South African Development Community Research Articles

Toward revolutionizing water-energy-food nexus composite index model: from availability, accessibility, and governance

The water-energy-food (WEF) nexus has emerged as a critical research interest to support integrated resource planning, management, and security. For this reason, many tools have been developed recently to evaluate the WEF nexus security and monitor progress toward the WEF-related sustainable development goals. Among these, calculating the WEF composite index model is critical since it can provide a quantitative approach to demonstrate the WEF nexus security status. However, the current WEF nexus index model framework needs to include the incorporation of governance indicators, neglecting the importance of governance in the WEF nexus framework. Thus, this article develops a new WEF nexus composite index model that incorporates governance indicators in each subpillar. The principal component analysis (PCA) is adopted to reduce the variables’ collinearity and the model’s dimensionality. A quasi-Monte Carlo-based uncertainty and global sensitivity analysis are applied to the index model to assess its effectiveness. Finally, the new WEF index model is applied to the 16 South African Development Community (SADC) countries as a case study. A critical synergy effect within the WEF nexus framework is identified that nations with better WEF governance ability tend to perform better in improving the WEF accessibility capability, suggesting the importance of governance in the WEF nexus security framework.

Systematic review of prevalence and risk factors of transfusion transmissible infections among blood donors, and blood safety improvements in Southern Africa.

Blood and blood products are listed as one of the essential medicines by the World Health Organization (WHO). In addition to inadequate supply, most sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) nations fail to meet their blood needs because many donated blood units are discarded because they are contaminated with transfusion-transmitted infections (TTIs). We sought to estimate the prevalence of TTIs, identify the risk factors for TTIs among blood donors, and identify the efforts and interventions that have been made to improve blood safety in Southern African nations, particularly the nations of the South African Development Community (SADC). We investigated the prevalence and risk factors for TTIs, blood safety interventions, and blood quality improvement in the SADC region from major PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, and HINARI databases from 1 January 2011 to 31 April 2021. All investigations followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). In meta-analysis, we estimated the pooled TTIs prevalence and summarised the same using forest plots. A total of 180 articles published from the SSA region were identified covering our three targeted themes: TTI prevalence, risk factors for TTIs, and blood safety improvements. Of these 180 articles, only 27 (15%) focused on the SADC region. The overall pooled TTI prevalence estimate was 2.0% (95% CI: 1.0-3.0) and hepatitis B was the most prevalent TTI in the region (prevalence = 3.0; 95% CI: 2.0-5.0). The prevalence of HIV, HCV, and syphilis was 2.0% (95% CI: 1.0-4.0), 1.0% (95% CI: 0.0-2.0), and 2.0% (95% CI: 0.0-8.0), respectively. In general, replacement donors and first-time donors were more likely to be infected with TTIs than repeat donors. Twelve articles explored blood safety research in the region; however, they vary greatly highlighting the need for consistent and more comprehensive research. Few publications were identified that were from the SADC region, indicating lack of research or resources towards improving both quantity and quality of blood donation. TTI prevalence remains one of the highest in the world and blood safety recommendations vary across the region. More effort should be directed towards developing a cohesive regional blood transfusion policy and effective blood monitoring and evaluation strategies.

Information Technology Factors Impacting Educators before and During COVID-19: A Study of Developing Countries

Purpose: The purpose of the paper is to explore the negative impact of information technology (IT) factors prior to and during COVID-19 from the perspectives of developing country educators, to obtain context to the higher education environment to aid future teaching practices.
 Design/methodology/approach: The study employs a mixed method approach comprising a questionnaire and interviews with educators situated in two African developing countries from the South African Development Community (SADC).
 Findings: This paper found that the IT factors that most adversely impacted educators’ delivery of the academic programme, was the student element (students’ internet access, students’ access to IT equipment, students’ proficiency with technology and data costs for students). The IT factors negative impact was mostly also intensified amid the pandemic.
 Implications/Originality/Value: Far from being just a disruption, the pandemic is an indication of the urgent need to build sustainable higher education institutions to ensure that educators deliver quality academic programmes to all. The research obtained an understanding of IT factors (past and present) that may hinder educators’ orientations towards the future. Bringing to the fore the IT hindrances, educators can act by means of their environment, to enable teaching to continue under all conditions.

Dejudicialisation of International Law and Future Trajectories

Recent developments at the international level reveal that there is an increasing number of political resistances against international courts and tribunals as part of wide criticism of the basic principles of international law such as the rule of law, global governance, multilateralism and democratic liberalism. In this respect, the future and impact of the judicialisation of international law, which refers to the uneven increase in the jurisdiction and judicial activity of international courts, are questioned. Similarly, whether dejudicialisation which expresses the removal of the international courts’ power as a reverse movement, constitutes a new trend and will continue increasingly in the future has become relevant. There are certain assertions to defend the existence of international courts and the continuation of judicialisation –albeit at a slower pace– in the future despite the increasing incidence of dejudicialisation. Examples of extraordinary resistance which can trigger the dejudicialisation process are still exceptional and cannot completely eliminate judicialisation in current conditions. This argument has been reached by examining three recent backlash examples, including the withdrawals from the International Criminal Court (ICC), the paralysis of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Appellate Body, and the limitation of the jurisdiction of the South African Development Community Tribunal(SADC) Tribunal. Clearly, the displacement of international courts, which have become inseparable actors of international law, cannot be achieved by a few examples of extraordinary resistance, both in the present and in the near future.

Information Technology Factors Impacting Educators before and during COVID-19: A Study of Developing Countries

Purpose: The purpose of the paper is to explore the negative impact of information technology (IT) factors prior to and during COVID-19 from the perspectives of developing country educators, to obtain context to the higher education environment to aid future teaching practices.
 Design/methodology/approach: The study employs a mixed method approach comprising a questionnaire and interviews with educators situated in two African developing countries from the South African Development Community (SADC).
 Findings: This paper found that the IT factors that most adversely impacted educators’ delivery of the academic programme, was the student element (students’ internet access, students’ access to IT equipment, students’ proficiency with technology and data costs for students). The IT factors negative impact was mostly also intensified amid the pandemic.
 Implications/Originality/Value: Far from being just a disruption, the pandemic is an indication of the urgent need to build sustainable higher education institutions to ensure that educators deliver quality academic programmes to all. The research obtained an understanding of IT factors (past and present) that may hinder educators’ orientations towards the future. Bringing to the fore the IT hindrances, educators can act by means of their environment, to enable teaching to continue under all conditions.

Progress towards unique patient identification and case-based surveillance within the Southern African development community.

Population mobility makes patient-tracking and care linkage in the South African Development Community (SADC) challenging. Case-based surveillance (CBS) through individual-level clinical data linked with a unique patient-identifier (UPI) is recommended. We conducted a mixed-methods landscape analysis of UPI and CBS implementation within selected SADC countries, this included: (1) SADC UPI implementation literature review; (2) assessment of UPI and CBS implementation for high HIV-prevalence SADC countries; (3) UPI implementation case-study in selected South African primary healthcare (PHC) facilities. Research into CBS and UPI implementation for the SADC region is lacking. Existing patient-identification methods often fail and limit patient-tracking. Paper-based records and poor integration between health-information systems further restrict patient-tracking. Most countries were in the early-middle stages of CBS and faced UPI challenges. Our South African case-study found that the UPI often goes uncaptured. Difficulties tracking patients across prevention and care cascades will continue until a functional and reliable UPI is available.

Using tritium and radiocarbon activities to constrain regional modern and fossil groundwater mixing in Southern Africa

This study combines historical records of 14C and 3H in the atmosphere and soil with renewal rate and groundwater lumped parameter models to predict the abundance of 14C and 3H in groundwater over time. 624 groundwater samples from numerous studies, over four decades (1978–2019), in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Mozambique were collated to compare with predicted groundwater activities of 14C and 3H within the South African Development Community (SADC) region. Spatial datasets of carbonate bearing lithology, C3/C4 vegetation, summer/winter rainfall and coastal proximity were used to apply corrections to 14C and 3H data. Corrected values of 14C and 3H were compared with the theoretical abundance of these tracers, derived from the lumped parameter models, to estimate the general mean residence times and presence of groundwater mixing between modern recharge and older groundwaters. This study found that corrected values produced varying mean residence times derived from 14C ages (∼500–28500 years) and a wide range of potentially mixed waters within each aquifer system (0–100 % of tested wells) across the study area. The largest proportions of mixed groundwater, as well as the youngest mean residence times, were found in alluvial and primary fractured rock aquifers (e.g., western coast of South Africa and southern Mozambique). The smallest proportions of mixed groundwater were predicted in deep confined clay-rich aquifers as well as layered coal bearing carbonate sequences (e.g., Orapa, Malwewe and Serowe, Botswana). Insights into the proportions of mixed groundwater and mean residence times can help assess hydrological resilience on a regional scale. Such information is pertinent in promoting socio-economic development and increased water/food security in the SADC region. By understanding the resilience of groundwater resources, robust and informed strategies for water equality and GDP growth in the SADC region can be envisioned and implemented.

The impact of renewable energy generation on productivity in selected developing countries

This study is an empirical analysis of the impact of renewable energy generation on productivity in seven countries in the South African Development Community (SADC). The study operationalizes the alternative hypothesis that renewable energy generation exerts an impact on productivity in the SADC from 1990 to 2019. The study contributes to the literature by employing renewable energy generation as the independent variable, and not renewable energy consumption, which is the case in most studies. The empirical analysis was employed using the panel autoregressive distributed lag (ADRL) model (da Silva, Cerqueira, & Ogbe, 2018). It was established that renewable energy generation had a significant and positive impact on productivity, as measured by gross domestic product (GDP), over the long term. Countries should implement policies aimed at increasing electricity generation from renewable energy sources in order to meet the growing demand for electricity. Infrastructure development, skills training, technical support, and a Just Energy Transition should be the primary emphasis of policy initiatives.

The South African Development Community (SADC) and Covid-19: revisiting security community in SADC

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic remains a global security challenge for humanity. The COVID-19 pandemic, a non traditional security threat has exposed how regions respond to non traditional and emerging security threats. Similarly, the South African Development Community (SADC) region remains confronted with security ramifications due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The peace and security of the region has been disturbed due to an upsurge of conflicts in countries, such as South Africa (South Africa’s unrests, protests and the Phoenix Massacre), Lesotho (Eswatini protests) and Mozambique’s (Carbo Delgado insurgency), all amidst the coronavirus global pandemic. Further to this, SADCs human security challenges that have transpired and, in some cases, have been further exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic, include economic decline, job losses, food insecurity and the loss of life to mention a few. Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, SADC Member Stateshave had to exercise greater regional pandemic management with diseases, such as Malaria, Human Acquired Immune (HIV/AIDs) and Tuberculosis (TB). SADCs efforts in combatting these human security threats have been progressive and notable. The study will analyse and build on the challenges, identified in Landsberg’s (2012) study The Southern African Development Community decision-making architecture, where he suggests that at the heart of SADCs progress is the need for greater implementation of their set goals and aspirations. The study will analyse recent efforts, undertaken by the SADC region, in order to determine the successes and challenges, faced by the sub-regional bloc. It is analysing peace and security of SADC under the Covid-19 pandemic through an upsurge of conflicts in the region and the early securitisation and cooperation of the Covid-19 pandemic. The article suggests, SADC strengthened regional cooperation efforts, such as early warning systems and regional execution methods, have fostered advanced regional security outcomesin the region.

ARE THERE LAWS AND POLICIES PROTECTING PEOPLE INFECTED AND AFFECTED BY HIV/AIDS IN SOUTHERN AFRICA? AN UPDATE OF A REVIEW OF THE EXTENT TO WHICH COUNTRIES WITHIN THE SOUTH AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY HAVE IMPLEMENTED THE HIV/AIDS AND HUMAN RIGHTS INTERN

A review published in 2007 of the extent to which countries in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region were implementing the HIV/AIDS and Human Rights International Guidelines was completed in 2006. In summary the review found that almost all SADC countries were committed, in principle, to responding to HIV and AIDS as a human rights issue because most had begun to implement key legal and policy reforms based on human rights principles. However, at the same time the criminal law was being used to respond to HIV in a coercive manner, thus undermining human rights-based responses. Finally, there were a number of emerging human rights issues that needed to be addressed, including a lack of access to antiretroviral treatment and the undermining of civil and political rights by policy reforms aimed at enhancing access to HIV testing and treatment. This note is an update of the findings of the review published in 2007. It critically examines the progress, or lack of it, made in the last three years by comparing the legislative and policy steps taken by SADC countries in responding to the HIV epidemic.

Investing in Late-Stage Clinical Trials and Manufacturing of Neglected Disease Product Candidates – Modeling the Benefits and Costs of Investments for Three Middle-Income Countries

Background: Investing in late-stage clinical trials, trial sites and production capacity for neglected disease products could improve access to vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics in middle-income countries (MICs). This study assesses the case for such investment in three MICs: India, Kenya, and South Africa. Methods: We modeled how many cases, deaths, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) could be averted from the development and manufacturing of new technologies (therapeutics and vaccines) in these countries. We also estimated the economic benefits that might accrue from making these investments and we develop benefit-cost ratios (BCRs) for each of the three MICs. Findings: From 2021-2036, product development and manufacturing in Kenya could avert 4.4 million deaths and 206.3 million DALYs in the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) region. In South Africa, it could prevent 5.2 million deaths and 253.8 million DALYs in the South African Development Community (SADC) region. In India, it could avert almost 9.8 million deaths and 374.4 million DALYs in Southeast Asia. Economic returns would be especially high if new tools were produced for regional markets rather than for domestic markets only. Under a societal perspective, regional returns outweigh investments by a factor of 21 in Kenya, 33 in South Africa, and 68 in India. Interpretation: Our study supports the creation of regional hubs for clinical trials and product manufacturing compared to narrow national efforts. Funding: This study was funded by a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Declaration of Interest: This study was approved by Duke University’s institutional review board (IRB). Ethical Approval: All authors report grants from Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation during the conduct of the study.Robert Karanja also serves as Chairman of Steering Committee of the Coalition for Health Research & Development (CHReaD), a policy and advocacy coalition that is funded by BMGF - that also funded this study.

Regional International Organizations and Health: A Framework for Analysis.

Regional international organizations (RIOs), from the South African Development Community (SADC) to the European Union (EU), are organizations that promote cooperation among countries in a specific region of the world. Asking what RIOs do to health and health policy by looking only at their formal health policies can understate their effects (e.g., a free trade agreement with no stated health goals can affect health policy) and overstate their effects (as with agreements full of ambition that did not deliver much). We adopt a "three-faces" framework that identifies RIOs' direct health policies, the effects of their trade and market policies, and their effects on health via fiscal governance of their member states to better capture their health impact. We tested the usefulness of the framework by examining the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, EU, North American Free Trade Agreement, SADC, and the Union of South American Nations. All RIOs had some impact on health systems and policies, and, in many cases, the principal policies were not identified as health policy. Such a framework will be useful in understanding the effects of RIOs on health systems and policies because it captures indirect and even unintended health effects in a way that permits development of explanatory theories.

Intellectual capital and financial performance of South African development community’s general insurance companies

The effect of intellectual capital on financial performance was investigated in this paper for the period 2008 to 2019. A total of 696 observations were generated from data collected from 56 general insurance companies in 12 years. The Value Added Intelligent Coefficient Model was used and data was analysed using both static (two stage least square, fixed and random effect) and dynamic panel regression analysis (two step system generalised method of moments). The findings showed a significant and direct relationship between lagged return on assets, intellectual capital and financial performance of insurers in the South African Development Community. Out of the components of intellectual capital, human capital and structural capital are significantly and directly related with return on assets while capital employed is inversely and insignificantly related with return on assets. The control variables-underwriting risk, insurer size and leverage are all inversely and significantly affecting return on assets. Thus, a U-shape relationship exists between intellectual capital and financial performance in general insurance companies in the South African Development Community. Thus, the policy makers-cum-insurers’ managers should maximise their intellectual capital as this creates competitive advantage that leads to financial performance drive and wealth generation. The Model used in this study is an important model decision-makers can use to assimilate intellectual capital in their decision-making procedures. This will inadvertently permit insurers to scale themselves according to the intellectual capital efficiencies and advance in strategies that will boost their company's financial performance.

AFRICAN MULTILATERAL RESPONSES TO THE CRISIS IN ZIMBABWE

The Responsibility to Protect (RtoP) represents one of the key normative developments towards mitigating global human rights violations. Normatively, the RtoP advances the notion of responsible sovereignty by obligating states to protect their people from humanitarian catastrophe and emphasises the residual role of the international community in the event of lack of capacity or the state's unwillingness to protect. It is in this context that this article examines RtoP mitigation measures instituted by the South African Development Community (SADC) and the African Union (AU) as regional multilateral institutions in responding to the crisis in Zimbabwe. The article considers the extent to which the responses have been guided implicitly or explicitly by RtoP principles. The evolution and consolidation of the humanitarian crisis has been considered, with specific focus on the human security impact of government policies, in particular, Operation Murambatsvina (the destruction of what were deemed illegal housing structures in major cities in Zimbabwe in May 2005) and the unprecedented 2008 electoral violence as a result of increased militarisation of governance structures. Debate on the applicability of RtoP to the crisis in Zimbabwe is thus located within the broader framework of the normative theories of international relations that forms the basis of RtoP. The article argues that escalation of the government induced humanitarian crisis was as a result of lack of timeous or effective responses by both the AU and SADC. Again, the AU and SADC responses were significantly influenced by diverse, often mutually exclusive, interpretations of the main causes of the crisis. Another salient finding is the extent to which politicisation of RtoP and lack of political will undermined RtoP operationalisation.

Devolution, Urban Autonomy and Local Governance in the Cities of the SADC

This article considers the links between urban autonomy and the constitutional and legal powers, functions and responsibilities of urban local government in countries of the South African Development Community (SADC). It evaluates SADC cities’ constitutional status, their operational, functional and financial autonomy, their collaborative and strategic space and the different accountability structures to which they answer. It further reflects on structural and political challenges to effective urban autonomy in the region and suggests ways in which it may be better enabled, so as to equip the cities of the SADC for the role they must play in pursuit of targets in the New Urban Agenda and UN Sustainable Development Goal 11.

Do migrants lives matter? A comparison of causes of death between African migrants from SADC countries and South Africans in the post-Apartheid era (2002-2015)

Purpose Migrants historically and currently form an integral part of South Africa. Their importance and contribution to the country’s economy and development are undeniable. Yet, life for African migrants in South Africa is becoming increasingly difficult. An analysis of migrants mortality until now has not been conducted. The purpose of this paper is to compare the trends of the cause of death among South African Citizens (RSA) and African migrants from countries that form part of the South African Development Community (SADC), that make up nearly 70% of the migrants in the country. Design/methodology/approach Using Stats SA data of all registered deaths in South Africa (2002-2015), this paper compares all causes of death (COD) between RSA and SADC migrants. This paper studies the patterns in COD among these population groups for the years 2002 to 2015 in deaths due to infectious diseases and unnatural causes. Logistic regression was used to quantify the odds of dying due to infectious disease and unnatural causes for each population group. This paper included a calculation of the odds of dying due to assault, as a sub-group within unnatural deaths. Findings A total of 7,611,129 deaths were recorded for the local South African population and 88,114 for SADC migrants for the period under study (2002–2015). The burden of mortality for both infectious diseases and unnatural causes was higher for SADC migrants as compared to RSA. SADC migrants were 1.22 times more likely to die from infectious diseases than RSA (P < 0.001, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.12, 1.23). Similarly, SADC migrants were 2.7 times more likely to die from unnatural causes than South Africans (P < 0.001, 95% CI (2.17, 2.23). The odds of dying from assault was the same as that of unnatural causes. Also, it was found that women were more likely to die from infectious diseases (OR = 1.11, P < 0.001, 95% CI (1.11, 1.11) compared to men, regardless of nationality. Research limitations/implications The bias resulting from migrants who return home to die due to illness, described in the literature as the salmon bias, is present in this paper. This paper, therefore, concludes death due to infectious diseases could be higher among migrants. Practical implications The heightened mortality among SADC migrants can be related to the impact of social determinants of health such as living and working conditions and barriers to access to health care. Moreover, the higher probability of death due to unnatural causes such as assaults constitute a proxy to estimate the impact of xenophobic violence observed in the country over the past decade. Policy interventions should focus on migrant health-care systems. Also, programmes to mitigate and curb xenophobic sentiments should be carried out to address the growing disparity of preventable unnatural causes of death. Originality/value This study offers the first quantification of mortality due to infectious diseases and unnatural causes among RSA and SADC migrants.

Benefits of using diplomatic means of conflict resolution in South Sudan

The study was conducted in order to establish the benefits of using diplomatic means of conflict resolution in South Sudan. The research was carried out through a cross-sectional and survey research design, and obtained relevant data from 78 respondents. The researcher found out that the use of diplomatic approach in handling political differences has been systematically handled through negotiations and mediated talks. This has enabled the conclusion of peace treaties between the warring factions within the SPLA/M that is SPLA/M and SPLA/M-IO. This has helped to keep the fighting forces. Diplomacy is vital in the promotion and sustenance of good governance, peace and tranquility in the country. The researcher recommended that South Sudan should maintain cordial working relations with regional peace brokers, mainly IGAD, East African Community (EAC), South African Development Community, Nile Basin Initiative and others in order to proliferate regional corporation and peace. This will guarantee peace and stability in the country for future political, social and economic prosperity.

Assessing the Impact of Terrorism in Trade Development in the SADC Region: A Gravity Model Approach

The South African Development Community (SADC) was formed with the objective of achieving development, peace and security, and economic growth but terrorism has been a major obstacle. This paper captured terrorism as a trade cost to bilateral trade in the region. The PPML technique was used for the analyses because of its robustness, consistency and ability to capture zero trades and appropriate fixed effects. Our analyses revealed that, terrorism must have caused an increase in bilateral trade in the region and were dependent on the level of income of trading partners. Trade with low-and medium-income countries were positively influenced by terrorism primarily because their production capacity must have been damaged by terrorism and the only way to augment domestic demand was to depend on international trade. But the region’s trade with high-income countries was negatively affected by terrorism. Partly because their capacity to produce for export must have been affected and raising insurance premiums for goods that are shipped to higher-risk nations may also hinder trade. Based on the coefficients, the impacts of terrorism on bilateral trade appear very small but not negligible.

The Global Evolution of Travel Visa Regimes.

The Global Evolution of Travel Visa Regimes.

Editorial

Welcome to the first issue of the Journal of Construction Business and Management in 2018. The themes covered in this issue are related to risk management and procurement practices used in the delivery of construction projects. These papers fill critical gaps in the knowledge and practice of construction procurement, business and project management by exposing the reader to innovative procurement systems and risk management techniques. The issue contains five articles that were written by authors based in South Africa and Nigeria. Altogether, eight authors produced these papers aimed at strengthening the discourse in and enhancing construction project procurement, business and management research.
 The first paper by Ayegba investigates the duties performed by and the required competencies of management contractors, towards elucidating essential considerations for the selection and use of management contractors on construction projects. The study establishes that a management contractor's duties involve multi-tasking over the design and construction stages of a project. Paper two by Olusanya examines the influence of subcontracting systems on access to social protection measures by workers in the informal building construction sector and suggests that the government in Nigeria should advance formalization of employment in the informal sector and support community-based social insurance schemes. Dosumu's paper highlights the need to identify risks on projects before the initiation of the project based on the research findings that although stakeholders are aware and adopt risk management techniques on construction projects, the implementation is at response level rather than identification level. Paper four by Waziri identifies nine risk factors as significant contributors to the high-risk profile of Build Operate and Transfer projects and proposes that stakeholders should focus on these risk factors responsible for 80% of the risk impacts. The final paper by Anugwo, Shakantu, Saidu and Adamu suggests that a significant number of Small, Medium and Micro Enterprise (SMME) contractors in South Africa are reluctant to amplify their potential capabilities, and needed the readiness to develop international business strategies that would enable them to penetrate and participate in the South African Development Community region and global construction market. The authors recommend that both the SMME and large contractors in South Africa should harness their potential capacity towards globalizing their businesses and improving their global competitiveness.
 Finally, I wish to thank all authors who submitted papers for consideration, members of the Editorial Board and Panel of Reviewers for their assistance, timeous feedback and comments that helped shape and improve the quality of the submitted manuscripts. Finally, we welcome your feedback and suggestions that will help improve the quality of the journal and maintain the integrity of the findings published.