Namibian Journal for Research, Science and Technology

The individual effects of workplace bullying: experiences from Namibia

Clifford Hlatywayo — 2024-11-28

Workplace bullying has also been documented as having detrimental implications for employees, ranging from psychological to physical harm. Bullying in the workplace negatively influences organisational and individual performance, which has a knock-on effect on the workplace environment. Using a qualitative approach, twelve self-reported targets were interviewed in depth, and the data were analysed using content analysis. The themes that emerged regarding coping with workplace bullying were psychological effects, social effects, physical and mental fatigue, and work performance. The individual effects of workplace bullying included anxiety, feeling edgy, frustration, weight loss, fatigue, irritability, stress, sleep disturbances, fear, headaches, inability to concentrate, unhappiness, and loss of self-confidence. The present study contributes to workplace bullying research by describing workplace bullying as a process in which targets experience bullying. The data also provide insight into a new national context, namely Namibia. The researchers recommend in-house mental well-being checks, work-life balance mechanisms for human resources, and costing employee absence and reduced productivity.

The lived experiences of students in regard to their mental health at the University of Namibia

H.N.K. Kalimba — 2024-11-28

This paper presents the findings of a qualitative research study conducted among students at the University of Namibia. The study focuses on the lived experiences of students registered at the University of Namibia regarding their mental health. The study aimed to explore the mental health issues faced by students at the University of Namibia, investigate how students cope with these challenges, and examine the institutional support available to promote students’ mental health. The study adopted a phenomenological design and used a qualitative research approach to gain insight into the experiences of students at the University of Namibia. The participants included 10 students and four key informants, namely a lecturer, a Student Representative Council member, the Dean of Students, and a social worker. The study used exploratory and thematic analysis. The findings were categorised into codes, including stress, COVID-19, negative encounters with lecturers, coping mechanisms, and institutional support. Some participants displayed symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress, which affected their mental well-being and contributed to poor academic performance.

Positive psychology research within the workplace in Namibia: findings and prospects for the future

Wesley Pieters — 2024-11-28

The field of psychology has been criticised for being overly focused on pathology and less focused on the positive aspects of human functioning. Positive psychology research assesses what is going well and seeks to identify ways to learn from these phenomena in order to enhance positive functioning among human beings. Using a desk-based review, this study discusses research related to positive psychology conducted in Namibia within the world of work. The study focused on research published between 2009 and 2019 across different industries, including education, health and social services, government institutions, the service industry, and the mining sector. The recommendations include enhancing positive human qualities, identifying factors that work against positive functioning, improving the working environment, promoting healthy leadership styles, and developing the overall well-being of organisations. This study aims to consolidate existing research within the Namibian context, take stock of current knowledge, and guide future approaches and areas of focus within the field of positive psychology. There is limited research in the field of positive psychology, and even less within the Namibian context. This study therefore aims to help reduce this knowledge gap within the field of psychology.

Nutritional value and antimicrobial activity of selected edible tubers of Namibia

R.H. Hans — 2024-11-28

Indigenous leafy vegetables have been extensively studied, but edible tuberous vegetables remain relatively underexplored in terms of their nutritional and medicinal value. This study aimed to evaluate the macronutrient, total phenolic and flavonoid contents, as well as the antioxidant, cytotoxicity, antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities, of six edible tubers from Namibia. Proximate analysis revealed that the tubers had high total carbohydrate and energy contents, with the highest values recorded for Walleria nutans. The high protein content of 13 g/100 g dry mass recorded for Coccinia rehmannii supports the use of members of this genus as nutritional protein supplements. The best, albeit weak, antimicrobial activity was recorded for the dichloromethane (DCM) extract of Eulophia hereroensis, with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 2.5 mg/mL against Escherichia coli. Evaluation of the antibiofilm activity against Staphylococcus aureus showed that the DCM extract of Walleria nutans displayed the strongest biofilm formation inhibitory activity, whereas E. hereroensis exhibited the strongest biofilm eradication activity. A high total phenolic content and strong antioxidant activity were recorded for the aqueous methanolic extract of E. hereroensis, with IC₅₀ values of 0.056 ± 0.000 mg/mL and 0.041 ± 0.003 mg/mL obtained using the DPPH and H₂O₂ scavenging assays, respectively. All tubers showed little to no cytotoxicity, with CC₅₀ values > 200 µg/mL against the VERO cell line. The macronutrient content, in vitro antioxidant activity and antimicrobial activity of the selected tuberous vegetables are reported here for the first time. Eulophia hereroensis and W. nutans showed potential as functional foods and merit further in-depth phytochemical study to isolate and characterise the phenolic compounds and potential antibiofilm agents.

Exploring the post-independence experiences of the Namibian children of the liberation struggle: a qualitative study

Manfred Janik — 2024-11-28

Namibia’s independence on 21 March 1990 signified the end of the struggle against German and South African colonial rule. Beginning in 1989, approximately 40 000–50 000 exiled Namibians, including children born and/or raised in exile, were voluntarily repatriated to Namibia. These children are referred to as the Children of the Liberation Struggle (CLS). CLS demonstrations and demands for employment, educational opportunities and national documents from the government have made headlines in the media in recent years. Because of these demands and protests, many Namibians often label the CLS as deviant and unproductive. The perceived demanding behaviour of some CLS in Namibia prompts consideration of the possible reasons for their behaviour. Understanding what drives behaviour can assist in making sense of it. The purpose of this study was therefore to explore the experiences of the CLS since their return “home” and to determine how these experiences have affected their behaviour. A qualitative approach was employed, with in-depth interviews conducted with 10 employed CLS in the Khomas Region. Participants represented two generations of CLS, born between 1972 and 1978 and between 1979 and 1986. The interviews were transcribed, and the data were categorised and analysed using thematic analysis. The CLS reported several post-independence experiences, including excitement and disappointment associated with the homecoming experience, feeling unsafe during and after repatriation, separation from biological parents and siblings, adjustment difficulties, lack of psychological support, the pursuit of educational opportunities, and negative labelling. The study recommends psychological interventions, such as therapeutic group sessions for employed and unemployed CLS, as well as an awareness campaign among Namibians to promote understanding of what the CLS endured both before and after independence.

The impact of financial literacy on the sustainability of female entrepreneurship in the Namibian sosmetic industry

S.R. Sibanda — 2024-11-28

This paper analyses the impact of financial literacy on the sustainability of female entrepreneurship in the Namibian cosmetic industry. The aim of the study was to identify the financial literacy challenges faced by female entrepreneurs in Namibia when managing their businesses, analyse these challenges, and propose possible solutions. Previous studies have focused either on the overall financial literacy of the Namibian adult population or on the financial literacy of SMEs in general. This study therefore investigated the impact of financial literacy skills on the sustainability of female-run enterprises within the Namibian cosmetic industry. The study adopted a correlational research design, and the data were analysed using STATA 15 statistical software. The results confirmed that most entrepreneurs in Namibia are young, female and, for the most part, educated. However, the findings revealed that, despite their relatively high levels of education, female entrepreneurs still lack the necessary financial literacy skills. For example, female entrepreneurs had lower financial literacy skills than their male counterparts, which has negatively affected the sustainability of their businesses over the years. The study recommends that, as a matter of urgency, the Namibian cosmetic industry and other interested stakeholders make concerted efforts to provide financial literacy education to female entrepreneurs. Such training would equip them with the financial literacy skills needed to improve the sustainability of their enterprises.