Ounongo Repository
The Ounongo Repository (OR) is the institutional repository of Namibia University of Science and Technology. Ounongo means "knowledge. in the Oshiwambo and Otjiherero languages. The OR is administered by the Library, with technical assistance from DICT, and its aim is to collect, organize, manage, store, preserve, publish and make accessible worldwide, the knowledge assets or intellectual output of the University's researchers, staff and post-graduate students. Users may set up RSS feeds to be alerted to new content.
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Recent Submissions
Assessing Risk Factors and Awareness of Musculoskeletal Disorders Among Operator Drivers in North-Western Namibia.
(Namibia University of Science and Technology, 2020-10) Teopolina Nakwiila Nashongo
Background
Operator drivers are responsible for driving trackless heavy-duty mining or construction vehicles such as graders, dumpers, loaders, and bulldozers. There are increased rates of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among operator drivers due to the nature of their work, however, there is paucity of data on MSDs and associated factors among operator drivers in Namibia.
Objective
This study aimed at assessing the risk factors and awareness of MSDs among operator drivers in the construction and mining industry in Namibia.
Methods
The study adopted a descriptive cross-sectional mixed methods study. A total of 182 questionnaires were administered to operator drivers while 13 managerial staff were interviewed using a semi-structured interview guide. Quantitative data were analysed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 25 and qualitative data were analysed thematically with the aid of Atlas.ti version 8.
Results
The study results revealed that factors associated with MSDs were length of service for > 10 years (OR=15.3, 95% CI: 6.0-39.0), alcohol consumption (OR=2.8, 95% CI: 1.1-6.7), lack of physical fitness activity (OR=8.8, 95% CI: 3.8-20.4), and lack of awareness of MSDs (OR=3.1, 95% CI: 1.3-7.3). Furthermore, semi-structured interviews also revealed that 80% of the managerial staff were not aware of MSDs.
Conclusion
The study findings revealed major health issues that are associated with MSDs among the operator drivers, impacting their general wellness and productivity. Monitoring of wellness of these workers by the companies is highly recommended. There is need to increase MSD awareness, PPE usage, ergonomics skills training, and physical fitness exercises for operator drivers. Employers are urged to adopt policies, and to design guidelines and interventions aimed at promoting occupational health and safety in this population.
Assessment of cross border preparedness and response measures to combat the importation of infectious diseases in Walvis Bay, Namibia.
(Namibia University of Science and Technology, 2022-10-21) Mwakondja Alisa Ikela
Cross-border health measures are crucial to ensure efficient and fast responses against infectious disease outbreaks. Therefore, the effectiveness of health systems and their compliance with international laws have prompted significant debates that will unearth practices to enhance preparedness, response and control the spread of infectious diseases at the points of entry. The study aimed at assessing cross-border health measures to combat the importation of infectious diseases between Namibia and its interacting countries.
Examining the contribution of protected area-based tourism to Sustainable Development Goals
(Journal of Environmental Management and Tourism, 2025-05-30) Phiri, Mercy; Bello, Felix G.; Lambulira, Mathews; Manuel, Isobel
This paper examines the contribution of protected area-based tourism to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at Lake Malawi National Park in Malawi, focusing on environmental, economic, and social sustainability. Adopting a qualitative exploratory cross-sectional design within an interpretive paradigm, the research engaged diverse stakeholders to explore tourism’s contribution to SDGs 1 (No Poverty), 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), 14 (Life Below Water), and 15 (Life on Land). The findings reveal that protected area-based tourism enhances local livelihoods by creating employment and entrepreneurship opportunities, facilitates biodiversity conservation through tourism operators and community-led initiatives, and supports the ecological health of Lake Malawi through sustainable tourism practices. Moreover, the study underscores the critical role of local community participation in tourism development and conservation, reinforcing the interconnectedness of social, economic, and environmental sustainability. By integrating these dimensions, Lake Malawi National Park serves as a model for leveraging tourism as a tool for sustainable development. The study calls for sustained investment in protected area-based tourism to maximize its benefits and ensure equitable distribution of tourism-generated resources, ultimately driving progress towards the SDGs and fostering long-term conservation and community resilience.
Community Perceptions of Police Performance and Legitimacy in Hardap Region / Namibia: Research Proposal
(Namibia University of Science and Technology, 2025-05) Schulz, Stefan
This study investigates community perceptions of police performance and legitimacy in the Hardap Region, Namibia. While traditional performance indicators such as crime rates and response times remain important, contemporary research emphasizes that citizens’ trust, satisfaction, and perceived fairness increasingly define the legitimacy and effectiveness of policing. Against a backdrop of growing public concern over misconduct and inadequate service delivery within NAMPOL, this project adopts a mixed-methods approach—integrating quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews—to systematically examine subjective perceptions and their alignment (or divergence) with objective performance indicators. The research aims to identify key drivers of trust and dissatisfaction, assess demographic variations in perceptions, and propose data-informed strategies for improving police responsiveness, professionalism, and community engagement. Using frameworks such as SERVQUAL and incorporating insights on procedural justice and symbolic legitimacy, the study intends to contribute to strengthening democratic policing principles in Namibia. Findings are expected to support the development of targeted reforms, guide community policing strategies, and enhance institutional accountability, ultimately bridging the gap between citizen expectations and policing realities. The research is embedded in a broader collaborative project involving NUST and NAMPOL, leveraging academic rigor to inform policy and operational improvements in service delivery.
A pedagogical stylistic evaluation of creative writing studies in the Department of Communication and Languages at NUST
(Namibia University of Science and Technology, 2025-04-29) Kalimbo, Sonio Haitangomwene
This study was driven by the critical need for creative writing skills through creative writing studies. The current literature teaching methods do not contribute to the enhancement of students’ creative writing skills, as a result, most students are unable to enhance their creative writing skills through literature studies. The Namibia University of Science and Technology main campus in Windhoek conducted a study, which focused on evaluating stylistic pedagogical approaches typically used in literature classrooms to improve students’ creative writing skills. The current study used a mixed research approach following a concurrent triangulation mixed method design through a pragmatic paradigm, which allowed the researcher to interpret the collected data objectively. A questionnaire was utilised to collect data from twenty-three (23) English third-year students and two (2) undergraduate literature course facilitators. Furthermore, a classroom checklist, students’ tests, and review of the current literature syllabus were also used as part of the data collection tools. The collected data were analysed in line with the study objectives following a thematic analysis method. The key findings of the study specified the significant role of pedagogical stylistic approaches towards the enhancement of students’ creative writing skills through literature studies. Creative writing skills enhance students’ abilities to develop character, enrich their vocabulary, understand language context, deepen their thematic knowledge, and improve their sentence constructing and structuring skills, their reading, writing, and imagination skills. Indeed, it also enhances students’ second language acquisition. The results suggested that there are several challenges impeding students from enhancing their creative writing skills through literature studies. These challenges include poor literature teaching methods, failure to use technology for creative writing, and being a creative writing beginner. The study further shed light on the several linguistic strategies that could be implemented in order to enhance students’ creative writing skills through literature studies, namely using technology for creative writing, introducing creative writing courses, reviewing and updating the current curriculum, as well as teaching literature with specific goals targeting some linguistic aspects that would contribute towards language learning.