Southern Nations, Nationalities And Peoples Regional State Research Articles

Legal transcription service in the light of access to justice in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples’ Regional State (SNNPRS) judicial system

This paper focuses on the serious but not well-acknowledged problem related to legal transcript production in SNNPRS High Courts. It sheds light on how distortions of content are made in the testimonies of witnesses to the extent they may affect the legal evidential purpose transcripts could serve. Textual data were collected through audio-recording of court proceedings, review of legal transcripts and interviews. The findings indicated that legal transcription is conducted by employees who had qualification in computer science, but no training in legal transcription and the role that transcripts have in the judicial process. The High Courts of the region employ unilingual and inter-lingual modes of transcription, depending on whether limited court language-proficient witnesses who testify in their native tongue are provided with a court interpreter or not. Major language use problems that are observed in the legal transcripts were found to be attributable to lack of training, and lack of awareness on the part of judges, the judicial system and legal transcribers.

SELECTED SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS’ PERSPECTIVES OF THEIR TEACHERS’ GROUP WORK ASSESSMENT PRACTICES

Group work is an educational tool designed to develop learners’ cognitive and social skills at different levels of education across various subjects. We felt that it is important to see learners’ perspectives of group work assessment as they are clients that stay with teachers the whole year. To this effect, the study aimed to examine grades 11 and 12 students’ perspectives of their teachers' group work assessment practices in Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples’ Regional State (SNNPRS), Ethiopia. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design as the purpose of the study was to survey and describe the assessment practices. To achieve this, 270 students were selected with a systematic random sampling technique for a questionnaire survey. However, only 212 students filled the questionnaire properly. To examine whether the expected mean values were statistically significant or not as compared to the observed mean scores at both an item and scale levels, a one-sample t-test was applied. The results showed that the assessment of group work focuses on the assessment of group product with little consideration of group process and individual contribution to the group work. Besides, the teachers used to employ limited groupbased assessment tools such as group presentations, written group reports, and paper-pencil tests (tests, quizzes, examinations) which are aligned with the assessment of group product while tools that may foster group process and individual accountability like individual written reports, presentations, portfolios, demonstrations, and debates were inadequately used. Based on the findings, it was recommended that SNNPRS Education Bureau has to organize induction for teachers on group work assessment skills. Keywords: assessment practice; assessment tool; group assessment; group process; group outcome

Spatial Modelling of Risk Factors for Malaria Prevalence in SNNP Regional State, Ethiopia.

Malaria is one of the most severe public health problems worldwide with 300 to 500 million cases and about one million deaths reported to date of which 90% were from world health organization (WHO) Sub Saharan Africa (SSA) countries. The purpose of this study was to explore the spatial distribution of malaria parasite prevalence (MPP) among districts of Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples Regional State (SNNRS) in Ethiopia by using 2011 malaria indicator survey (MIS) data collected for 76 districts and to model its relationship with different covariates. Exploratory spatial data analysis (ESDA) was conducted followed by implementation of spatial lag model (SLM) and spatial error model (SEM) in GeoDa software. Queen contiguity second order type of spatial weight matrix was applied in order to formalize spatial interaction among districts. From ESDA, we found positive spatial autocorrelation in malaria prevalence rate. Hot spot areas for MPP were found in the eastern and southeast parts of the region. Relying on specification diagnostics and measures of fit, SLM was found to be the best model for explaining the geographical variation of MPP. SLM analysis demonstrated that proportion of households living in earth/local dung plastered floor house, proportion of households living under thatched roof house, average number of rooms/person in a given district, proportion of households who used anti-malaria spray in the last 12 months before the survey, percentage household using mosquito nets and average number of mosquito nets/person in a given district have positive and statistically significant effect on spatial distribution of MPP across districts of SNNPRS. Percentage of households living without access to radio and television has negative and statistically significant effect on spatial distribution of MPP across districts of MPP. Malaria is spatially clustered in space. The implication of the spatial clustering is that, in cases where the decisions on how to allocate funds for interventions needs to have spatial dimension.

An Analysis of Useful Customary Practice in Hadiya Culture: The Case of “Landimacho”

Developing and preserving the use of indigenous knowledge, skills and heritages can play an essential role in ensuring utility and sustainable transmission of cultural heritages for new generations. Therefore, the main purpose of this study was to investigate the role of indigenous institution (Landmacho) in settling conflicts in the Hadiya people in Hadiya Zone Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Regional State (SNNPRS) of Ethiopia. Qualitative research design was employed in the study for its appropriateness to assess the role of indigenous institutions in resolution of conflicts in the study area and Purposive sampling technique was employed to select the interviewee in the data collection. Landimacho is the truth of women and is the ruling system in the Hadiya society that is given to females or women only. It is culturally persuading system of two or more group of people’s conflict in the Hadiya society. The conflict is reached high point and male counterpart tried to solve but they cannot solve it. So, it is forced to be given to women of the society. It has a great role in conflict resolution, crime investigation and peacemaking in the society. To keep this value of society awareness creation, trainings about women’s role to the society, educating women to flourish it, increasing women’s participation and are mentioned to be the main recommendations to present a good attitude towards function of landimacho in the society. Keywords: indigenous, guff-guddima, xiigguulla, landimacho, geja, Wogana. DOI: 10.7176/JLLL/72-01 Publication date: October 31 st 2020

Participatory epidemiological study on the occurrence of reportable priority cattle diseases in two selected districts southern nations, nationalities and peoples’ regional state

A participatory epidemiological (PE) study was conducted between October 2016 and March 2017 in Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Regional State (SNNPRS)to assess occurrence of reportable cattle diseases and the level of awareness of livestock keepers’ towards cattle diseases. The PE study was conducted on 12 key informant groups (each comprising 8-12 members) selected from two districts (Bensa and Boloso Sore). Data collection tools used in PE study consisted of semi-structured interviews, simple scoring, matrix scoring, pair-wise ranking, proportional piling and seasonal calendars. Non-parametric tests and descriptive statistics were used to analyze data generated from PE. The study revealed that cattle are the most frequently kept and valuable livestock for the farmers (Kendall’s coefficient of concordance, W = 0.79 & 0.80; p = 0.001 &<0.001). The informants underscored that they keep cattle mainly for cash income, traction power, milk production, meat production, and breeding in descending order of priority. However, diseases, feed and water shortage, labor power, inadequate veterinary service and poor market availability were claimed by the farmers to be the main constraints for cattle production. Based on the impact of the diseases on the morbidity and mortality of cattle and livelihood of farmers, the key informant ranked anthrax as the first disease followed by blackleg and HS. In pair-wise ranking of the diseases for their impact, a strong agreement was noted among the key informant groups in both of the districts (W = 0.95 & 0.47; p<0.001 & 0.023). The informant groups estimated that 31.5% of the total cattle population became ill by the five top diseases they listed during the year preceding this study of which 31.3% were died. Good agreement was evident among the informants groups concerning the seasonal occurrence of blackleg, HS, LSD, FMD and rabies (W = 0.42 – 0.93; p<0.05; <0.01 &<0.001) while weak agreement was obtained for seasonality of anthrax (W = 0.16; p>0.05). Informants agreed that the incidence of HS, LSD, FMD and rabies is higher in the long rainy season (Jun-Aug) while blackleg occurs most often in the dry season. In conclusion, in the PE study, a strong level of agreement was noted between the key informant groups in ranking the diseases in their frequency of occurrence, impact and seasonal distribution showing that livestock keepers have a good perception about cattle diseases occurring in their localities.

Optimizing Pre-service Chemistry Teachers Understanding in Reaction Related Concepts of Alipahtic Hydrocarbons

The prime purpose of this investigation was to improve Pre-service Chemistry Teachers (PCTs) understanding of reaction related concepts of Aliphatic Hydrocarbons (AHCs). Participants were 12 PCTs selected from a pool of 87 second year PCTs taking Introductory Organic Chemistry course in Arbaminch college of Teachers Education, Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Regional State (SNNPRS), Ethiopia. The study was carried out in 2017 G.C. The selection of partakers was made on random basis. Case study method was employed in this in-depth investigation. The study was conducted in 7 weeks duration covering all concepts of AHCs. Conventional Instructional Approach (CIA) was employed in the Comparison Group (CG) and Conceptual Change Instructional Approach (CCIA) through the use Conceptual Change Texts (CCTs) was used in the Intervention Group (IG). A semi-structured interview was used for evaluating understanding of PCTs in relation to reactions of AHCs. To analyze the interview data, a framework analysis approach was followed. Analyses showed that the PCTs in IG had improved gaining of reaction related concepts of AHCs than those in CG. Participants in the IG reflected reduced Alternative Conceptions (ACs) and more Correct Conceptions (CoCs) than those in the CG. Reduced ACs and more CoCs from analyses of detailed recordings of PCTs responses confirmed enhanced understanding of reactions of AHCs in the IG.

Retrospective Study on the Occurrence of Reportable Priority Cattle Diseases in Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples’ Regional State, Southern Ethiopia

A retrospective study was conducted between October 2016 and March 2017 in Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Regional State (SNNPRS) to identify major reportable cattle disease outbreaks. The retrospective study was based on a nine years (2007-2015) cattle disease outbreak report data retrieved from the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries (MoLF) data bases. The retrospective study revealed that of the 15,840 disease outbreak reports expected from SNNPRS, only 1,578 (11%) reports were submitted to MoLF during the nine years’ time. According to the data retrieved from MoLF, a total of 1,496 cattle disease outbreaks with 44,646 morbidity cases and 4,709 mortalities were recorded in SNNPRS over the nine years period. The outbreaks were caused by blackleg (40.6%), hemorrhagic septicemia (HS) (26.3%), lumpy skin disease (LSD) (16%), anthrax (11.4%), foot and mouth disease (FMD) (4.7%), contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) (0.8%) and rabies (0.3%) in decreasing order of their proportion. LSD was responsible for the highest proportion of morbidity cases (35.9%) followed by FMD (26.2%) while blackleg and LSD were the leading causes of cattle mortalities, which accounted for 31% and 30.2% of the deaths recorded, respectively. In contrast, the lowest number of outbreaks, morbidity and mortality of cattle was caused by rabies. Disease outbreaks were occurred in all the seasons of the year; however, relatively higher number of outbreaks (30.7%) was recorded in early dry season (September to November). 
 In conclusion, the retrospective study has shown a very low level of disease outbreak reporting rate in SNNPRS, which may be due to misreporting or no outbreak of diseases.

Nudging College Pre-service Teachers towards the Desired Path in Isomerism Concepts of Aliphatic Hydrocarbons through the Use of Conceptual Change Texts

The main objective of the study was to determine Pre-service Chemistry Teachers’ (PCTs) understanding of isomerism related concepts of Aliphatic Hydrocarbons (AHs). To get in-depth picture of PCTs understanding on isomerism related concepts of AHs, case study was employed. The sample for this study consisted of twelve participants selected from 87 PCTs randomly, in two classes. These were second year PCTs registered in Introductory Organic Chemistry I course in Arbaminch College of Teachers Education, Southern, Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Regional State (SNNPRS), Ethiopia in the year 2017 G.C. A semi-structured interview was used for judging understanding of PCTs in relation to isomerism concepts. A framework analysis approach was applied to analyze interview data. The results of analysis revealed that the PCTs in the Intervention Group (IG) had better acquisition of isomerism concepts than those in the Comparison Group (CG). Based on the results and discussions, conclusions were made.

Assessing Customers Satisfaction of Urban Public Transport Service Delivery in Selected Cities of SNNPRS, Ethiopia

The study is aimed at measuring the level of customers’ satisfaction in urban public transport service in three cities of Southern Nations, Nationalities and People’s Regional State (SNNPRS) of Ethiopia, namely; Hawassa, Hosana and Sodo. The SERQUAL model which comprises five dimensions of service quality such as; tangibility, reliability, responsiveness, assurance, and empathy has been used to measure the level of customers’ satisfaction. The study was conducted based on cross-sectional survey design. A convenient sampling method was also applied to select the sample population. Accordingly, relevant data for the study were collected from 300 urban public transport users. The findings of the study revealed that, the level of transport need for popular mobility is 61% whereas the overall percentage of customers’ satisfaction is 37%. Again, the finding showed that, Bajaj or rickshaw motors is the most preferred and widely used mode of urban public transport by 70%. Generally, the urban public transport service is neither reliable nor tangible or responsive to the customers in all the study areas. This paper is based on an original research which opens eyes for policy makers to increase quality of urban public transport service to its customers. Hence, it helps to identify areas of gaps which need interventions to improve transport quality in urban areas. Keywords: Transport service, urban public transport, Transport Service, Customers’ satisfaction. DOI : 10.7176/JAAS/53-01 Publication date :March 31 st 2019

English

The participation of youths is important in the management of environmental problems. Environmental problems such as deforestation, overgrazing, soil erosion, and improper waste disposal are common in most parts of Ethiopia. Inappropriate environmental policies, population growth, climate change, and low level of awareness and less participation of the public are the major factors responsible for the problems. These environmental problems are affecting the overall agricultural productivity of the country necessitating corrective measures. The participation of youths in environmental management activities is important not only because they are the most productive group of society, but also because they constitute a significant number (30 and 28% of the Ethiopian and the Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples Regional State (SNNPRS) total population, respectively). This article, in line with the Ethiopian Youth Development and Change Package which is a program designed to materialize the Ethiopian Youth Policy (2004), discusses the success achieved and the challenges encountered in the implementation of the program in SNNPRS. The study is based on primary data collected by household survey from 7,630 youths all over the region. Other relevant secondary data were obtained from different sources. The findings have indicated that significant integrated watershed management activities have been undertaken in the region and as a result, some of the degraded lands rehabilitated, and urban greening and sanitation have improved. However, lack of autonomous organizational structure, weak coordination, lower youths’ participation and perception regarding their responsibility in managing the environment, lack of follow up for environmental management activities, absence of civic societies working in environmental management in the region are found to be problems to be resolved. Deforestation is found now to be the major environmental problem in the region. Key words: Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples Regional State (SNNPRS), environmental degradation, youth participation, environmental management.

Legal and Practical Aspects of Child Custody, Visitation and Maintenance: A Case Study in SNNP Regional State

Although divorce disrupts the marital bond thereby terminating marital rights and obligations, each parent’s obligations to the wellbeing and upbringing of children (custody, visitation rights, and maintenance) persists. This article examines the practice of courts with regard to child custody, visitation rights and obligation to supply maintenance in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples (SNNP) Regional State. The experience of various court decisions in SNNP Regional State with respect to these matters is explored. Since the laws do not have detailed provisions that regulate the various issues of child custody, visitation and child support, there is inconsistency in judicial decisions. Many decisions do not distinguish between physical and legal custody. As a result, the legal and physical custody of the child usually rest on the same person. With regard to visitation, there is variation in court decisions although the conventional arrangement seems standard visitation. In some cases, courts specify the duration and form of visitation. However, in many cases, courts do not indicate how and when visitation shall be allowed. There are cases where courts overlook the issue of visitation. There is also inconsistency in court decisions with regard to child support. These problems call for detail provisions to ensure consistency and predictability in child custody, visitation and child support decisions. Key terms Family · Divorce · Child custody · Visitation · Maintenance

English

A cross-sectional study was carried out to determine the prevalence of cattle trypanosomosis and assess the distribution of its vectors in Gimbo and Guraferda districts of Kaffa and Bench Maji zones, respectively, in Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples’ Regional State (SNNPRS), Ethiopia from November 2011 to March 2012. Simple random sampling technique was used to select 490 local zebu cattle from purposively selected three peasant associations in Gimbo and four peasant associations in Gurafereda districts. Blood samples were examined for trypanosmes by the buffy coat technique (BCT) after determining the packed cell volume (PCV) and traps were employed for collection of tsetse. The overall prevalence of cattle trypansomosis was 14.5%. The prevalence varied between the two districts, that is, Gimbo (9.2%) and Guraferda (19.6%). Trypanosoma congolense was the predominant species in the area (62%) followed by T. vivax (28.2%). Statistically significant (P 0.05) difference was noted in prevalence rates among animals of the different age groups, sex and coat colors. The mean PCV per cent value of parasitaemic animals (21.31±5.070) was significantly (p<0.001) lower than that of aparasitaemic animals (27.00±5.097). Glossina pallidipes and Glossina fuscipes were captured in the study area with an overall apparent density of 3.73 flies/trap/day. In the light of these findings, integrated approaches involving both vector and trypanosome directed measures are suggested for effective management of the problem of cattle trypanosomosis in the study area. Key words: Bench Maji, bovine, buffy coat, Kaffa, trap, trypanosomosis, tsetse fly.

English

Among the most important linguistic developments in Ethiopia since 1991, the development of written forms for many languages that did not have orthographies before has been one. By far the most diverse region in terms of the number of languages spoken is the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Regional State (SNNPRS).&nbsp; This paper deals with the pan-dialectal orthography designed for Wolaitta, Gamo, Gofa and Dawuro (WOGAGODA here after), closely related speech varieties spoken in a contiguous territory within the SNNPRS. The orthography has been designed by a team of local experts who comprises of the four groups and has been put to use since February, 2003. The orthography follows the Alphabetic writing system and makes use of an extended version of the Latin script. Among the various limitations the orthography exhibits, over-representation and under-representation of the phonemic inventory of WOGAGODA is one. &nbsp;The main objective of this study is, therefore, to examine the orthography under concern particularly from the point of phoneme-grapheme relationship, irregularity in symbolizing phonemic features and problems associated with diagraphs, etc. Further, the study tries to look at reading difficulties arising from the interference of readers&rsquo; knowledge of the English orthography in using the WOGAGODA orthography and vice versa. The two languages use the same writing system but not always the same conventions of sound-grapheme relationship.&nbsp; The paper suggests ways of developing a simpler, more systematic, and unified alphabet that is also more harmonious with the English Alphabet.&nbsp; &nbsp; Key words: Orthography, script, phoneme, grapheme, diagraph, representation

Liming Effects on Yield and Yield Components of Haricot Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Varieties Grown in Acidic Soil at Damot Sore District, Southern Ethiopia

A field experiment was conducted at location Damot Sore in Wolaita Zone, Southern Nations Nationalities and People’s Regional State (SNNPRS) to evaluate the response of varieties haricot bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) with two rates of lime ( 0 and 0.4 tha-1 CaCO3) used on acidic soils The treatments were arranged in factorial RCBD with three replications. Analysis resulted of soil samples showed that Organic carbon, Availability phosphorus, Total nitrogen and Soil pH values were very low. Application of lime resulted in significant changes on these chemical properties of the soils in the location. Availability of P and soil pH was improved due to the application of lime and maximum values of these parameters were recorded. Growth parameters, yield and yield components were significantly increased with increasing rates of liming at the location (year1&2). Maximum grain yields 1282.49 kgha-1 for Hawasa Dume at Gununo and 1079.40 1 for Omo-95 were recorded with rates of 20 kgPha-1 with lime (0.4 tha-1) at location. From the result of this study it could be conclude that liming improve soil pH, Availability phosphorus and performance of haricot bean varieties but till now there is some gap on correcting acidity of the soils and also grain yield of the varieties. So application of lime should be repeated in the coming season until soil comes to neutral and increased the production of the crops

Effectiveness of development agents performances in agricultural technology dissemination: The case of Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples Regional State (SNNPRS), Ethiopia

Although the Government of Ethiopia has developed a grand Five-Year Growth and Transformation Plan (FYGTP) for economic development, aspiring to achieve a middle income country status by the year 2025 through a transformation of the economy of the agriculture led industry, the shift of focus in the role of development from agriculture to industrialization has not altered the objective of enhancing agricultural production and productivity. To this end, the agricultural extension service which is determined by its institutional effectiveness and competency of the development agents (DAs) at field has pivotal role to derive the transformation process. This study was based on data collected from 108 DAs in SNNPR from 12 Woredas using structured questionnaire. Results indicated that manmade and natural factors are affecting the DAs effectiveness on their job performance. The challenges were found to have three categories, namely DAs capacity based challenges, farmer based constraints and infrastructure/ service based constraints. On the job training that would build the knowledge, skill and commitment level of the expertise and improve the working environment of DAs including availability of logistics, incentives in kind and promotion is recommended. Key words: Development agent, effectiveness, performance, technology dissemination.

Production, processing and marketing of ginger in Southern Ethiopia

The cultivation of ginger was started in Ethiopia during 13th century when Arabs introduced it from India to east Africa (Janson, 1981). In Ethiopia it is limited mostly in the wetter regions of Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Regional State (SNNPRS) and some parts of western Oromia. Most of the commercial production is practiced in SNNPRS by farmers within Kambata-Tambaro, Wolaita and Hadiya zones. Despite its uses and contribution to the livelihoods of smallholders and to economy of the country, there has been limited attempt to promote its production and marketing through improvement of pre-and post harvest handling of the crop. This paper highlights the results of a survey and a review of secondary sources of information in sample woredas from ginger belt of country with the objective of identifying ginger value chain problems and potentials in southern Ethiopia. The study identified that there are high potential ginger growing areas in SNNPRS located in Wolaita, Kambata-Tambaro and Hadiya zones that tend to specialize in production and marketing of the crop. However, production and marketing of ginger in these areas is constrained by low quality varieties, poor pre- and post-harvest handling practices, low product market prices and lack of access to markets. Key words: Ethiopia, ginger, marketing, processing.

New Configurations of Ethiopian Ethnicity: The Challenge of the South

In 1994, Ethiopia became a federal democratic republic composed of nine regional states, which bear the name of their majority ethnic group, except Gambela and the Southern Region. This paper discusses some issues of ethnicity and the national project in Ethiopia in relation to the Southern Regional State, officially the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Regional State (SNNPRS), which has a population of 11 million, or some 17 percent of the total Ethiopian population. The Southern Region, known for its notable ethnolinguistic diversity, is a double challenge: to the Ethiopian federation, because of this diversity and the lack of a dominant ethnic majority; and to the development of the region itself, in search of a coalition of ethnic elites that will manage policy and administration, and an appropriate role of ethnic identity. The paper sketches the history and ethnocultural diversity of the South; its economic and political role within the Federation; changing politics of identity resulting in patterns of cooperation and conflict; and the role of ethnicity as political construct and sociocultural identity. The South is a region vital to the redefinition and survival of the Ethiopian federation and of Ethiopian nationhood. There is a need in this multi-ethnic region to sustain commonalities bridging differences and to define common issues and interests of efficient governance and economic development. There are new opportunities for the Southern people. The price of the heightened organizational significance of ethnicity is the increased volatility and conflict potential of ethnic group consciousness.