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This article considers the impact of the book People's Law and State Law: the Bellagio Papers, edited by Anthony Allott and Gordon Woodman, published in 1985. It sets out why I consider this publication to be a seminal text in establishing and developing the field of legal pluralism, which had a great impact on both the development of the Journal of Legal Pluralism and on my own development as a young legal scholar. In looking beyond the text, I consider the ways in which scholars have engaged with the book's call for legal and social science to "work from a new map". In doing so I explore a recent arena of scholarship involving international intervention. The article highlights the important contribution that empirical studies can make to research on legal pluralism, by moving beyond the binaries of state and non-state actors, as well as through pursuing how scholars are adopting a more integrated and relational approach to law, one that may involve breaking down traditional disciplinary boundaries. In particular, I explore how concepts such as space and time contribute to a multi-dimensional, scalar perception of law at odds with a formalist, state-centred view of legal pluralism. This allows new insights to be generated into the operation of plural legal structures and constellations in which people operate allowing for a view of law that involves multiple networks of relations cutting across international, national and local boundaries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gastrointestinal tracts (GIT) of herbivores are lignin-rich environments with the potential to find ligninolytic microorganisms. The occurrence of the microorganisms in herbivore GIT is a well-documented mutualistic relationship where the former benefits from the provision of nutrients and the latter benefits from the microorganism-assisted digestion of their recalcitrant lignin diets. Elephants are one of the largest herbivores that rely on the microbial anaerobic fermentation of their bulky recalcitrant low-quality forage lignocellulosic diet given their inability to break down major components of plant cells. Tapping the potential of these mutualistic associations in the biggest population of elephants in the whole world found in Botswana is attractive in the valorisation of the bulky recalcitrant lignin waste stream generated from the pulp and paper, biofuel, and agro-industries. Despite the massive potential as a feedstock for industrial fermentations, few microorganisms have been commercialised. This review focuses on the potential of microbiota from the gastrointestinal tract and excreta of the worlds' largest population of elephants of Botswana as a potential source of extremophilic ligninolytic microorganisms. The review further discusses the recalcitrance of lignin, achievements, limitations, and challenges with its biological depolymerisation. Methods of isolation of microorganisms from elephant dung and their improvement as industrial strains are further highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scholarly and institutional research on early childhood education is not a new phenomenon, but what is perhaps limited is extant literature that particularly focuses on revisiting current practices and their "dialogue" with the ever-changing environment that prevails especially in an African setting. The practices of providers of early childhood education are either simply "business opportunity seeking" responses to the new consumption patterns of more affluent parent (or guardian) or current global trends of child education preparation. There has been a phenomenal increase in the number of early child centres in recent years but with fragmented structures. However whether or not this will reduce possibilities of tensions between the macro and micro aspects of this kind of co-evolution is one of the questions this article seeks to address. It also investigates the fit between the internal structure and processes of early childhood centers and the external environment (national framework), focusing on the challenges and prospects of early childhood education. Buoyed by the Fit/Congruence model of organizational analysis, the paper is based on findings from a content analysis of media reports and desk review of policy documents from purposively selected centres based in Gaborone. The data is analyzed using a combination of the pattern model and analytic comparison methods. In Botswana, one of the observed missing links is the absence of national framework guiding the structure and content of early childhood curriculum and instruction. It concludes that while the approaches used in these centres are relatively not similar they may be complementary particularly to the extent to which they prepare the children for an exclusionary education system in a country whose long-term vision is ironically to achieve an equitable and quality education for all. Institutional initiatives at national level have been limited and unevenly distributed with wide differences in the quality of services and lack of coherence and coordination at micro-level.

Dried blood spots (DBS) collected onto filter paper have eased the difficulty of blood collection in resource-limited settings. Currently, Whatman 903 (W-903) filter paper is the only filter paper that has been used for HIV load and HIV drug resistance (HIVDR) testing. We therefore evaluated two additional commercially available filter papers, Ahlstrom grade 226 (A-226) and Munktell TFN (M-TFN), for viral load (VL) testing and HIVDR genotyping using W-903 filter paper as a comparison group. DBS specimens were generated from 344 adult patients on antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Botswana. The VL was measured with NucliSENS EasyQ HIV-1 v2.0, and genotyping was performed for those specimens with a detectable VL (≥ 2.90 log(10) copies/ml) using an in-house method. Bland-Altman analysis revealed a strong concordance in quantitative VL analysis between W-903 and A-226 (bias = -0.034 ± 0.246 log(10) copies/ml [mean difference ± standard deviation]) and W-903 and M-TFN (bias = -0.028 ± 0.186 log(10) copies/ml) filter papers, while qualitative VL analysis for virological failure determination, defined as a VL of ≥ 3.00 log(10) copies/ml, showed low sensitivities for A-266 (71.54%) and M-TFN (65.71%) filter papers compared to W-903 filter paper. DBS collected on M-TFN filter paper had the highest genotyping efficiency (100%) compared to W-903 and A-226 filter papers (91.7%) and appeared more sensitive in detecting major HIVDR mutations. DBS collected on A-226 and M-TFN filter papers performed similarly to DBS collected on W-903 filter paper for quantitative VL analysis and HIVDR detection. Together, the encouraging genotyping results and the variability observed in determining virological failure from this small pilot study warrant further investigation of A-226 and M-TFN filter papers as specimen collection devices for HIVDR monitoring surveys.

The article discusses the aspirations and potential of the Academic Department of Family Medicine that was established in 2010. It says that the department aims to provide an undergraduate and postgraduate training programme to produce appropriately skilled general practitioners who can lead the primary care in transforming access and quality of health care. It also mentions that the curriculum was based on the regional distinctness of Family Medicine in African context which is formulated in the 2010 Statement of Consensus on Family Medicine in Africa.

Even with the urgent need for public universities to transform into entrepreneurial universities in Botswana, very little is known especially in developing countries such as Botswana on what it takes to transform. Therefore, this paper aims to investigate the critical success factors for the creation of entrepreneurial universities in Botswana. Our core research question asks: What are the critical success factors for the transformation of public universities into entrepreneurial universities? The study used a descriptive literature review methodology to collect secondary data. A data set of 150 articles were reviewed which dated from 1987 to 2024. Data sources identified were books, academic journals, academic papers, technical reports, theses, articles, and working papers from reputable academic databases such as Scopus, EBSCOhost, Google Scholar, Web of Science, ProQuest, Research Gate, Scientific Research Publishing and Wiley. The study revealed four main success factors in creating entrepreneurial universities - strategic, internal, environmental and external. The study underscored the need for resources, entrepreneurial education, entrepreneurial leadership and entrepreneurial culture in the creation of an entrepreneurial university. Moreover, flexible governance structure, enterprise support policies, role model and reward system, entrepreneurial architecture and collaborations with stakeholders were also highlighted as crucial for a successful transformation of public universities into entrepreneurial universities. The study further revealed that the transformation requires external support mechanisms from government, industry, and regional interventions. Consequently, creating an entrepreneurial university requires a collective effort between the university itself, government, industry and regional interventions. The implication is that public universities should forge partnerships and synergies with external stakeholders to transform into entrepreneurial universities. In light of the above, the study recommends the adoption of a quadruple helix model in creating entrepreneurial universities. Future research is recommended to fully evaluate the efficacy of the quadruple helix model in the development of an entrepreneurial university. The study contributes to the body of knowledge and global debates surrounding the creation of entrepreneurial universities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disposal of the dead differs across culture and times due to prevailing factors including traditional beliefs, normative worldviews, and resource availability. This paper sought to explore the views of the Batswana regarding disposal of the dead through a case study of Ledumang Ward in Gaborone. Interviews were conducted with 42 respondents who included 30 householders around Ledumang cemetery and 12 key informants who included persons in the funeral industry, clergy, and government or council officers. The findings reveal that burial is the most preferred method of body disposal among residents of Ledumang Ward with only a few having knowledge or being open to other forms of body disposal. Most household respondents (70%) cited religious beliefs and providing a resting place for the dead as the reason for their preference. Both residents and key informants expressed worry over negative environmental impacts of burials including them being an unsustainable land use practice. Shortage of land was the biggest concern for the largest portion of residents (40%). On the contrary, only 1% and 10% cited environmental degradation and biodiversity loss, and air pollution as the foremost concerns, respectively. The ethical evaluation using the land ethic shows the current burial practices to be morally wrong as they do not promote the integrity, stability, and beauty of the biotic community. The paper recommends some empirical research as well as philosophical research to establish and evaluate metaphysical and normative beliefs that undergird current burial practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to investigate the role of deontic modality as a strategic means of mitigating evaluative meanings within and across texts. Evaluative meanings concern the function of language as used to express the speaker's or writer's subjective opinions, and such meanings have been extensively analysed through Appraisal framework. The framework has been used to account for evaluative/attitudinal meanings in texts, as well as dealing with the interaction of voices as one way through which speakers and writers can attribute evaluations to third parties in order to downplay or distance themselves from the evaluations that are expressed. Within the literature on Appraisal, however, the potential for deontic modality to mitigate subjective evaluation in texts has largely been overlooked and, thus, under-analysed. In this paper therefore, we develop a systems network for analysing the role of deontic modality and its interaction with other features as a tool for text analysis. We illustrate the distinctions in the network with examples of contrasting values from hard news stories that covered the 2011 public sector workers' strike in Botswana and finish up with a short textual analysis to demonstrate how the consideration of deontic modality as a strategy of mitigation can not only enhance our understanding of how evaluative meanings are downplayed or overridden in texts, but also of how the distinctions between text types themselves can be blurred. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Government of Botswana announced its intention to introduce Botswana local languages as medium of instruction at primary school level in 2023. The paper seeks to critically pursue the proposal to implement mother tongues as medium of instruction from a theoretical perspective of language as a right and a resource in education. The article further seeks to present arguments on crucial issues that should be considered in the implementation of this proposed policy, and the need to carefully consider practicalities on the multilingual social ground. The research context is that the proposal comes at a time when there are incessant debates on mother tongue by local and international researchers on education. The paper will use historical, descriptive, and qualitative methods analysis perspective, and will discuss them within the theories of language as a resource. A model for implementation is proposed at the conclusion as it is hoped it will assuage the suspicions and concerns about the implications of the implementation of the medium of instruction in mother tongues as a right in education in Botswana. It is the view of this paper that the proposal is a significant development in the Botswana education system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The need for an effective Human Resources Development is critical for many organisations, especially to those tasked with service provision in the public domain. The purpose of this paper to investigate the challenges In Human Resource Development Implementation within the Botswana Public Sector Setting, with a focus on management perception. The paper was a qualitative study, and utilised content analysis to gather and analyse secondary on the subject matter. The study concluded that there is a need for management should engage personnel matters of employee motivation to ensure that serving in the public sector have the necessary professional and personal development required to service in the public domain. Furthermore, there should be elements of technology introduced in HRD implementation in the public sector setting. The paper recommends that HRD implementation courageous leadership and effective planning be at the forefront from HRD implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On its inception, the non-conviction-based asset confiscation and forfeiture regime attracted both praise and criticism. Using the Rule of Law as an analytic framework, this paper evaluates the non-conviction-based asset confiscation and forfeiture regime under Botswana's Proceeds and Instruments of Crime Act, 2014. The paper finds that whilst the regime has withstood constitutional attacks, it still retains some shortcomings. For instance, there is lack of clarity on the standards of proof, procedures and inadequate protection of third-party rights. The paper recommends reforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper employs postcolonial criticism to examine the roles of leaders of independence movements in the decolonization process. The objective is to ascertain the extent to which the policies of the colonial period are reflected in the leadership understanding and roles of the administrative culture in colonist-colony-colonized relations and to what extent the policies of the colonial period are related to recolonization. This paper examines how the dominant themes of the debates during the colonial period were reflected in the attitudes and policies of the post-independence leaders. In conclusion, this study asserts that a comparable experience in the process of re-colonization is reflected in the dominance of certain policies and debates surrounding nationalization, despite the movements of independence that originated against the colonists. In this regard, the article compares the leaders of Botswana and Zimbabwe, two neighboring countries with similar historical backgrounds but disparate experiences. This comparison, based on postcolonial criticism, has revealed that although the decolonization process has been experienced, it offers examples of leadership, one positive and the other negative, as a continuation of re-colonialism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This paper uses a collaborative autoethnographicapproach to explore how the concepts of child welfare practicerelating to child participation, family involvement, cultural andlegal practices are experienced in Norway and Botswana child welfaresystems. These concepts form the main themes of this paper and wecritic them in light of the Global Typology of child welfare systems.Norway has a child rights protection system. We argue that Botswanafalls in between a child exploitation protective system and a childmaltreatment system. The paper demonstrates the following:Originality in developing own laws and structures seems to influenceconsistency in progress; Child protection systems are influenced bylegal frameworks that need to be revised frequently; Adapting lawsfrom external structures conflict with local cultural practices ofvalue; Emphasis on kinship, family and community as alternativesupport systems helps to keep children within their natural network;When the welfare state does not promote genuine equity and equalityfor the general population, resources become more strained forchildren at risk. The intention of this paper, in making reflectionson the Botswana and Norwegian child welfare systems, as well as ourautoethnographic voices is to ignite similar autoethnographicresearch among scholars and practitioners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

African communities have experienced disharmony, which makes communal living difficult. This paper reinforces the importance of local philosophies, which can improve communal living. This paper proposes introducing the philosophy of Botho in schools to promote citizenship education. A contextually relevant model has the potential to instill community harmony by giving students the knowledge and skills to engage as responsible citizens. African systems can produce a socially inclusive and active citizenship by shifting from an abstract theory in the school context to a system and process that are contextually relevant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The information environment is rapidly growing due to increased data from business transactions and processes. This calls for records management to support decision-making and business functions. This is possible through what we refer to as information governance. This paper aims to bridge the gap between existing records management practices and the ideal state by undertaking a records management audit at the Department of Teacher Training and Technical Education (DTT&TE) using the ARMA Information Governance Maturity Model, ultimately improving information governance and records management processes. The study employed a qualitative case study approach. Data was collected through observations and interviews with three respondents, including the chief, principal, and senior records officers. The study's key finding reveals that DTT and TE are at level 3 (essential) of the maturity level. This finding implies that DTT&TE has well-defined regulatory requirements and processes. However, the study also revealed that the organisation does not meet the required maturity level (5). To this end, this poses risks such as poor performance due to a lack of accountability, poor execution of records management practices, low levels of compliance with requirements, and backlogs of records resulting from a lack of retention and disposition schedules in the organisation. Furthermore, the study reveals that the above risks result from challenges such as shortages of storage, security issues, and inadequate staffing, among others. To address these challenges, the paper recommends that DTT&TE review records management policies, adopt compliance frameworks, and provide staff training by DTT & TE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency is both a successful series of novels and a television series which ran for one series on the BBC in 2008. While the books have been criticised on a number of aspects, including its representation of Botswana, the television series has received very little academic attention at all. The television series was an international co-production between the United States, United Kingdom and South Africa, using a mix of American and South African actors in regular and recurring roles with British guest artists and production team despite being shot in Botswana. While the main features of the adaptation were primarily related to a reordering of vignettes from the books into the series, the television series added in a new character, the camp, gay hairdresser BK. At the time the series was airing, same-sex sexual activity was illegal in Botswana though that has since been changed. As such, this paper will discuss the addition of this liminal character into the series through close reading of the text and paratexts (including industrial context). Ultimately the paper will contextualise the addition with regard to both national and sexual identity and debates surrounding African queer identities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

National archival institutions are responsible for the acquisition, preservation and making accessible of their nation’s documentary heritage. It is on this basis that the Department of Botswana National Archives and Records Services (BNARS) acquires records through the normal transfer of public records from government agencies as well as donations of private archives. The main purpose of this paper is to analyse the processing of private archives of a prominent “Kgosi” in the history of Botswana, Kgosi Bathoen II of the Bangwaketse ethnic group. This is a qualitative study that used literature review to collect data. It also uses the author’s personal observation, as she was involved in the acquisition and processing of the Bathoen II archives. The key findings suggest that even though Batswana have not been donating their private archives in high numbers, BNARS have made strides in collecting private archives of prominent individuals in the country. Unlike public records, private archives collections may not come in any logical arrangement, which may be a tormenting exercise for the archivist to process and select what is worth preserving. This paper concludes that despite the difficulties encountered in processing a huge collection of private papers with no order, private papers should follow the normal archives’ practice of arrangement and description for eventual access by researchers or users. Additionally, the significance of private archives in filling the gaps found in the national repositories was revealed through Bathoen II collection, as it has information on various aspects of Botswana life, customs, traditions and the people. As such, the collection provides diversity to the nation’s documentary heritage and serves as a rich resource for research. This paper also presents lessons learnt in the preservation of private archives in Botswana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A growing number of countries are introducing qualification frameworks (QFs) following a common definition of outcomes, level descriptors, and a set of occupational or knowledge fields. Botswana has been no exception to this trend. The passing of the Vocational Training Act (1998) led to the creation of the Botswana National Vocational Qualifications Framework (BNVQF). Prior to that, there had been no QF. It is noteworthy that even to date, there is no inclusive national qualifications framework (NQF) in place. Typically, an NQF would include all forms of learning at all levels. The BNVQF is best conceptualized as a sectoral QF on account of its sole focus on vocational education and training (VET). It stands on its own without any links to general and higher education. The present study, the first of its kind to reflect on the three phases of the QF (introduction, capacity building and implementation), investigates the progress of the QF to date. This is accomplished by critically examining evidence, thereby establishing the extent to which aspirations and claims have been met. The Government of Botswana has had a policy on VET and training since independence. The Department of Vocational Education and Training (DVET), within the Ministry of Education, played a coordinating role without any framework to guide it. Training providers and industry did not have any binding relationship, and training was largely institution-based. The creation of the BNVQF arose from a belief by the Government that there was a mismatch between acquired skills and needs dictated by economic circumstances. The present study, therefore, aims in part to establish the extent to which the new QF is capable of addressing the perceived need. A distinction is made between rhetoric about the suitability of a framework and what it actually achieves in real time and environment. The research conducted in the Botswana scenario had two aims in mind, the first one being to capture the structure of the new BNVQF as reflected in documentary evidence and from observation. The second was to critically examine the sustainability of the framework by looking at the initiation, capacity building, implementation and evaluation stages. Evaluation of the QF will encapsulate both positive and negative evidence of its impact. Discussion will reflect what is typical and distinctive about the BNVQF.

Optimizing diversion of waste from disposal sites is one of the primary objectives recycling. Most recycling schemes around the globe are targeting household waste for source separation to achieve this objective. But there is continued debate on what proportion of waste could be diverted from disposal through targeting the dry components of household waste stream for recycling. Limited work has been done towards establishing the proportion of dry household waste that is potentially recyclable. This paper discusses waste quantity and composition issues that could have an impact on amount of household waste that could be diverted from disposal through recycling. A model developed at Warren Spring Laboratory that used contamination as the key limiting factor in recycling is used to establish the quantity of dry household waste that is potentially recyclable in the Gaborone household waste stream. The paper established that of the total household waste generated in Gaborone, 20.5 percent, which is equivalent to 12.6 tonnes/day, is potentially recyclable. This represents a relatively small diversion rate from disposal. The paper proposes that because of the limited amount of dry recyclables, the emphasis of a recycling strategy for the city and other areas with similar characteristics should be on supporting the existing private sector recycling initiatives through appropriate incentives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Over 8 million children with disabilities live in Africa and are candidates for augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), yet formal training for team members, such as speech–language therapists and special education teachers, is extremely limited. Only one university on the continent provides postgraduate degrees in AAC, and other institutions provide only short modules at an undergraduate level. The need for an introductory training course on AAC that is accessible by university students continent‐wide was identified. An online programme, namely an intelligent tutoring system (ITS), was identified as a possible option to facilitate interactive learning without the need for synchronous teaching. The use of an ITS is shown to be effective in developing knowledge and clinical reasoning in the health and rehabilitation fields. However, it has not yet been applied to student teaching in the field of AAC. Aim: To determine both the feasibility of an ITS to implement an AAC curriculum for students in four African countries, and the usability and effectiveness of such a system as a mechanism for learning about AAC. Method & Procedures: The study included two components: the development of a valid AAC curriculum; and using the ITS to test the effectiveness of implementation in a pre‐ and post‐test design with 98 speech–language therapy and special education students from five universities. Outcomes & Results: Statistically significant differences were obtained between pre‐ and post‐test assessments. Students perceived the learning experience as practical, with rich content. Conclusions & Implications: The findings suggest that the ITS‐based AAC curriculum was positively perceived by the students and potentially offers an effective means of providing supplementary AAC training to students, although modifications to the system are still required. What this paper adds: What is already known on the subject: Professionals typically lack formal training in AAC. In Africa, this presents a serious challenge as there are over 8 million children who are candidates for AAC. A need for an introductory training course on AAC, which can be accessed by university students continent‐wide, was identified. What this paper adds to existing knowledge: An AAC curriculum was developed and integrated into an ITS, an online programme allowing interactive learning through asynchronous teaching. Students from four African countries completed the AAC ITS curriculum. The curriculum was positively received by the students and statistically significant changes in knowledge were identified. What are the practical and clinical implications of this work?: This feasibility study shows that the use of an ITS is an effective means of providing AAC training to university students in these African countries. The results provide a valuable contribution toward ensuring the equitable distribution of AAC training opportunities in the African context. This will have a significant positive impact on those who are candidates for AAC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Botswana re-introduced trophy hunting in 2019. This generated a debate about the relevance of trophy hunting in achieving wildlife conservation and human well-being among wildlife stakeholders. The stakeholders include the Government of Botswana, local agro-pastoralists, photographic and trophy hunting tourism operators and anti-hunting groups. Stakeholders differ in opinion on the acceptability of trophy hunting as a socio-economic development and conservation tool. This paper, therefore, adopts the socio-ecological framework and uses Spivak's rhetoric question: "Can the Subaltern Speak", to analyse contradictions of trophy hunting, human well-being and wildlife conservation trajectory in Botswana. The study is qualitative and makes use of interviews and secondary data sources. The results indicate that the Government of Botswana and communities (agro-pastoralists) especially those residing in wildlife areas prefer both trophy hunting and photographic tourism as a strategy to derive tourism benefits and achieve wildlife conservation. Conversely, animal rights groups reject trophy hunting noting its failure to promote wildlife conservation. The paper concludes that the socio-ecological framework is the ideal guide for wildlife conservation and human well-being in wildlife areas. Both photographic tourism and trophy hunting are sustainable land use options with the potential to achieve wildlife conservation and human well-being in Botswana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Micrasterias foliacea (Desmidiales, Zygnematophyceae) is an interesting desmid species as its filamentous life form is quite different from all other species within the genus. Due to the large size of the filaments and cells, accurate species identification is easy. After its original description from Rhode Island (USA) it was recorded from five continents, but no record could be found of its presence in Europe. In this paper a review of the worldwide distribution of M. foliacea (Desmidiales, Zygnematophyceae) is presented, together with notes on the species' ecology. In addition to its currently known geographical distribution, the paper also records the species' presence at two new locations in southern Africa, namely Botswana (Okavango River) and Mozambique (Palma, Cabo Delgado). The paper presents a discussion of taxonomical levels of intraspecific taxa, based on morphological characteristics. It is proposed that the taxonomical status of M. foliacea Bailey ex Ralfs f. nodosa should be raised to the variety, as its nodular cell wall thickenings are unique morphological features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human Resource Development (HRD) is key for the achievement of macroeconomic outcomes such as economic growth and development. This is particularly true in development-deficient sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). In addition, HRD is vital for the successful delivery of international commitments such as Agenda 2030 and aspirations such as national visions. In SSA countries, largely due to increased demand for HRD in the face of post-2007 and Covid-19 fiscal strictures, the public financing of pre-service HRD is problematic. The purpose of the paper is to test the applicability of this situation in Botswana. The paper, rooted in interpretive research philosophy, adopted the qualitative case study approach. This was a desktop study that used secondary data sources. It concluded that the Botswana case mirrors the SSA situation. Concluding, the general lesson ensuing from this case is that there is a need for sustainable HRD financing in the sub-region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main aim of this research paper was to investigate the impact of covid-19 pandemic on students learning in higher education and its impact on their mental health: case of Botswana tertiary institution. The findings from the literature revealed that higher education students in Botswana were affected by the impact of covid-19. It was also found out that there day to day wellness and emotional well-being (mental state) of the students in higher education were affected with some having depression, anxiety. In addition, they were need to shift from face to face interaction amongst student with teachers to online teaching platform. The exploration also tackles how student managed pressure. Different studies proved that the use of technology has been considered the most appropriate (if not the only) alternative to keep educational systems functional in many parts of the world, including Botswana. Hence it is established that students need to keep up and adapt to the online teaching to be in track with the educational system, as we all know that Education is the key to success. This research paper comes up with appealing findings and recommendations for future literature on the subject and that can be integrated by social workers who will now have to attend students who have not yet coped with covid-19 trauma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the consequences of transhumanism on free will based on the metaphysical aspect of the Botho perspective. Botho is an indigenous philosophy, prominent in Botswana, that expresses the essence of being a person. A human person from the Botho metaphysical point of view embodies material and immaterial aspects. This study seeks to answer the question: "Would certain transhuman changes to the material body affect the human person's ability to judge and choose and hence the capacity for free will?" According to the Botho perspective, determinism and free will would be compatible in unenhanced human beings. From this viewpoint, human beings are free insofar as they can act in accordance with reason, which is a determined process. This framework will be applied to hypothetically enhanced human beings and argue that transhumanism does not necessarily undermine free will. This study will also show that some forms of biotechnological enhancement could in fact improve free will, while other forms could limit free will without eliminating it. New knowledge will be gained by applying a prominent metaphysical orientation in the Botho worldview, particularly its discussion of determinism and free will, to the debate about enhancements. It will be demonstrated that most Africans, including Batswana, are soft determinists who embrace both determinism and free will so that they are not incompatible and can co-exist. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This paper documents policy decisions and transformations in response to the COVID‐19 pandemic in Botswana and utilizes the multi‐sectoral approach (MSA) in providing this analysis. Method: A desk review of the different government gazette documents was conducted to trace health policy evolutionary developments and their impact on the general lives of the people of Botswana. Findings: Revealed the actors, roles in this policy transformation and the conditions that enhanced the smooth implementation of the policies are discussed. Conclusion: The paper concludes by making some recommendations for the country's preparedness and anticipatory guidance for any other pandemic or disaster that may arise. Clinical Relevance: This paper highlights the importance of the multisectoral approach in addressing crises such as pandemics. It also demonstrates the need for countries to have well‐defined guidelines to allow decision making in the delivery of efficient health services to the general population during pandemics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and World Health Organisation (WHO) Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) reports that only three African countries are on track to achieve universal access to at least basic water services by 2030 and only one country, Botswana, within the East and Southern Africa region (ESAR). Monitoring is crucial to advancing progress on SGD 6 in the region through providing reliable data to decision makers for policy, planning and much needed investment in the sector. This paper presents findings of the rapid assessment termed SDG 6 + 5 which relates to monitoring systems for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in 21 countries of ESAR, five years into the SDGs. The paper presents the results of a fuzzy logic analysis applied to aspects and findings from the rapid assessment. Fuzzy logic benefits the study by managing unconscious bias from qualitative assessment and evaluating the strengths of countries' WASH monitoring systems. The paper demonstrates similarities and variations between results from the rapid assessment and fuzzy analysis including Angola and Botswana scoring more favourably in enabling environments for monitoring from the analysis. The paper provides methods of rapid assessment of key aspects that impact on effective WASH monitoring and recommends the use of fuzzy logic to reduce data bias from qualitative methods. The methodology presented in the paper can be adapted and applied to other regions of the world and settings to enhance evaluations on the strength of systems within other sectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tuberculosis (TB) contact tracing is typically conducted in resource-limited settings with paper forms, but this approach may be limited by inefficiencies in data collection, storage, and retrieval and poor data quality. In Botswana, we developed, piloted, and evaluated a mobile health (mHealth) approach to TB contact tracing that replaced the paper form–based approach for a period of six months. For both approaches, we compared the time required to complete TB contact tracing and the quality of data collected. For the mHealth approach, we also administered the Computer System Usability Questionnaire to 2 health care workers who used the new approach, and we identified and addressed operational considerations for implementation. Compared to the paper form–based approach, the mHealth approach reduced the median time required to complete TB contact tracing and improved data quality. The mHealth approach also had favorable overall rating, system usefulness, information quality, and interface quality scores on the Computer System Usability Questionnaire. Overall, the mHealth approach to TB contact tracing improved on the paper form–based approach used in Botswana. This new approach may similarly benefit TB contact tracing efforts in other resource-limited settings. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper argues that there is no hierarchy in the importance attached to the different categories of human rights. Hence, Civil and Political Rights (CPRs) and Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (ESCRs) are both human rights and must be placed on the same pedestal. In a democracy, it is imperative that all rights be accorded equal treatment. The aim of this paper is to investigate whether Botswana accords equal treatment to the two categories of human rights. Using a case study approach, the paper concludes that while the Constitution of Botswana provides for CPRs, ESCRs are absent from this instrument. Consequently, the provision of economic, social, and cultural goods is policy-based. The paper argues that this raises accountability and justiciability challenges because the state cannot be sanctioned for failing to provide non-rights. It recommends the constitutionalisation of ESCRs to maximise the accountability and justiciability of ESCRs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is increasing research interest on effective approaches to talent development and ways to establish a superior environment that facilitates the growth of junior athletes into senior and elite levels. There has been little research and funding dedicated to talent development programmes in Botswana. The primary purpose of this paper is to provide a critical overview of athletic talent development programmes in the unique context of Botswana, a developing country in Southern Africa with a small population. This paper is divided into three sections. The first section presents the historical evolution of sport in Botswana, particularly pre- and post-colonial sport, providing details of how Botswana sport has developed overtime. The second section shares information on the sport delivery system, and the role of sport governing bodies and the school sport administration, to describe how sport is currently implemented with implications on athletic talent development. In the third section, the paper builds a case for talent development and sport science research with a specific context of Botswana. This paper can benefit practitioners in the sport industry by helping them to develop context-specific talent development programmes in the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At the beginning of 2020, the world came to a stand‐still when governments across the globe decided to enter states of 'emergency' or 'disaster' over the breakout of the COVID‐19 pandemic. The responses to the pandemic included stringent movement restrictions and hygiene advice preventing face‐to‐face interactions. As a result, many activities, including schooling, working, and shopping were moved online, drastically increasing exposure to cyber threats and risks. It is unclear if and how the rapid increase in internet use corresponded to an improvement in cybersecurity mindset development in countries of the Southern African Development Community (SADC). This paper explores the effect of the increase in digital technology usage due to the COVID‐19 pandemic restrictions on the relationship between cybersecurity awareness‐raising initiatives and the development of higher levels of cybersecurity mindset in Botswana, Lesotho, and Malawi. These three countries have a similar cybersecurity footprint and an average cybersecurity capacity level for the region. The research applies a comparative multiple case study approach relying on a thematic review of the literature and related documents, supported by in‐depth interviews with purposefully selected key informants from the three selected SADC countries. Findings suggest that since the start of the COVID‐19 pandemic, awareness‐raising programs have gained some momentum in our selected countries, but the cybersecurity mindset has not improved. That was attributed to low frequency and poor quality of campaigns added to the lack of training, education and lived experience. The paper highlights the need to increase the frequency and improve the quality of programmes, for greater impact on the development of local cybersecurity mindsets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This paper outlines an overview, methodology and design used to develop a low cost Online Research Portal developed completely using open source software namely PHP scripting language, MYSQL and Apache. This design can be used to develop any research portal with user registration, user login; file uploads of any format, paper details with impact factor and publication searching. The intention of a research portal is to develop an information hub to provide a platform for undergraduate, postgraduate students and staff to share ideas, build up on researches previously conducted and keep a record of people's academic contributions. These databases can contribute to the knowledge generation for the support and promotion of research development. When fully complete, it is intended that the portal can automatically and dynamically grade publications according to the impact factor. Currently the University of Botswana does not have decentralized databases such that departments can be responsible for their own updates. Updates will further update the main University database. This database can be implemented for keeping records and easy access. The same context can be applied for other Tertiary Institutions and nationally for Botswana as a whole as no database is implemented nationally to have a complete record for theses, researches and dissertations in the country. This paper proposes a methodology which implements research portals at different departments and institutes managed separately and then updates into one national database for Botswana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]