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 THE STRATEGIC ROLE OF INTERNAL COMMUNICATION AT THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS, IMMIGRATION, SAFETY AND SECURITY IN NAMIBIA
(Namibia University of Science and Technology, 2023-05-04) KADHIKWA, SAKEUS IITA.
Internal communication has long been the lifeblood of successfully and effectively managed organizations, especially when such communication is strategically managed. Though literature has established the benefits of internal communication, especially when it comes to employee engagement, commitment, and improved corporate reputation, research assessing the strategic role of internal communication in government departments is limited. The aim of the study was to assess the strategic role of internal communication at the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security in Namibia. To achieve this objective, four secondary objectives were pursued. The first secondary objective focused on examining the challenges faced by the Department of Home Affairs and Immigration in implementing the internal communication strategy. The second objective focused on analyzing the impact of internal communication on service delivery, while the third focused on internal communication and employee morale. The last objective examined the alignment between internal communication and the department’s strategy.
Data for the study were collected using a structured interview guide. Face-to-face online were conducted with a conveniently selected sample of 25 participants. The methodology that was employed was a qualitative research approach that followed a case study research design. Several challenges affecting the effective implementation of the internal communication strategy were identified. Furthermore, it was noted that participants had mixed views about the role of internal communication and service delivery, as well as its strategic role in the organization. Based on these findings, the study makes recommendations and suggestions for future research.
Mathematical analysis of foot and mouth disease with optimal control: a case study of FMD in Namibia.
(Namibia University of Science and Technology, 2023-06) Ndeevelo, Palivamwe, Merolly
This study aims to comprehensively analyse Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) by formulat ing two mathematical models specifically tailored for confined and unconfined environments
in Namibia. The models composed for this research incorporate essential compartments that
capture the intricate dynamics of livestock populations, including their susceptibility to FMD,
latent exposure, infectiousness, and recovery. Furthermore, the models account for the imple mentation of optimal control measures by farmers and the disease control mechanisms em ployed by national institutions such as the vaccination campaign, culling and quarantining of
livestock.
To ensure the stability and equilibrium of the proposed models, well-established mathemat ical principles such as the LaSalle Invariance principle, Lyapunov function and Routh-Hurwitz
stability analysis are utilized. These methods assist in determining the equilibrium points of
the models and assessing their stability properties. In addition, historical data on FMD reported
cases within the country is also incorporated to enhance the accuracy and applicability of the
models analyses.
The study utilises numerical simulations with an Ordinary Differential Equation (ODE) solver
in Python to demonstrate the impact of various scenarios of FMD progression. Furthermore,
an excel-input data sheet is created to facilitate basic analysis and to showcase the variability
range resulting from modifications in FMD dynamics.
By employing a combination of mathematical modelling, stability analysis, historical data
integration, and numerical simulations, this research provides significant insights into the be haviour and control of FMD in confined and unconfined environments in Namibia. The findings
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contribute to the existing knowledge of FMD in Namibia and provide insights that can inform
decision-making and policy formulation in combating this economically significant disease.
A first syntaxonomic description of the vegetation of the Karstveld in Namibia.
(Vegetation Classification and Survey/Pensoft Publishers, 2023-10-24) Strohbach, Ben J.; Strohbach, Marianne M.
Aims: The Karstveld in Namibia has been recognized as an area of high plant diversity. However, this area is also recog nised as a hotspot of various forms of degradation including bush encroachment. Minimal baseline data on the compo sition and diversity of vegetation in this area is available, therefore this paper is a first attempt to rectify this data defi ciency. Study area: The Karstveld in Namibia is formed around the Otavi Mountain Range in northern Central Namibia,
consisting of strongly karstified carbonate bedrock, rising up to 2000 m a.s.l. The Karstveld includes the Ovambo Basin
plains with shallow calcrete soils north of the range, up to the Omuramba Ovambo. Because of orographic effects, the
area receives some of the highest rainfall in Namibia, with up to 600 mm per year. Methods: A set of 889 relevés with
868 species was selected from the GVID ID AF-NA-001 database. A partial data set, using trees, shrubs, dwarf shrubs
and grasses only, was used for the classification with modified TWINSPAN. The initial result yielded four main groups,
according to which the data was split and further classified. Several vegetation types observed during field surveys were
not reflected in the classification results; these were refined using Cocktail with known characteristic species. Results:
The four main units represented wetlands and grasslands with six associations, a Thornbush savanna – Karstveld tran sition zone with four associations, Kalahari vegetation with four associations and the Karstveld proper with eight asso ciations. The latter are grouped together as the Terminalietea prunioides, with two orders and three alliances recognised
under them. We describe 16 associations according to the ICPN. Conclusions: Although the associations presented in
this paper are clearly defined, there exists a high degree of diversity within these. The Karstveld is also extraordinary
species rich within the context of the arid to semi-arid Namibian environment.
Taxonomic reference: Klaassen and Kwembeya (2013) for vascular plants, with the exception of the genus Acacia s.l.
(Fabaceae), for which Kyalangalilwa et al. (2013) was followed.
Abbreviations: ga = annual grass; gp = perennial grass; GPS = Global Positioning System, referring to a hand-held
ground receiver; hl = herb layer, containing all hemicryptophytes, therophytes and geophytes, but excluding grasses
(Poaceae); ICPN = International Code of Phytosociological Nomenclature (Theurillat et al. 2021); MAP = mean annual
precipitation; NMS = nonmetric multidimensional scaling (Kruskal 1964); RDL = Red Data List (IUCN Species Survival
Commission 2001); s1 = tall shrubs, i.e. multi-stemmed phanerophytes between 1 and 5 m; s2 = short shrubs, i.e. cha maephytes or ‘dwarf shrubs’ below 1 m; SOTER = Global and National Soils and Terrain Digital Database (FAO 1993);
t1 = tall trees, > 10 m; t2 = short trees, between 5 and 10 m; t3 = low trees, i.e. single-stemmed phanerophytes between
2 and 5 m; TWINSPAN = Two Way Indicator Species Analysis (Roleček et al. 2009); WGS84 = World Geodetic System,
1984 ensemble
Towards a Green Campus: Assessment of Sustainable Water Use and Management at the Namibia University of Science and Technology Campuses.
(Namibia University of Science and Technology, 2023-01) Symonds, Ann
The Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) was amongst the top 40 water consumers in
the drought year of 2019. Currently, the university does not have an Environmental Management Plan
(EMP) which allows it to formulate strategies to conserve and manage resources on campus and thus does
not yet comply with legislation that requires such Public Sector institutions in Namibia to implement one.
A Water Management Strategy (WMS) forms one aspect of an EMP which will assist in the formulation of
strategies to conserve and manage environmental resources on campus in the future. This study
contributes baseline information towards the development of a WMS which will help the university play
its part in addressing the chronic water shortage suffered in Namibia.
To understand the water consumption patterns and associated costs three campuses at NUST in
Windhoek were studied. Surveys and interviews were conducted, and reports, observations and water
meter readings were collected over a 13-month period. The study served to highlight several areas of
concern, where wasteful and inefficient practices were observed. The results show that old and decaying
infrastructure, reactive maintenance, poor management, and a lack of monitoring of water use all
contributed to the high-water consumption recorded at the Upper and Lower Campuses. This is not only
environmentally unsustainable but also results in unnecessary economic costs. In contrast, the heightened
awareness and proactive behaviour of staff and students at the Hotel School Campus combined with the
implementation of water-saving strategies demonstrated that there are easily implementable mitigation
measures where water could be used more efficiently, and consumption reduced.
Qualitative surveys among students and staff indicated an awareness of the drought situation and the
need to conserve water. The survey respondents suggested approaches and activities such as
implementing water management strategies, educating, and devising techniques and technology to
reduce water consumption. To support these findings, changes in management approaches in 2021 such
as proactive maintenance and monitoring of consumption and municipal charges by the Facilities
Department and at the Hotel School resulted in positive effects, thus suggesting the same action can be
implemented across the whole university. Valuable lessons were learned from university initiatives
elsewhere,such as target setting, public displays on consumption levels and real-time feedback on targets
reached. These, and proactive drought mitigation strategies instigated in other countries and suggestions
from key stakeholders, can form recommendations for a WMS to be implemented at NUST.
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The findings of this study provide a basis from which to explore and practise the identified key
interventions and methods. This will help reduce water consumption, make financial savings, and promote
awareness of water issues leading to more environmentally favourable practices. Better water
management through the development of a WMS could lead to improved sustainability and help NUST to
move towards becoming a greener university for which the survey found good support.
Human-wildlife conflict and coexistence of black-backed jackal (lupulella mesomelas) and African wild dog (lycaon pictus) in the Okakarara district communal area, Namibia.
(Namibia University of Science and Technology, 2023-05) Reasoner, Emma
Human-wildlife conflict is a global phenomenon that occurs wherever humans and wildlife share
resources or space. In Namibia, human-wildlife conflict is most severe in communal regions where
farmers have fewer financial means to implement mitigation measures against livestock
depredation. This study used camera trap data, diet analysis, and questionnaire data to explore
distribution, livestock depredation, and coexistence of black-backed jackal (Lupulella mesomelas)
and African wild dog (Lycaon pictus), the highest conflict-causing species in the understudied
Okakarara District Communal Area (ODCA). A camera trap survey was conducted in 2018-2019 for 30
days in the dry season and 30 days in the wet season. Black-backed jackal and African wild dog scat
was collected both opportunistically and systematically for diet analysis. Using scat locations and
questionnaire data, a kernel density of African wild dog - livestock conflict was mapped to determine
if African wild dog dens occurred significantly more in regions of high livestock depredation. Black backed jackal abundance was significantly higher in the dry season in areas of high village density
and within 10km of African wild dog dens. Diet analysis revealed that black-backed jackal in the
ODCA have a generalist omnivorous diet consisting primarily of ungulates by biomass (74.36%). They
preferentially consume greater kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros), which contributes 19.83% to their
diet by biomass. Livestock species made up 29.74% of the biomass in their diet. Black-backed jackal
diet did not differ within vs. more than 10km from known African wild dog dens, suggesting that
African wild dog function as neither a competitor nor facilitator for black-backed jackal, and both
canids select habitat based on concealment and avoidance of persecution. African wild dog dens
occurred significantly more in areas of higher African wild dog-livestock conflict, but further research
is needed to confirm this preliminary finding. Due to a recent decline in population, African wild dog
may be functionally absent from the ODCA, and without top-down pressure from an apex predator,
black-backed jackal have experienced mesopredator release. Conservation priorities for the ODCA
should focus on capacity building to increase populations of wild prey, implement low-cost predator
mitigation solutions, and reduce mesocarnivore dominance by restoring large carnivore populations.