Patriarchy and the participation of women in Zimbabwean national politics: a study of selected women Politicians in Matabeleland Region
- Authors: Manyevere, Sithabile
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Women politicians Women -- Political activity -- Zimbabwe
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/17506 , vital:41082
- Description: The research sought to analyse how patriarchal perceptions have affected women in Zimbabwean national politics with specific focus on women politicians in Matabeleland region. The researcher observed that women politicians in this region seem to face multiple oppressions and yet seem to have been excluded in previous studies. The mixed method approach was adopted for the research. Questionnaires were used for the quantitative method, while key informant interviews and focus group discussions were utilised for the qualitative method. Findings from the survey revealed stereotypical perceptions such as that men are better leaders than women, women are not capable of holding decision making positions and the perception that politics is not safe for women. The findings from the key informants indicate that women politicians in Matabeleland face quite a number of challenges emanating from these patriarchal perceptions. The challenges include violence, humiliation and cultural stigmatization. Although women have attempted to resist patriarchy, it seems that the resistance has not been enough to eliminate the patriarchal mentality and the oppressions that accompany it. The research adopts a combination of feminist and intersectionality theory as a framework for analysis of the problem under investigation. The research potentially contributes to academic discourse by advancing literature on the multi-faceted aspects of patriarchy. The study recommends psychological and financial empowerment of women, electoral reforms and criminalization of offenders. The implementation of proper reforms and corrective measures envisage the long-awaited new dawn among women whom since time memorial, have been suppressed by deep-seated societal and patriarchal beliefs.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Manyevere, Sithabile
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Women politicians Women -- Political activity -- Zimbabwe
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/17506 , vital:41082
- Description: The research sought to analyse how patriarchal perceptions have affected women in Zimbabwean national politics with specific focus on women politicians in Matabeleland region. The researcher observed that women politicians in this region seem to face multiple oppressions and yet seem to have been excluded in previous studies. The mixed method approach was adopted for the research. Questionnaires were used for the quantitative method, while key informant interviews and focus group discussions were utilised for the qualitative method. Findings from the survey revealed stereotypical perceptions such as that men are better leaders than women, women are not capable of holding decision making positions and the perception that politics is not safe for women. The findings from the key informants indicate that women politicians in Matabeleland face quite a number of challenges emanating from these patriarchal perceptions. The challenges include violence, humiliation and cultural stigmatization. Although women have attempted to resist patriarchy, it seems that the resistance has not been enough to eliminate the patriarchal mentality and the oppressions that accompany it. The research adopts a combination of feminist and intersectionality theory as a framework for analysis of the problem under investigation. The research potentially contributes to academic discourse by advancing literature on the multi-faceted aspects of patriarchy. The study recommends psychological and financial empowerment of women, electoral reforms and criminalization of offenders. The implementation of proper reforms and corrective measures envisage the long-awaited new dawn among women whom since time memorial, have been suppressed by deep-seated societal and patriarchal beliefs.
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Evaluation of the medicinal potentials of Bulbine Abyssinica A. rich in the management of diabetes mellitus in the Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Authors: Kibiti, Cromwell Mwiti
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Medicinal plants -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Diabetes -- Alternative treatment -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/3077 , vital:28252
- Description: Diabetes mellitus is a chronic physiological carbohydrate metabolic disorder with significant impact on the economy, quality of life and life expectancy in South Africa. Herbal medicine has become the alternative therapy in the management of this disease. However, their safety and effectiveness have not been investigated. To address this, one of the plants used in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa, Bulbine abyssinica A. Rich (Asphodelaceae), was evaluated. Bulbine abyssinica is one of the species used in the management of diabetes mellitus. This plant was mentioned during an ethnobotanical survey conducted in Nkonkobe municipality of the Eastern Cape Province. Though a decoction prepared from the whole plant is used in the treatment of diabetes mellitus, the mechanism of action and its safety has not been elucidated. Thus, this research work was designed to contribute to the understanding of the possible mechanism of action of B. abyssinica as an antidiabetic medicinal plant and its toxic potentials to the users. The aqueous extract exhibited remarkable inhibitory activity onα-amylase (estimated inhibitory concentration (IC)50 value of 3.28 μg/ml), while the acetone extract exhibited weak inhibitory activity. The acetone extract exhibited notable α-glucosidase inhibitory activity (IC50 value of 4.27 μg/ml) while aqueous extract had significantly weak activity. The Lineweaver-Burk double reciprocal plots revealed that the aqueous extract exerts noncompetitive inhibition on the α-amylase activity while the acetone extract exerts a near competitive inhibitory pattern on the α-glucosidase activity. The extracts from the plant possessed high free radical scavenging activities, with acetone extract exhibiting the highest activities in all assay models used except with ferric reducing power and nitric oxide (NO) scavenging ability. The aqueous extract exhibited the highest ferric reducing power and nitric oxide radical mopping strength while the essential oil exhibited the highest scavenging activities with 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and relatively high ferric reducing power and nitric oxide scavenging ability. The acetone extract and the essential oil of this species exhibited higher albumin denaturation inhibition than the aqueous extract while the latter showed the greatest membrane lysis protection. The essential oil, acetone and aqueous extracts from this plant significantly inhibited the growth of Shigelle flexneri, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis. Klebsiella pneumonia, Proteus vulgaris and Streptococcus pyogens growth were inhibited by acetone and aqueous extracts. The essential oil also showed inhibitory activity against Proteus vulgaris. However, the extracts were active against the growth of only three fungi species. The essential oil showed significant inhibitory activity against Trichophyton rubrum. The aqueous extract inhibited the growth of Microsporum gypseum while the acetone extract was active against Microsporum canis, and Microsporum gypseum. The carbohydrate, crude fibre, moisture, ash, crude protein and crude fat of approximately 74.8 percent, 8.9 percent, 8.8 percent, 8 percent, 7.7 percent and 0.6 percent, respectively, were detected in this plant. The species is characterized by moderate levels of oxalates, phytic acids, Vitamin A, Vitamin C and Vitamin E. Potassium and calcium were present in highest levels, while magnesium, iron, sodium, aluminium and phosphorus were moderately present. Manganese, zinc and copper where in low amounts. These vitamins and mineral elements were within their recommended daily allowance (RDA) in humans. The investigation also revealed appreciable amounts of total phenols, flavonoids, flavanols, proanthocyanidins and alkaloids in both acetone and aqueous extracts while saponins and tannins were in trace amounts. The essential oil was characterized by large quantities of terpenes (91.9 percent) and small fraction of esters (8.01 percent).
- Full Text:
- Authors: Kibiti, Cromwell Mwiti
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Medicinal plants -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Diabetes -- Alternative treatment -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/3077 , vital:28252
- Description: Diabetes mellitus is a chronic physiological carbohydrate metabolic disorder with significant impact on the economy, quality of life and life expectancy in South Africa. Herbal medicine has become the alternative therapy in the management of this disease. However, their safety and effectiveness have not been investigated. To address this, one of the plants used in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa, Bulbine abyssinica A. Rich (Asphodelaceae), was evaluated. Bulbine abyssinica is one of the species used in the management of diabetes mellitus. This plant was mentioned during an ethnobotanical survey conducted in Nkonkobe municipality of the Eastern Cape Province. Though a decoction prepared from the whole plant is used in the treatment of diabetes mellitus, the mechanism of action and its safety has not been elucidated. Thus, this research work was designed to contribute to the understanding of the possible mechanism of action of B. abyssinica as an antidiabetic medicinal plant and its toxic potentials to the users. The aqueous extract exhibited remarkable inhibitory activity onα-amylase (estimated inhibitory concentration (IC)50 value of 3.28 μg/ml), while the acetone extract exhibited weak inhibitory activity. The acetone extract exhibited notable α-glucosidase inhibitory activity (IC50 value of 4.27 μg/ml) while aqueous extract had significantly weak activity. The Lineweaver-Burk double reciprocal plots revealed that the aqueous extract exerts noncompetitive inhibition on the α-amylase activity while the acetone extract exerts a near competitive inhibitory pattern on the α-glucosidase activity. The extracts from the plant possessed high free radical scavenging activities, with acetone extract exhibiting the highest activities in all assay models used except with ferric reducing power and nitric oxide (NO) scavenging ability. The aqueous extract exhibited the highest ferric reducing power and nitric oxide radical mopping strength while the essential oil exhibited the highest scavenging activities with 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and relatively high ferric reducing power and nitric oxide scavenging ability. The acetone extract and the essential oil of this species exhibited higher albumin denaturation inhibition than the aqueous extract while the latter showed the greatest membrane lysis protection. The essential oil, acetone and aqueous extracts from this plant significantly inhibited the growth of Shigelle flexneri, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis. Klebsiella pneumonia, Proteus vulgaris and Streptococcus pyogens growth were inhibited by acetone and aqueous extracts. The essential oil also showed inhibitory activity against Proteus vulgaris. However, the extracts were active against the growth of only three fungi species. The essential oil showed significant inhibitory activity against Trichophyton rubrum. The aqueous extract inhibited the growth of Microsporum gypseum while the acetone extract was active against Microsporum canis, and Microsporum gypseum. The carbohydrate, crude fibre, moisture, ash, crude protein and crude fat of approximately 74.8 percent, 8.9 percent, 8.8 percent, 8 percent, 7.7 percent and 0.6 percent, respectively, were detected in this plant. The species is characterized by moderate levels of oxalates, phytic acids, Vitamin A, Vitamin C and Vitamin E. Potassium and calcium were present in highest levels, while magnesium, iron, sodium, aluminium and phosphorus were moderately present. Manganese, zinc and copper where in low amounts. These vitamins and mineral elements were within their recommended daily allowance (RDA) in humans. The investigation also revealed appreciable amounts of total phenols, flavonoids, flavanols, proanthocyanidins and alkaloids in both acetone and aqueous extracts while saponins and tannins were in trace amounts. The essential oil was characterized by large quantities of terpenes (91.9 percent) and small fraction of esters (8.01 percent).
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