)[more][less]
Abstract: Please refer to the attached article for an ABSTRACT. The abstract was not uploaded here due to formula appearance problem in UBRISA. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/403 Files in this item: 1
Nijegorodov_SAa60_2004.pdf (1.056Mb) -
Nijegorodov, N.; Winkoun, D.P.; Nkoma, J.S. (Elsevier Science Ltd. www.elsevier.com/locate/saa, NaN, 2004)[more][less]
Abstract: The fluorescence and laser properties of seven specially chosen aromatic compounds are studied at 293 ◦C. The quantum yield of fluorescence, γ, decay times, τf , of the deaerated and non-deaerated solutions are measured. The oscillator strength, fe, fluorescence rate constants, kf , natural lifetimes, τT 0 , and intersystem crossing rate constants, kST, are calculated. Some laser parameters are calculated or measured experimentally. It is found that the position of the T level plays an important role in the fluorescence and laser properties of aromatic compounds. If the T level is situated below the Sp level, it decreases the quantum yield of fluorescence and the decay time and increases the threshold of laser action. If, due to some structural changes of a molecule, the T level is situated higher than the Sp level, then the quantum yield of fluorescence and the decay times are increasing and the threshold of laser action is decreasing. Such influence of the position of the T level upon fluorescence and laser properties of aromatic compound is explained by the fact that the Sp level mixes with the T level more readily than with other τ ∗ levels. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/366 Files in this item: 1
Nijegorodov_SAa60_2004.pdf (1.056Mb) -
Nijegorodov, N.; Mabbs, R.; Winkoun, D.P. (Elsevier Science Ltd. www.elsevier.com/locate/saa, NaN, 2003)[more][less]
Abstract: Please refer to the attached article for an ABSTRACT. The abstract was not uploaded here due to formula appearance problem in UBRISA. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/402 Files in this item: 1
Nijegorodov_SAa59-2003.pdf (1.367Mb) -
Bose, K. (IJSRE, http://www.ijsre.com, December NaN, 2010)[more][less]
Abstract: The study assessed the views of in-service participants of the University of Botswana (who are pursuing Bachelors degree in Primary Education) regarding the empowerment of Early Childhood Education teachers with Information and Communication Technology skills. Both quantitative and qualitative research designs were adopted. Eighty-two final year students constituted the sample. A semi-structured questionnaire was used. The findings showed that the respondents strongly believed that the Early Childhood Education teachers in Botswana should be empowered with Information and Communication Technology skills. However, they didn’t find the existing curriculum feasible due to lack of in-depth content and pedagogy adopted to deliver the content. The findings showed that the student teachers were not able to realize the usefulness of the popular, generic packages and communication tools. The participants of the study suggested for a comprehensive curriculum with spread-out modules that could offer basic Information Communication Technology skills initially, and provide advanced features in succession, in order to enable them infuse content with technology; perform administrative tasks efficiently; conduct research in Early Childhood Education; and generate local-specific multi-media packages for young Batswana. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/978 Files in this item: 1
Bose_IJSRE_2010.pdf (2.043Mb) -
Mutshewa, A. et al (Archlib and Information Services, http:/www.hwwilson.com/journals; http://www.ajol.info, NaN, 2010)[more][less]
Abstract: Public libraries are established to be used by communities. Surprisingly, many people in communities where there are public libraries do not make use of them. This descriptive study investigated the information needs and information-seeking behaviour of such non-library users, so that the libraries could redesign their services to attract them. Also examined are the barriers encountered by non-library users in getting information, their reasons for not using the library, and their perceptions on current outreach efforts by libraries in the communities. The target population for this study was the community of non-library users in Botswana. The snowball sampling method was used to select 302 respondents from 34 research sites in the country. The findings indicated that respondents knew about the existence of the library through friends, Kgotla meetings, and advertisements in local media, and they were also willing to participate in the activities of the library. However, lack of time, distance to the library and inadequate relevance of the library resources and services to the activities the respondents were engaged in seemed to be the main barriers to library use. In terms of information required, it was difficult for the respondents to express their information needs; nevertheless, the study was able to establish that the respondents often needed information on current affairs, education, business and agriculture, and they used radio, newspapers, friends, work supervisors and personal experience to meet their needs. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/1099 Files in this item: 1
Mutshewa_AJLAIS_2010.pdf (376.1Kb) -
Snell, R.; Sebina, P. (Australian society of Archivists, NaN, 2007)[more][less]
Abstract: This paper puts forward ideas about trying to take public access to government information from where it currently is - a few painful, costly and hard fought steps from its strongly resisted implementation - towards where it should be in an information age. The current state of play in Australia after more than twenty years of experience is barely measurable. The comments in this paper are focused on the capacity of citizens to access non-personal affairs information on a routine and relatively unproblematic basis. If in other areas of the information revolution we had accepted the same minimal results as we have with Freedom of Information (FOI) then the Internet, laptop computers, iPods and BlackBerries would have all remained unbelievable elements of speculative science fiction. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/424 Files in this item: 1
Snell_AM_2007.pdf (1.239Mb) -
Biza-Khupe, S. (EuroJournals Publishing, http://www.eurojournals.com/REFAS.htm, NaN, 2011)[more][less]
Abstract: Financial information regulation forms an integral part of consumer financial markets, while market efficiency provides a measure of the aptness of any financial regulatory architecture. There has been a noticeable shift in paradigm in financial information regulation globally. Many governments are demanding increased financial information disclosures from financial institutions to investors and borrowers. To the extent that the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) has been attributed to a lax financial regulatory regime, there has been an increased propensity for control and disclosure. This stance has gained impetus despite evidence suggesting that increased financial information disclosures breed information oversupply. Information oversupply adversely effects individuals’ rationalisation and financial decision-making processes, a matter which impedes on the overall market efficiency. Despite the proliferation of financial information oversupply in consumer financial markets, this phenomenon has remained relatively unexplored. This paper contributes to the literature by conducting an empirical exploration of the determinants of financial information oversupply emanating from the prevailing information regulatory regime. A model incorporating both the psychological and cost/benefit theoretical streams is proposed and tested using data collected from Melbourne residents in Australia. The Cost of Information Search and Prior Memory Structure were found to significantly influence the dependent variable, while the dependent variable did not significantly relate to Credit Experience and Age. The implications of the study are discussed and areas for further research suggested. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/1087 Files in this item: 1
Biza-Khupe_RFAS_2011.pdf (1.901Mb) -
Oladokun, O. (Routledge (Taylor and francis)/www.routledge.com, NaN, 2010)[more][less]
Abstract: The focus of this study is on the information-seeking behavior of the off-campus students in 2 of the 7 satellite centers of the Centre for Continuing Education, the outreach arm of the University of Botswana. Although the university deeply committed itself to the project, the university library could not afford to establish branch libraries in all the off-campus centers. With the nearest university branch libraries located some 160 km and 200 km away from the centers of study and only branch offices of the public library available, the findings revealed that the library and information needs of the students were not significantly met. As printed sources were revealed as their preferred choice of information format, e-mail and the Internet sources were not given much priority, even though there was evidence that suggests the students were adequately equipped through the teaching of information skills. Questionnaire and interview tools were used. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/1000 Files in this item: 1
Oladokun_JLA_2010.pdf (1.118Mb) -
Daka, J.S.J. (http://ijedict.dec.uwi.edu/viewarticle.php?id=555., NaN, 2008)[more][less]
Abstract: In August 2002, the University of Botswana changed from a yearlong to a semester based academic system. However, the progression regulations were not be fully implemented on the information system mainly due to problems of interpretation. Due to this, a manual system was used. The manual system could not cope in making recommendations for all students leading to some regulations not being applied. To address this, a revision of the regulations was undertaken in 2007. These regulations require implementation on the information system. This paper discusses the main aspects of the 2007 regulations and their implementation via a computer program. The paper shows that a complete implementation of the regulations is possible using a computer program. The program was applied to sample students' academic results to provide progression recommendations that were found to agree with expected results. The paper concludes that an information system based implementation ensures uniform application of regulations. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/470 Files in this item: 1
DAka_IJEDICT_2008.pdf (154.8Kb)