National University of Lesotho

Membrane distillation crystallization (MDCr) has emerged as a promising technology to produce inorganic crystals from various feed solutions. MDCr leverages the benefits of membrane distillation (MD), including reduced membrane fouling, operation under waste heat or solar energy while facilitating high-purity crystal formation. This study provides a comprehensive operational assessment of MDCr and the governing mechanisms. The investigation emphasized the influence of temperature gradient, membrane characteristics and feed composition on the processes of supersaturation, nucleation and crystal growth. Attention was focused on the formation of the crystals, and the polymorphs' selectivity influenced by process configuration. Practical applications are discussed across inorganic materials, food and pharmaceutical industries, where MDCr shows potential for recovery of functional crystals. Despite promising application, MDCr remains affected by membrane fouling, wetting, and energy demand, which impact fouling, supersaturation and crystal growth dynamics. The role of in-situ monitoring, modelling and process control is identified to ensure reproducibility and scale-up. The findings show that process optimization and coupling of heat and mass transfer promote the formation of tailored crystalline materials from complex feed solutions. However, this process requires standardized methods, real-time analysis and techno-economic assessment to accelerate the MDCr deployment in the current industrial operations. • Mechanistic understanding of supersaturation, nucleation and crystal grow in MDCr. • Systematic evaluation of fouling, wetting and membrane material limiting MDCr's sustainability. • Risk identification of MDCr application linked to fluorinated membrane materials. • Defining the MDCr future research directions including AI-assisted process and smart membranes

This study explores the barriers and drivers influencing energy source adoption in rural Lesotho, focusing on the villages of Machaping and Mohlanapeng. Employing Rational Choice Theory and Collective Action Theory, it examines how economic constraints, health risks, environmental concerns and infrastructural limitations shape energy preferences. In Machaping, where electricity is scarce, people mostly depend on traditional energy sources like cow dung, paraffin, and firewood. These fuels are affordable and easy to find. While there’s a strong wish for cleaner energy options, they are often out of reach, which means the community continues to rely on these harmful and unsustainable fuels. This reliance on traditional energy sources heightens health risks and contributes to environmental issues such as deforestation and soil erosion. In contrast, Mohlanapeng, which has been electrified since 2016, showcases the notable advantages of being connected to the grid, including improved cooking methods, better lighting, and enhanced safety. However, high electricity prices, a lack of funds for appliances, and frequent power outages force many residents to rely on traditional fuels as a supplement. This dual dependence highlights the ongoing challenges of achieving a complete energy transition, even in areas that are electrified. This research emphasises the need for specific policy actions, inclusive community involvement, and the development of sustainable infrastructure to overcome these hurdles and ensure equitable access to cleaner energy. This study offers practical insights to facilitate effective energy transitions and enhance livelihoods in Lesotho by providing a comprehensive view of rural energy dynamics.

Access to electricity is a pivotal driver of socio-economic development, particularly in rural areas where it enhances education, healthcare, and economic activities. Despite its significance, rural electrification remains a serious challenge in many developing countries, including Lesotho. This study examines the experiences of two rural communities, Kolo Hlahloeng and Bongalla, located in the Mafeteng District of Lesotho in their pursuit of electrification through community-driven initiatives. Employing the Sustainable Livelihoods Approach (SLA) as the analytical framework, the research delves into the interplay between local governance, community investments, and socio-political dynamics. Data were collected through focus group discussions with community members, chiefs, and councilors, complemented by analysis of historical records, financial data, and community narratives. The findings reveal that, despite considerable financial investments and efforts, both communities continue to face major obstacles such as inadequate funding, logistical difficulties, and a lack of political support. The lack of electricity adversely affects livelihoods, disproportionately burdening women and hindering economic development. Nonetheless, the communities exhibit resilience and innovation, exploring alternative energy solutions like solar power. The study underscores the necessity for inclusive, community-driven approaches and supportive policies to achieve sustainable rural electrification in Lesotho and similar contexts.

The integration of information and communication technology (ICT) has the potential to enhance teaching and learning in History by improving learner engagement and access to diverse perspectives. This study explored the factors influencing teachers’ perceptions of ICT integration in History teaching and learning in Lesotho. A qualitative approach was adopted, using a multiple case study design. The sample comprised five History teachers from five secondary schools, purposively selected for their role in teaching History, with schools chosen for their accessibility. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, conducted both face-to-face and via telephone, and analysed using thematic analysis with the support of ATLAS. ti software. The findings indicate that although teachers generally hold positive perceptions of ICT integration, effective use is constrained by limited ICT skills, inadequate and inaccessible resources, insufficient administrative and technical support, and limited professional development opportunities. The study concludes that ICT integration in History teaching and learning is shaped primarily by institutional and capacity-related factors rather than teachers’ attitudes alone.

The Lesotho Merino sheep is a native Merino strain formed from the indigenous fat‐tailed sheep through crossbreeding over many generations. This study is aimed at phenotypically characterizing Merino sheep locally bred in four agro‐ecological zones of Lesotho, facilitating easy selection based on morphological traits. Body weight (BW), body length (BL), withers height (WH), rump height (RH), chest girth (CG), rump length (RL) and rump width (RW) were measured in 2515 mature shorn Merino ewes from four agro‐ecological zones: mountains (n = 1554), the Senqu River Valley (n = 350), lowlands (n = 395) and foothills (n = 216). A multivariate discriminant analysis procedure identified and quantified the traits that differentiate the Merino sheep across these agro‐ecological zones. The structure matrix indicated that RL had the highest loading (0.82) in Function 1, whereas WH (0.6) and head width (0.36) exhibited the highest loadings in Functions 2 and 3, respectively. The standardized canonical discriminant coefficients showed that RL (1.02) and RW (0.60) were the highest in Function 1, whereas CG (0.65) and RH (0.41) were in Function 2, and WH (1.61) and RW (0.41) were in Function 3. The Mahalanobis distance was highest between the lowlands and the Senqu River Valley (3.46) and lowest between the mountains and foothills (0.61). Principal component analysis (PCA) extracted three components per agro‐ecological zone. Morphological traits differentiate Merino sheep across the agro‐ecological zones, suggesting the presence of two strains: one suited for the mountains, the Senqu River Valley, and foothills and another suited for the lowlands.

This study investigates the transformative potential of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in reshaping intra-African trade dynamics. Employing a gravity model approach, the research elucidates the complex trade relationships intrinsic to the African continent, highlighting the opportunities and growth prospects AfCFTA presents for economic advancement, trade efficiency enhancement and regional integration promotion. To conduct this analysis, panel data were sourced from diverse data sources, including the CEPII Data, the International Monetary Fund, the World Integrated Trade Solution (WITS), the Worldwide Governance Indicators (WGI) and the World Development Indicators. The ordinary least squares (OLS) regression results reveal a notable positive correlation between the AfCFTA and intra-African trade, suggesting a potential increase of 52.3% in intra-African trade attributable to the AfCFTA. The findings further delineate significant disparities in gross domestic product (GDP) among member nations, thereby underscoring the existing economic imbalances within the trade area. The results indicate that for every percentage increase in GDP, intra-African trade has a 50% likelihood of experiencing an uptick. Conversely, a percentage increase in distance yields an average decrease of 8.9% in intra-African trade, all other factors remaining constant ( ceteris paribus ). The model demonstrates a strong fit, with the independent variables accounting for 89.3% of the variance in the dependent variable. Additionally, the fixed effects analysis corroborates that the AfCFTA exhibits a positive and statistically significant relationship with intra-African trade at the 10% level, although indicating a weaker association quantified at 35.2%. The analysis further reveals that trade increases by $0.485 for every unit dollar increase in GDP. The Poisson pseudo-maximum likelihood (PPML) results affirm the model’s robustness, demonstrating that independent variables elucidate 90.4% of the variance in the dependent variable. Moreover, a percentage increase in the AfCFTA correlates with a 37.5% increase in trade. Instrumental variables techniques were also employed to correct for potential endogeneity, particularly with GDP and distance, confirming the reliability and robustness of the estimated coefficients. The study also emphasizes the alignment of the AfCFTA with the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly concerning poverty alleviation and the enhancement of economic opportunities. However, it is noteworthy that being landlocked negatively impacts trade between nations. Geographically, nations in closer proximity tend to engage in higher volumes of trade, while those situated further apart experience impediments to trade.

Law enforcement agencies are always expected to act professionally in performing security duties. The concept of security can include both conventional and human aspects. Human security features prominently in contemporary discussions of international and national security architecture, including pandemic. This study critically examined the responses and activities of Nigerian security agencies, particularly the Nigerian Police and the Nigerian Army, during the COVID-19 lockdown in northern Nigeria. The lockdown and its enforcement by these agencies resulted in human rights violations and other security threats. Data for this study were collected through semi-structured interviews with selected key informants, using a qualitative case study approach. The 15 informants were drawn from various groups, including security personnel, medical doctors, members of affected communities, and government officials. The data were analysed using content analysis. The study found that people in the northern states of Nigeria have grossly violated the lockdown order in search of livelihood due to the enforced, overwhelmingly harsh and severe economy, leading them to use porous routes and sometimes highways to travel between states. This situation resulted in torture, brutality, harassment, and extortion by security agents in the region. The study, therefore, recommends that, in future unforeseen events such as lockdowns, the government should provide for the extremely needy to prevent breaches of law and order, while law enforcement agencies should be guided towards professionalism.

This qualitative case study investigated overgeneralisation of derivational rules among English as a Second Language (ESL) secondary school students in a high school in the Maseru district, Lesotho. Using focus groups discussions, interviews and student compositions as data collection methods, the study examined a corpus of utterances by 100 students (40 Form B, 30 Form C, 30 Form E) and nine English teachers based on the works of Aronoff and colleagues, who hold similar perspectives on word formation phenomenon. The findings revealed that students frequently overgeneralised the derivational prefixes un-, in-, and dis-, as well as the suffixes -ness, -tion, -ment, -ful, -able -ify and -ise. These errors were attributed to a lack of understanding of derivational rules and their restrictions by both ESL teachers and learners as well as the students’ limited exposure to English vocabulary due to a weak reading culture. The study concludes that these overgeneralisations negatively impact students’ language proficiency, making it essential to address these critical errors in ESL education.