Browsing by Author "Mbayi, Letsema"
Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
Results Per Page
Sort Options
- ItemOpen AccessThe impact of a pro-male circumcision (MC) approach towards an HIV/AIDS prevention strategy in Botswana(2009) Mbayi, Letsema; Nattrass, NicoliThis paper investigates how the emergence of male circumcision (MC) as part of a broader HIV prevention strategy will impact on Botswana's HIV/AIDS epidemic. Although is [sic] been more then two decades since Botswana's first case of HIV was diagnosed, HIV/AIDS is still the country's major development challenge. The government has played a key role in providing comprehensive treatment and care interventions and although prevention has always been the government's most important priority, the success of this has been limited. If Botswana is to succeed in decreasing the magnitude of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in future generations there is a paramount need for more effective prevention interventions. Evidence of the preventative impact of MC presents a major opportunity to address this need. Botswana's government has recognized this opportunity and has begun a scale-up of the MC service in the country's health sector. Qualitative methods and quantitative methods show that the current pro-MC approach towards HIV prevention strategy in Botswana could have a positive impact on the country's HIV/AIDS epidemic. However, the possible unintended effects of the scale-up of MC on behaviour should be considered carefully. Great care should be taken in ensuring that there is clarity amongst circumcised men, as well as the general public, on the 'limited' preventative impact of MC to deter behavioural disinhibition from taking place.
- ItemRestrictedLinkages in Botswana's Diamond Cutting and Polishing Industry(2011) Mbayi, LetsemaThe paper aims to investigate whether Botswana is succeeding in developing a viable and sustainable diamond cutting and polishing industry as part of the Government’s mineral beneficiation policy. This paper also aims to examine the nature and extent of forward linkages in the cutting and polishing industry and what role the linkage drives are playing in the widening and deepening these linkages. The research questions are addressed through by primary and secondary data collection. The research found that despite the weak economic rationale for the beneficiation policy, in the last 5 years Botswana has succeeded in developing a diamond cutting and polishing industry with significant local linkages. The forward linkages are policy driven and their progress is being hindered by the limited downstream skills amongst locals. Botswana’s cutting and polishing industry appears to be viable as secondary data suggests that the manufactures are either breaking-even or making a profit. The sustainability of the cutting and polishing industry hinges on viable rough diamond supply to the manufacturing firms. Significant prospecting activities, the expansion of mines and the current strategy by the biggest producer to optimize revenue (by only mining diamonds when demand exists) could increase the life diamond mining past the Government’s current forecast of two decades.