African Journals Online
The Zimbabwe Science News

ABSTRACTS Volume 33(3)

Mathematics at the University of Zimbabwe: Its past and future

T. Shonhiwa

Dept. of Mathematics, University of Zimbabwe, P. O. Box MP 167, Mt. Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe

When requested to write about the history of Mathematics at the University of Zimbabwe (UZ), I was surprised to find out that there was very little documented information about it. Apparently, this fairly important aspect of the subject had escaped the practitioners of Mathematics at the University of Zimbabwe. It is my hope then, that the lesson has been learnt.

A century of vegetation survey in Zimbabwe

J. Timberlake

Biodiversity Foundation for Africa, P.O. Box FM 730, Famona, Bulawayo

The vegetation of Zimbabwe, part of the drier Afrotropical zone, is predominantly woodland. Although much of it is heavily modified, a substantial portion of the original vegetation is still relatively intact and is an important natural resource and a good indicator of environmental and ecological potential.

Ostrich production in Zimbabwe

R.G. Cooper

Dept. of Physiology, University of Zimbabwe, P.O. Box MP 167, Mount Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe. Fax: (263) (4) 333678. E-mail: [email protected]

Commercial ostrich farming is an important component of the local livestock industry. In Zimbabwe, domestic ostrich production began in 1985 and, as such, is still a new industry compared to the well-established operation in South Africa (Cooper, 1999a). Currently the farmed ostrich population in Zimbabwe stands at ~ 45 000, while the wild population remains at ~ 2 000. The growth of the industry has been promoted through increases in numbers of birds and the creation of an infrastructure to support the industry, thus permitting the slaughter of ostriches and the marketing of meat and skin (Cooper, 1999b). The industry is presently export-driven, selling mainly meat and skin. It is therefore a good generator of foreign currency, which maximises its earning capacity (Cooper, 1999c). Ostrich production is growing on a global scale (Gillespie and Schupp, 1998), resulting in increased market competition (Cooper, 1999d). This has increased the need for producers to improve their efficiency on the farm (Hallam, 1992). It is only with the dedication of producers that continual improvements in domestic ostrich production practices will ensure adequate and increased breeding success, and the successful raising of ostriches up to slaughter age (Cooper, 1999e), thus sustaining an export market.