Showing papers by "University of Zambia published in 1981"

Early Kongo-Portuguese Relations: A New Interpretation

Abstract: One of the most durable myths of the history of central Africa is that of the early subversion and domination of the kingdom of Kongo by the Portuguese in the sixteenth century. Its original statement was made by James Duffy in 1959 and was amplified by Basil Davidson two years later. According to this argument the Portuguese had found a well-developed kingdom of Kongo when they reached the mouth of the Zaire River in 1483, and had entered into an alliance with the ruler. The alliance, first made with king Nzinga a Nkuwu (baptized as Joao I in 1491) and strengthened and continued with his son Mvemba a Nzinga (better known under his baptized name of Afonso I, 1506-1543) involved a partnership in which Portuguese settled in Kongo and provided technological and military assistance to Kongo in exchange for trade, mostly in slaves. As a result of this exchange Kongo adopted Christianity, and for a time the two kings addressed each other as “Brother.” But the alliance, despite its good beginning, was rapidly upset by the greed of the Portuguese settlers, who saw the situation merely as an opening for quick riches through the slave trade. As a result the higher aims of the Portuguese court were subverted--first because the Portuguese, with a higher level of development, were able to benefit from their position more than Kongo; secondly because Lisbon was unable to control its settlers in Kongo or Sao Tome. In the end there was a massive involvement of Portuguese in Kongolese affairs and a breakdown of authority in Kongo.

The Zambian administrative reforms: An alternative view

Abstract: In 1968 administrative reforms were announced in Zambia which have been interpreted as involving a commitment to decentralization. The announcement came against a background of moves to strengthen party control over the bureaucracy, and a feature of the reforms was the reinforcement of this control. Subsequent developments have been characterized by the establishment of greater control over governmental administration in provinces and districts by party political appointees and by closer control over local party officials by party appointees from the centre. These developments have not been accompanied by decentralization within ministries, and functional ministries retain control over their field agents.

Biogeochemistry of Strontium

Abstract: Chemical analysis of calcified skeletons has expanded rapidly during the past twenty-five years, undoubtedly because of advances in the general field of geochemistry and the development of more precise analytical techniques. This review and the following discussion are confined to that part of the subject that is of direct importance to the geologists and biologists in various disciplines. The composition of the sediments accumulated on the ocean bottom and the physicochemical processes that are operational are largely controlled by the activities of the marine biomass. Biogenic sediments constitute a substantial portion of the total volume of recent marine sediments; this fact stresses the role played by biochemical mechanisms in sediment generation.

Transmission of schistosomiasis in a rural area in Zambia

Abstract: Schistosomiasis transmission was studied in an agriculturally-rich, rural area in Zambia. Prevalence of Schistosoma haematobium in a village was as high as 68% whereas in a nearby area with pipe-borne water it was 18%. Cystoscopy of a small number of infected children from the high prevalence area showed bladder changes consistent with the acute phase of urinary schistosomiasis. Intestinal schistosomiasis due to S. mansoni was prevalent while a few cases due to the animal species S. mattheei were also discovered. The type of habitats harbouring the snail intermediate host is descriptionbed. Bulinus (Physopsis) africanus was the primary intermediate host of S. haematobium through B. (P) - globosus and forms intermediate between the two were also located. Biom. pfeifferi was the sole intermediate host of S. mansoni. There was a low infection rate in the snails. Though intense transmission is limited to a seasonal period, in irrigation furrows transmission is throughout the year. Village regrouping in the absence of advance planning may play a significant role in increasing the spread and intensity of transmission. A domestic supply of water and an educational propaganda campaign should be the central points of a control programme. Focal mollusciciding may also be necessary in some areas.

Eigensolution using lagrangian interpolation

Abstract: A computationally efficient and accurate solution technique for large-order eigenvalue problems with small to medium bandwidth is presented. The algorithm—called the Sub-Polynomial Iteration (SPI) method—solves for the eigenvalues and corresponding eigenvectors. directly without any transformation to the standard form. The method is an efficient combination of several separate techniques including Sturm sequence, Lagrangian polynomial interpolation, inverse iteration with shift and Gram-Schmidt orthogonalization. Computer run times for a set of sample solution indicate the efficiency of the SPI method.

A Political History of Uganda. By S. R. Karugire. Nairobi and London: Heinemann Educational Books, 1980. Pp. viii + 247. £7.50 (£3.90 paperback).

Abstract: Dr Karugire's new book considers the area now comprising Uganda from the sixteenth century to the coup which brought Amin to power in 1971. It is based almost entirely on secondary sources. Karugire discusses the establishment and development of societies in the area and the political impact on them of colonial rule. He then describes the divisions and antagonisms which developed under colonialism which, he convincingly argues, have made independent Uganda almost impossible to rule. Religious divisions and administrative policies prevented the growth of a united nationalist movement. Karugire goes on to detail the corruption and cynicism which accompanied the struggle for and maintenance of power by Obote. The book, written while Amin still controlled Uganda reflects its author's despair for his country. He is outraged by the imposition of British rule, interspersing his narrative with bitter generalizations about the nature of colonialism. But he considers that the removal of colonial power proved a disaster also. One is tempted to conclude that it was a misfortune that colonial rule was not more oppressive: at least the people might have united against it. This study, following Karugire's own assessment of Ugandan politics, is more about the acquisition than the exercise of power. There is, for example, no discussion of Obote's policies and his adoption of a socialist position. Although this history begins in the sixteenth century only the introduction and one chapter deal with the period before European penetration. The author acknowledges his difficulties in writing about this period both because of the lack of historical research and because ' even if we had all the knowledge we needed it would still be a thanklesss task' (p. 17). More suprisingly, he dismisses the possibility of economic differentiation between chiefs and people in all of precolonial Uganda and supports this position by quoting an anthropologist writing in the 1950s. And there is very little discussion of economic factors in the colonial and independence periods. This book would be more useful to students and the general reader if a detailed bibliography for each chapter were provided. A map showing pre-colonial states and trade routes would also be useful. The book has been appallingly produced. There are numerous typographical errors including misspelt names. Karugire's book is not, as his publisher claims, a comprehensive account of the history of Uganda but it does fulfil its author's intention of providing an individual interpretation, albeit a rather narrow one, of the development of politics in Uganda.

Arterial sounds by phases: on object lesson in terminological confusion?

Abstract: Korotkov's name is justly attached to the arterial sounds but it was Krylov who described their variations as phases. Ettinger added a fourth phase and denoted the lower region in which sounds are absent, as well as the boundary between, as a fifth. Thus strictly ‘Korotkov phase 4’ and ‘Korotkov phase 5’ are incorrectly attributed. Further, the variable meaning of ‘phase’ has been perpetuated so that numbering it gives a false impression of precision. Aside from the, unambiguous, systolic pressure, we could better refer to ‘pressures at muffling or at disappearance of sounds’ and indicate which of them is measured - by the use of two strokes in recording readings, e.g. as 180/120/ mmHg or 180//110 mmHg respectively. Better still would be to measure routinely all 3 relevant acoustic divisions of the occluding pressure; and record in the form 180/120/110 mmHg for the example given.

V a view from zambia

Abstract: Acquisitions are centralized, but this can lead to unsuitable selection for local libraries. The national library receives most funds, while other libraries suffer. There is lack of good bookshops. Interlending is focused on the national university library, and attempts to create a national union catalogue have failed so far. Demand for books is high, but the status of librarians is low. Interlending could be based on existing research collections, but a central collection of journals would be costly and premature.

The Mombasa Rising Against the Portuguese, 1631: From Sworn Evidence . Edited by G. S. P. Freeman-Grenville. (Fontes Historiae Africanae, Series Varia I.) London: Oxford University Press (for the British Academy), 1980. Pp. lvii + 166, £32.50 (soft covers).

Abstract: It is seventeen years since the publication of the second edition of Professor Holt's valuable book, during which time much has changed in the Sudan and new studies have been published, so that a third edition is welcome. The earlier editions have been expanded, particularly with regard to the period before the TurkoEgyptian invasion. Professor Holt has himself written extensively on the period since the last edition, especially concerning the coming of Islam, and there have been other important contributions, notably by Yusuf Fadl Hasan, and more recently R. S. O'Fahey and J. L. Spaulding. In revising the history of the twentieth century, and extending the narrative to 1978, Professor Holt has been joined by one of his former research students, Dr M. W. Daly. Fresh material and new publications on the Condominium are drawn on, especially those of Jaafar Bakhit, Muddathir Abd al-Rahim and Gabriel Warburg. The result updates the political history and refers to economic problems, but says little about the profound changes in Sudanese society which have been taking place, especially those since independence. In contrast, the social problems of contemporary Egypt are prominent in the updating by Professor Vatikiotis of The History of Egypt, first published in 1969. As well as charting the changes from Nasser's death down to 1979, the author has revised the organisation and material of chapters on the nineteenth century. In view of the importance of the continuing links between Egypt and the Sudan, it was a good idea to publish these new editions at the same time. Both works include expanded bibliographies.

Mining and spoiled land in Zambia: An example of conflicting land use in the third world

Abstract: Mining of copper and other metals to a lesser extent is the mainstay of the Zambian economy. Copper is mined in the Copperbelt situated in the northern part of the country. It is not only the the most thickly populated part of the country but also the most urbanized. Urban centers developed with the mines as their nuclei and hence pose spatial problems between the needs of a rapidly increasing population on the one hand and the requirements of the mining industry on the other. The provision of raw material for the extractive industries is a geological one. Economic history shows the realization of these potentials and thirdly, lack of planning has permitted exploitation of minerals and dumping of wastes without much regard to reclamation. Spoilation of land by mining activity is mainly caused by the methods of mining as well as by the dumping of the solid and liquid wastes from the ore crushers and concentrators; while air pollution from sulphurdioxide and dust is from the smelters. Legislation has recently being enacted to regulate the dumping of wastes and for the reclamation of waste dumps. However, this has had only a minimal effect on the problem as yet. The soil from a dump which is ready for reclamation is analysed and methods of revegetating such a dump based on ecological principles is attempted. Finally, the conflict for land between the needs of a growing urban population and the requirements of the mining industry is discussed taking Kitwe, the capital of the Copperbelt as an example.