In Southern Africa, Lesotho reports the highest estimated rates of depression, with women disproportionately affected. Cultural, societal, familial, and spousal pressure on women to become pregnant is a substantial public health concern linked with an increased risk of depression. However, there is limited evidence on the impact of pressure to become pregnant on depression in Lesotho using propensity score matching (PSM) analysis. Therefore, this study employed PSM to estimate the effect of pressure to become pregnant on depression among married women in Lesotho. A total of 1600 unweighted married women were included in the analysis using the recent 2023/24 Lesotho Demography and Health Survey (LDHS). The analysis used a propensity score matching analysis (PSM) with a logit model using the psmatch2 package in Stata to estimate the average treatment effect on the population (ATE), the treated (ATT), and the untreated (ATU) for the effect of pressure to become pregnant on depression. Kernel matching with a caliper width of 0.01 was used to match individuals in the two groups. The quality of the matches was evaluated statistically and graphically. Sensitivity analysis was performed to test the robustness of the PSM results, using the Mantel-Haenszel test statistics. The overall prevalence of depression among married women in Lesotho was 6.83% (95% CI: 5.68%, 8.20%). The PSM analysis showed that experiencing pressure to become pregnant increased the likelihood of depression by 6.3% (ATT = 0.063, 95% CI: 0.0138, 0.1122). The average treatment effect (ATE = 0.058, 95% CI: 0.0443, 0.0721) indicated that pressure to become pregnant significantly increased the risk of depression in the overall population by 5.8%. The average treatment effect for untreated (ATU = 0.0515) underscored that women who had not experienced pressure to become pregnant would have a 5.15% higher risk of developing depression if they had been exposed. Overall, these findings highlight that pressure to become pregnant significantly increases the risk of depression. This evaluation found that spouse or family pressure to become pregnant significantly increases the risk of depression. These findings underscore pregnancy pressure, pressing attention to reproductive coercion and community-based initiatives to mitigate its mental health consequences. Thus, policymakers and programmers should strengthen reproductive autonomy protection in mental health policies. Additionally, health care providers should screen for reproductive coercion during routine antenatal visits and offer counseling services to decrease the risk of depression. Community-based education campaigns and peer support groups involving men and families are also recommended to help reduce fertility-related pressures.

Abstract Surveying an area for new fossil sites is a labor-intensive and resource-draining activity that can be alleviated with the aid of machine learning models. In karst landscapes of southern Africa, Plio-Pleistocene fossils that inform the paleoanthropological record are primarily found preserved in caves and sinkholes. The purpose of this study is to assess the utility of Random Forest (RF) models for cave and sinkhole prediction in the Cradle of Humankind, South Africa. Multispectral satellite imagery, digital elevation models (DEMs), and geologic maps were converted into raster (pixelated matrix) images in a GIS environment to denote varying aspects of the local topography, including elevation, slope, aspect, curvature, drainage, spectral reflectance, vegetation cover, fault proximity, and underlying geology. The rasters were stacked and overlaid with 1080 known cave and sinkhole locality points and 1080 random non-cave points in the study area for model training. Variable values associated with these geopoints were input into an RF model in Python for training and evaluation using a spatial ten-fold cross-validation. The model performed with 81.6% accuracy and an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.912. The importance of each variable for prediction was evaluated by measuring the increase in prediction error when variable values were shuffled. Distance to major faults, location within the Chuniespoort geologic group, dolomite presence, chert presence, and elevation exhibited the highest importance for model accuracy, while three out of 48 total predictor variables exhibited less importance than a randomly generated variable. The identification of important/unimportant variables will help build more efficient, robust models in future iterations, as well as help identify variables that could be useful in other karst regions.

Modelling earth's magnetic field over southern Africa between 2014 and 2023 applying revised spherical cap harmonic analysis (R-SCHA) on Swarm satellite and ground-based data

Equine encephalosis (EE) is caused by an Orbivirus from the family Sedoreoviridae and is thus similar to African horse sickness (AHS) and Bluetongue viruses (BTV). These viruses are transmitted by Culicoides midges. Equine encephalosis can infect horses, donkeys and zebras sub-clinically while only horses develop clinical disease. The vector's distribution is climate-dependent with evidence for circulation in Southern Africa, the Middle East and India. Global warming could facilitate the expansion of this distribution and consequently the potential spread into Europe should not be overlooked. To describe clinical signs, clinicopathological abnormalities, and outcomes in horses naturally infected with EE. A retrospective, descriptive, observational study. Data were obtained from the Onderstepoort Veterinary Academic Hospital's clinical database to identify cases with EE from 2013 to 2023. Data including the history, clinical signs and clinicopathology were analysed. Equine encephalosis cases predominantly occurred from February to April. Twenty-five horses were included. Throughout the disease, 25 (100.0%) horses had pyrexia (mean maximum temperature 39.3°C; SD 0.86°C), 16 (64.0%) horses had tachycardia (median maximum heart rate 52/min; range 36-100/min), 19 (76.0%) horses had tachypnoea (median maximum respiratory rate 24/min; range 12-60/min). Within 24 h of presentation, horses predominantly displayed lymphopenia (median 1.17 × 109 cells/L; range 0.15-9.21 × 109 cells/L), thrombocytopenia (median 67.5 × 109 cells/L; range 3-303 × 109 cells/L), and leukopenia (median 5.44 × 109 cells/L; range 2.08-18.07 × 109 cells/L). Retrospective study design with a small number of cases and many of these evaluated at differing times after infection. Pyrexia, tachycardia and tachypnoea are the most common clinical signs associated with EE. Haematological evaluation appears valuable in EE cases, with leukopenia, lymphopenia, and thrombocytopenia commonly observed. Equine encephalosis is a relevant differential diagnosis for other infectious diseases in horses in geographical regions where EEV and Culicoides vectors are potentially present.

Polyploid evolution, phylogenetic relationships, and biogeography of sub-Saharan Africa's only tetraploid fish group - Pseudobarbus and allies (Teleostei: Cyprinidae).

Climate-related displacements in Southern Africa have escalated because of an increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather events, particularly cyclones, floods and droughts. Mozambique and Zimbabwe are among the most affected countries, where repeated climate shocks have displaced communities and disrupted critical livelihood systems. However, evidence on how these displacement processes specifically influence food and water security remains insufficiently synthesised. This study examines this gap through a systematic review guided by the question: How do climate-related displacement events affect food and water security among populations in Mozambique and Zimbabwe? Following the PRISMA framework, 32 peer-reviewed studies published between 2010 and 2024 were identified using PICO-derived search terms. Studies were included if they explicitly examined displacement and its implications for food and water security. The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) was used to assess methodological quality, and a Most Similar Systems Design (MSSD) approach enabled comparison of governance responses shaping outcomes for displaced populations. Findings indicate that climate-related displacement intensifies socio-economic vulnerabilities, reduces access to land and safe water, and heightens resource competition in receiving areas. These pressures undermine household food availability, dietary diversity and water reliability, while increasing exposure to protection risks. Weak institutional capacity and inconsistent policy frameworks further constrain sustainable recovery. This review advances knowledge by synthesising dispersed evidence and identifying critical gaps in governance, planning and service provision. Contribution: It emphasises the need for integrated, human-security-oriented interventions that strengthen resilience, safeguard essential resources and ensure displaced populations are effectively included in national adaptation and disaster-risk-reduction strategies.

Despite its acknowledged importance, destination infrastructure has traditionally been conceptualised as a supportive condition rather than a strategic marketing asset. This study addresses this perception by examining the way destination infrastructure shapes destination image, visitor satisfaction, and competitiveness in southern Africa, particularly in Zimbabwe and South Africa. The purpose of the study is to reconceptualise destination infrastructure as a core component of destination marketing using evidence and insights from the literature, policy documents, and industry reports published between 2018 and 2025. The authors identified five critical infrastructure attributes (accessibility, accommodation, attractions, amenities, and technology) that directly influence destination perception and market positioning. While the study contributes to the refinement of existing competitiveness theories, it also proposes an integrated conceptual framework that positions infrastructure as a core marketing asset and provides actionable implications for policymakers and marketers seeking sustainable tourism growth in southern Africa.

Purpose This study investigates the challenges of land acquisition and resettlement in irrigation infrastructure projects in developing countries, with a focus on Malawi. Existing systems often cause displacement and socioeconomic disruption due to insecure land tenure, inadequate compensation and weak enforcement. The research aims to identify systemic shortcomings and propose a context-specific, rights-based framework that aligns with local governance, sociocultural norms and sustainable development goals. By analyzing both donor-funded and state-led projects, the study seeks to develop strategies that ensure equitable outcomes, protect affected communities and offer a model for effective land governance across Southern Africa. Design/methodology/approach The study employs a mixed-methods approach combining quantitative and qualitative data. It analyzes 165 irrigation projects across Southern Africa and conducts surveys with 602 individuals affected by nine Malawian schemes. Comparative assessment of donor-funded and state-led initiatives evaluates the effectiveness of current land acquisition and resettlement practices. The research examines legal frameworks, grievance mechanisms, compensation models and community engagement processes. Data were triangulated to identify systemic weaknesses, patterns of implementation failure and gaps in protection. The methodology enables both a regional overview and an in-depth understanding of Malawi’s context-specific challenges in balancing development and social equity. Findings The study reveals that land acquisition frameworks in Malawi and the broader Southern African region disproportionately prioritize financial compensation, often neglecting community participation and post-displacement support. Donor-funded projects demonstrate stronger safeguards but face implementation challenges, while state-led initiatives frequently lack basic protections. Legal and institutional frameworks are inadequate, with few countries establishing resettlement-specific laws or grievance mechanisms. These shortcomings result in socioeconomic disruption and inequitable outcomes for affected populations. The research proposes a rights-based framework emphasizing equitable valuation, meaningful engagement, post-displacement assistance and standardized protections, offering a sustainable approach to land acquisition that balances development objectives with community well-being. Research limitations/implications Only 188 irrigation projects were assessed from Southern African Development Community since others were not accessible. Practical implications Land acquisition frameworks must be responsive in the provision and execution and able to address resettlement issues when triggered so that the process is fair to the project-affected people. Social implications Land acquisition frameworks must be able to address resettlement issues when triggered so that the process is fair to the project-affected people. Originality/value This study offers an original contribution by shifting the focus from compensation-centric land acquisition to a rights-based, sustainable framework tailored to developing countries with customary land tenure systems. Unlike prior research that primarily documents failures of existing mechanisms, this work integrates empirical evidence from 165 irrigation projects and surveys of 602 affected individuals in Malawi to identify systemic shortcomings and regional trends. It uniquely compares donor-funded and state-led initiatives, highlighting implementation gaps. By proposing a comprehensive framework that emphasizes equitable valuation, community engagement, post-displacement support and standardized protections, the study presents a novel, actionable model for just and effective land governance in Southern Africa.

Abstract. Consequences of climate change are likely to pose severe challenges on agriculture in Southern Africa. Agroforestry systems (AFSs) can potentially alleviate some of the adverse effects and offer adaptation solutions to a sustainable land use. Positive effects of AFSs may include increasing soil carbon (C) and nitrogen concentrations, sustaining favourable nutrient cycling, protection against erosion and increased carbon sequestration. The influence of the AFS tree component on the soil water storage and thus water availability for the crops, however, is still relatively unknown. In this study we assessed the influence of Gliricidia sepium-maize intercropping on carbon cycling and water fluxes compared to maize as a sole crop at two well-established long-term experiments in central and southern Malawi, run by the World Agroforestry (ICRAF). Utilizing the field experiments of different durations (>10 and >30 years) at the two sites provided information regarding soil-specific impacts of gliricidia on water dynamics. We examined soil C contents and density fractionation as proxy for organic matter stability, soil physical and soil hydrological characteristics. We also monitored soil moisture and matric potential in different depths, determined retention curves on samples in the lab and from field data and analysed soil moisture responses to rainfall events to assess the influence of the AFS on water fluxes. Our results show a clear increase in C contents and stability as a result of the gliricidia impact compared to the control at the site with the generally lower baseline C contents. At this site, the treatment effect was not visible in soil physical characteristics such as porosity and bulk density, but in saturated hydraulic conductivity, which is rather a structural soil property. The soil water dynamics were influenced by several additional factors such as soil texture and interception. The gliricidia treatment showed greater soil water storage capacities and retained overall more water, while generally none of the plots neither control nor treatment were under severe water stress during the observation period. We also noticed a protective effect against soil drying below the topsoil potentially by more immediate/macropore infiltration into the subsoil under gliricidia. We conclude that, from a methodological point of view, assessing the effects on water fluxes requires respective field measurements as they cannot be deduced from soil physical characteristics directly. Overall, the AFS treatment of adding gliricidia into maize cultivation can have a considerable effect on nutrient and water dynamics in the system, however, this effect is also dependent on initial site conditions. A sensible AFS implementation can not only support carbon accumulation and stabilization but also increase the efficient use of available water, thus supporting different aspects towards sustainable agriculture in Malawi.

Ticks of the genus Haemaphysalis, akin to other tick genera, are obligate hematophagous ectoparasites of medical and veterinary importance, serving as vectors for various pathogens. Haemaphysalis ticks, like Haemaphysalis muhsamae (H. muhsamae) within the Haemaphysalis leachi group, have previously had taxonomic uncertainties, which recent revisions have validated. Historically restricted to Eastern and Southern Africa, knowledge of their presence in West Africa has remained uncertain. This study aimed to confirm the presence of H. muhsamae in Ghana and to investigate its distribution, host associations and infestation patterns across ecological zones and seasons. A total of 3816 ticks were collected from wild mammal carcasses at two bushmeat markets between 2020 and early 2021. Morphological examination and molecular analysis targeting the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (COI) gene confirmed the presence of H. muhsamae in Ghana for the first time. Of the total, 140 ticks (3.7%) were identified as H. muhsamae, predominantly infesting the African civet (Civettictis civetta), striped ground squirrel (Xerus erythropus) and Kusimanse mongoose (Crossarchus obscurus). The species occurred in both forest (3.9%) and coastal savannah (3.5%) zones, with infestation intensity highest on African civets (p = 0.0032) and significantly greater during the wet season in the coastal savannah (p = 0.0213). Phylogenetic analysis showed close genetic similarity between Ghanaian specimens and those from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, suggesting a shared evolutionary lineage. These findings expand the known distribution of H. muhsamae and underscore the importance of ongoing tick surveillance and molecular characterization to better understand tick-borne disease risks in West Africa.

Within the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those addressing poverty reduction, food security, climate action, and sustainable land use, rural mobility is increasingly recognised as a critical development issue. While rural development policies have traditionally prioritised rural–urban migration, considerably less attention has been paid to rural-to-rural intra-migration, despite its growing significance across Sub-Saharan Africa. The review process was informed by guidance on systematic reviews in the social sciences and reported in line with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. 34 literature articles were selected and reviewed for this systematic literature review. The New Economics of Labour Migration theory is the main theory used for this systematic literature and is complemented by the Push–Pull theory of migration. This systematic literature review examines the demographic, socioeconomic, environmental, and institutional drivers of rural-to-rural migration, with particular reference to Zambia and the Southern African region. The main drivers of intra migration include the shortage of land and accessing family land, youth life needs and desires, poor weather, drought due to climate change effects, the need to expand agricultural areas and increased diversification strategies by households. It is also indicated that deforestation, agricultural expansion, and rural development are environmental and land use implications of rural migration. The findings outline the importance of sound policy responses and implementation that deal with climate change adaptation, land governance, and sustainable use of land, and support for rural diversification development for equitable, sustainable transformation of rural areas.

Rabies is one of the oldest known zoonoses. In Europe, because cases are rare and medical experience is limited, there is often uncertainty about the indications and modalities of pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP, PEP). This review is based on studies of the epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment, and prophylaxis of rabies that were published from January 2000 to October 2025 and retrieved by a selective search in PubMed, supplemented by data from the WHO, CDC, ECDC, RKI, and FLI and the current recommendations of the German Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO). The WHO reports that approximately 60 000 persons die of rabies each year around the world, mainly in southern Asia and Africa, and that dogs are the source of the infection in more than 99% of cases. Once the disease has become manifest, its lethality is nearly 100%. Terrestrial rabies is considered to have been largely eliminated in the member states of the European Union (EU) since 2008, although zoonotically relevant bat lyssaviruses are still being regularly documented. As a result, even in Germany, a low risk of infection remains through contact with bats and through importation of infected animals from endemic areas abroad. The use of modern cell-culture vaccines for PrEP yields protection rates of 96-100%, with rare severe side effects (< 1:10 000). PEP is highly effective: after its administration in more than 29 million cases per year around the world from 1980 to 2022, only 122 breakthrough infections were registered, mainly because of faulty administration of rabies immunoglobulin, inadequate wound cleansing, and a late start of PEP. The main preventive measures are PrEP, avoidance of exposure, rapid wound disinfection, early PEP, and counseling by specialists in travel medicine. Despite the favorable epidemiological situation, the possibility of rabies should be considered early on for anyone in Europe who has had an unclear animal exposure-especially to bats-or a potential rabies exposure abroad. When questions remain about the indication or modalities of PEP, expert advice should be obtained from an infectious disease unit or a rabies information center.

The 2013 World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for cervical pre-cancer screening recommended screening women aged 30-49 and women living with HIV (WLHIV) starting at age 25. However, the impact of the guidelines and the age to start screening on screening uptake has not been studied. We used a regression discontinuity design analysis of population-based data to assess the impact of the guidelines on the screening rates for women according to HIV status and age group in Ethiopia, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Although the PHIA surveys were conducted after 2014, when countries adopted the guidelines, the women were asked to report whether they had been screened for cervical pre-cancer at any point between 2008 and 2018. From the women's screening reports, we identified reports of being screened from 2008 to 2014 and after 2014 to 2018. These reports were random and unique. They enabled us to compare the screening rates from the period 2008 to 2014 and after 2014 to 2018 ‒ pre and post the intervention ‒ by HIV status, and before and after the age of 25years. We used a data-driven optimal bandwidth selection procedure to estimate the guidelines' average treatment effect with local polynomial regression discontinuity and robust bias-corrected confidence intervals. We included 73,179 women: 6680 (9.1%) living with HIV, 4328 (5.9%) with unknown HIV status, and 62,171 (85.0) with a negative HIV status. Adolescent girls and young women living with HIV (AGYWLHIV) aged 15-24 reported screening less often (102 (6.1%)) than their peers with unknown (66 (7.2%)) (P < 0.001), or or older women. We found no evidence the 2013 WHO guidelines impacted women's cervical pre-cancer screening uptake. However, AGYWLHIV reported screening less often. Policymakers should lower the age to screen WLHIV from 25 to 15 to screen more AGYWLHIV. Studies are required to examine the impact of the guidelines on cervical pre-cancer screening in more countries.

Spatiotemporal patterns of Rift Valley fever virus in Africa: a retrospective genomic epidemiology and phylodynamic modelling study.

In this study, we redescribe Thelepus pequenianus Augener, 1918 and describe five new species of Thelepus from the southern Africa region, based on specimens stored for several decades in the Iziko South African Museum in Cape Town. Thelepus branchi sp. nov., has branchiae separated by a wide medial gap and with the first pair having about 15 filaments, the notopodia present on about the anterior 50% of the body, the uncini with a terminal dorsal button and a straight base, and finally a pygidium crenulated, without papillae. Thelepus dayi. sp. nov., lacks eyespots, has notopodia present almost to the pygidium, the branchial filaments arising from glandular patches with a large medial gap between them, and the uncini with a terminal dorsal button and a short ventral prow. Thelepus mandelai sp. nov., is the only African species with the uncini arranged in complete circular loops. Thelepus mozambiquensis sp. nov., has notopodia present on half of its body and the number of branchial filaments decreasing substantially from 1st to 3rd pair of branchiae, which are separated by a large medial gap, the uncini with a terminal dorsal button and a strongly curved base, and the pygidium slightly crenulated. Finally, the fifth new species, T. ubebe sp. nov., has eyespots, about the same number of branchial filaments on all three pairs of branchiae, which arise from small glandular patches with a small medial gap, the notopodia limited to the anterior third of the body, the uncini with a sub-terminal dorsal button and the pygidium with short papillae.

ABSTRACT Understanding seasonal variability and development of skilful seasonal climate forecasts (SCFs) is key in mitigating climate‐related risks, including helping to support adaptation to climate change and variability. The purpose of this study is to consider possible factors influencing the predictability of maximum temperature SCFs in southern Africa. To address this question, two hypotheses are tested: namely (1) There is skill in making maximum temperature forecasts in the Southern African Development Community (SADC); and (2) The skill is contributed by two main attributes—ENSO‐related climate variability and anthropogenic climate change—as a result, temperature forecasts are worth taking into account in pre‐season decision‐making. A state‐of‐the‐art global climate model's atmospheric thickness fields are statistically downscaled to maximum temperatures for the austral spring to autumn period. Forecast performance over a 24‐year period is evaluated for both original and for linearly detrended temperature data. The verification results indicate that predictive skill for maximum temperatures reflects the combined influence of ENSO‐related variability and long‐term anthropogenic warming trends. The majority of the skill is not, however, a consequence of warming trends, since the climate model is able to predict the seasonal‐to‐interannual maximum temperatures variation skilfully, without assistance from temperature trends. Detrending data improves probabilistic skill, suggesting that removing trends helps isolate the seasonal signal, enhancing the models' reliability and discrimination of probabilistic maximum temperature SCFs. However, deterministic skill declines, revealing long‐term climate trends' influence on the apparent accuracy of deterministic forecasts. The trend thus influences understanding of forecast performance and needs to be considered when conveying how good a forecasting system is.

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) responded to global calls to address environmental challenges such as high greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through the use of liquid biofuels. This study assessed the potential of liquid biofuel production in the SADC region with data collected in Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe. The results showed that the liquid biofuel industry is struggling. Countries do not have enough resources to support the industry effectively and there is overreliance on international sponsors. In terms of policy and regulatory frameworks most countries are doing well. However, these policies are not implemented effectively. Most countries use sugar-cane to produce bioethanol. Over the years countries, such as Malawi, have attempted to incorporate crops such as cassava (Manihot esculenta) and castor bean (Ricinus communis). Although the industry is not performing well it has contributed massively to livelihood development in all the region.

With its impressive record of southern Africa’s oldest Oldowan lithics and butchered animal bones and of the suggestions that early hominids there used bone tools and controlled fire, Swartkrans Cave (South Africa) would already be one of the most storied sites in the annals of palaeoanthropology. At least as significant, however, is the cave’s super-abundance of early hominid fossils. Hominid alpha taxonomy has continued to be a major focus of research at the site ever since fossils were first discovered there in 1948. Here we assess critically a recent, high-profile claim that the Swartkrans adult hominid mandible, SK 15, should be removed from the genus Homo and placed in a new species of Paranthropus, “Paranthropus capensis”. In addition, we suggest alternative taxonomic classifications that we believe align better with the mandible’s overall morphological pattern.

Applications of Indigenous Farming Practices and Methods for Food Security Among Rural Communities in Southern Africa: A Review

Prophetess Christinah Nku is celebrated as the first African female Pentecostal to establish an African Independent Church (AIC), St John Apostolic Faith Mission after breaking away from the Apostolic Faith Mission of South Africa in 1938. Her church later reached Southern Africa through many splinter groups belonging to Apostolic churches. Three other female African Pentecostal, Pastor Mpfariseni Mukhuba, Pastor Irene Tshifhiva, and Bishop Mapula Mphahlele, also established independent African Pentecostal churches in the late twentieth century. Just like Prophetess Nku, all three women face entrenched patriarchy and stereotypes with their communities. The objectives of this article are (a) to explore how the three emulates Prophetess Christinah Nku in the prophetic gift, healing and deliverance, experiencing patriarchy, and elevating the status of African female Pentecostal leaders; (b) determine the biblical and theological leadership function of these four women. The three-step Magadi practical theology research method of is used to focus on the above objectives. The article concludes that although the four leaders lived in two different epochs, there latter three emulates the former leader in the prophetic gift, healing and deliverance, are victims of patriarchy and in elevating the status of African female Pentecostal leaders. Lastly, the article shows that, from a Pentecostal re-reading of some New Testament texts, their leadership role and function is biblically and theologically congruent.