The informal features of micro and small enterprises and its incompatibility with the partnership law in Ethiopia

This paper aims to analyze unfitness of micro and small enterprises with the existing trade law particularly partnership rules in Ethiopia. Qualitative research methodology is utilized in order to capture and analyze accurate and in-depth insight of the fact that micro and small enterprises in Ethiopia are not compatible with the existing partnership law though partnership form of firms are suitable for small business. The available literatures related to the issue were professionally scrutinized and analyzed for the purpose of the research. The results of this research shows that micro and small enterprises in Ethiopia are formed as simply business organization which does not specify the kind of firm structure. Formation, management, liability and dissolution of micro and small enterprises deviate from the partnership requirements stipulated under the Ethiopian commercial code. Furthermore, micro and small enterprises are operating as informal sector business though the sectors‘ development strategy clearly states that they should be organized under trade law. Therefore, micro and small enterprises system should be reformed in order to make them to be compatible with the existing commercial law.

Ending impunity for gender crimes: Access to justice for violence against women and its contribution to sustainable peace building in Rwanda.

This paper seeks to establish the contribution of Accessible justice to ending impunity for violence against women. Consequently, it investigates how far availing legal remedies to victims of violence against women leads to sustainable peace building in Rwanda. In doing so, the study adopts a case of Access to Justice Bureaus- a judicial service established by the government of Rwanda to help people have access to free legal remedies. Based on data collected from fifty five in-depth interviews and six focus group discussions in the four provinces and Kigali city, findings reveal that through free legal representation, community mobilization, formation of gender dialogue groups and multi-sectoral collaboration, Access to Justice Bureaus have played an important role in combatting impunity to violence against women. Conversely, findings also point to a number of challenges that need to be addressed if violence against women is to be fully eradicated.

Environmental and social injustices in East Africa: A critique of the modernization approach to environmental communication

The existing environmental injustices in the world have often been linked to industrialisation and modernisation of nations. In a bid to develop and modernise their nations, East African governments have adopted neoclassical developmentalist ideals of 'modernization' and 'capital investments‘, which largely involve exploitation of natural and human resources. The consequence is rampant and severe environmental degradation and related impacts in the region. While environmental degradation impacts affect all people residing in the region, the poor are hit hardest since they do not have ways to deal with disasters; hence, it becomes an environmental and a social justice issue. Although mass media are viewed as change agents and key players in the development agenda, and are often tasked to communicate information as widely as possible, these have adopted hierarchical and top down approaches to environmental and social justice issues and, in the process, helped to deepen the existing inequalities in society. From perspectives of Development Communication, this article critiques modernization discourses to development including: 'Top-down experts of development‘, 'Blaming the victim‘ and 'Social Darwinism‘. The purpose is to demonstrate how the East African media deploy this framework to (mis)represent environmental issues leading to aggravated environmental and social injustices in these societies. The article argues for a 'solution journalism approach‘ to environmental communication, whereby media as advocates of development, focus more on the contextual factors within which environmental issues and problems transpire.

Primary schools’ development in Somaliland – The role of Community Education Committees

The study sought to determine the methods used to participate the community in school infrastructure projects. It also examined the extent and effectiveness of the community education committee participation process. Done as a cross-sectional survey using mixed methods of inquiry, the study targeted 1002 respondents consisting of 920 headteachers and 82 officers in charge of District Education (DEOs) in Somaliland. The sample comprised 257 headteachers and 22 DEOs. Multi stage sampling was used. Purposive sampling was used to draw a sample of regions, stratified random sampling to draw a sample of headteachers while simple random sampling was used to draw a sample of DEOs. Pilot testing of the questionnaire was done on 28 headteachers. DEOs were interviewed while Headteachers filled questionnaires. Reliability of the questionnaire was ensured using Cronbach alpha. Empirical literature review, peer review and pilot testing were used to ensure validity. The response was received from 20 DEOs and 247 headteachers. Thematic analysis was used to analyse interview data collected from DEOs. Headteachers data collected by questionnaire were analysed using descriptive statistics. Participating the community in decision-making, offering free labour and and fundraising were the leading methods of participating communities in school infrastructure projects. Communities perceived full ownership of completed school infrastructure projects. Community members were satisfied with the schools‘ participation process. Most schools had realized their community participation goals. The CEC process was just one of the numerous ways the community participated in school infrastructure projects. The CEC participation method was largely working and realising its goals. More school development could be realised if the CEC participation process was further strengthened.

“Avoiding the consequences of being famous”: An interview with the Queen of Rwandan Karaoke, Jane Uwimana

Karaoke is the act of singing to prerecorded music. Put differently, karaoke is an exhibition of some sort of scripted simulation (Adams, 1996). The literature on karaoke performance is extensive across the globe. In Africa, however, this literature is non-existent. This is so in spite of the rampancy of the category in Rwanda‘s provinces where a karaoke fever brews, a near-absent nightlife notwithstanding. Having witnessed the popularity of karaoke in the country firsthand, and towards addressing the curious gap in the extant literature, Isought audiences with a selection of leading karaoke performers in contemporary Rwanda. Jane Uwimana is a blogger, a radio presenter and the acclaimed queen of Rwandan karaoke. This paper presents excerpts from a semi-structured interview with Ms. Uwimana held at her residence in Kigali. The interview session which was recorded using a tape recorder lasted about one hundred minutes. This was subsequently transcribed for purposes of presentation.

Editorial

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Causes of loan defaults within Microfinance institutions: Learning from micro and small business owners in Rwanda: A case of MSEs in Kigali

The study analyse the factors that causes loan defaults within Microfinance institutions learning from the perception of entrepreneurs in Rwanda. Explanatory research design was used. Data was collected from primary and secondary sources using questionnaire and documentation. The study population included microfinance institutions within Kigali. The target population included MSEs that are classified within a portfolio of nonperforming loans. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was used to analyse the correlation between the study variables. The findings from the survey showed that loan delay, loan shortage, loan deviation, interest rate, improper management, business environment have a significant impact on nonperformance. The researcher recommended that entrepreneurs should be trained on financial discipline and how to manage the loan finance

Causes of early motherhood, consequences and prevention strategies: The case of early pregnant teenagers

This paper examined root causes of early pregnant teenagers under 19 years old. We selected 30 young girls from 3 districts of the southern Rwanda, who have been pregnant between 2018, 2019 and 2020. We decided to use "life story telling" methods whose analysis led us to the surprising major findings like the fact that more than 70% of our sample got pregnancy after the school abandon, 80% did not have any or false information on the sexual education and 90% of men pregnancy responsible are under 23 years old and are single. The findings showed also that more than 70% of the samples have no both parents. The findings established that negative influences from peers and environment, care free attitude of parents among others were factors that pre-dispose the girl-child to early motherhood. Also the effects include disruption of academic process, school drop-outs and poor public image. It was therefore, recommended that schools and homes should be more protective and shields the girl-child from negative influences. Education of the girl-child should be free and compulsory to enable teenage mothers go back to school after nursing her baby as many would love to do but for financial constraints The findings showed also that more than 70% of the sample have no both parents.

Youths and cyber insecurity in Nigeria: The role of religion in mitigating against the yahoo yahoo phenomenon

It is no news that countries all over the world are faced with one challenge or the other. Outstanding among all is the challenge of insecurity of lives and properties. In Nigeria, there is the scourge of internet fraudsters known as Yahoo Yahoo, which have swindled many unsuspecting victims their hard-earned resources. Interestingly, the teaming youth population are the major players when it comes to this societal menace. Despite various efforts being put in place by the government to forestall the activities of these fraudsters, the propagators have sought other avenues to continue to be relevant in their nefarious acts. Thus, using questionnaire and in-depth interviews to gather its data, the study traced the trend that led to the engagement of youths‘ in Yahoo Yahoo. It analysed the effect of the practice of Yahoo Yahoo. It also examined the major religions (Indigenous religion, Islam, and Christianity) in the country and the roles they play in mitigating against the Yahoo Yahoo phenomenon in the country.

The impact of subtle resistance to regional crop specialization: The case of maize farming in Rugeramigozi Marsh-Rwanda

In the framework of the professionalization of the agricultural sector in Rwanda, a number of agricultural reforms including regional crop specialization, mono-cropping, use of improved seeds and chemical fertilisers among others have been initiated and have substantially contributed to the increase of agricultural products at the Rwandan local market. Even though the reform outcomes were promising, smallholder farmers had at the outset of the reform implementation opposed to the way crops were selected for their marshland and their reaction has influenced the reform implementation. This article explores the experience smallholder farmers have gone through during the initiation of new selected crops for their marshland, their reactions to the use of the mandatory seeds and the impact of their reactions. Findings reveal that farmers‘ discontents have slowed down cultivating maize because their preferred crop – the rice – considered more profitable was disregarded. To deter the implementation of growing maize, smallholder farmers have used strategic defiance in form of subtle argumentation, strategic silence, strategic apathy or indifference, ironical strategy among others and the impact of their stratagems have led to the amendment of the decision of growing undesirable crop(s) in their marshland. The latest data collected in October 2017 and January 2018 reveal clearly the blurred intentions behind farmers‘ reactions observed during the 2010 – 2012 research – they bring to light what they didn‘t dare to disclose then. This article shows finally that in any agricultural reform design, planners should consider all aspects upholding smallholder farmers‘ advantages and these are identifiable only if they participate proactively in the reform planning and implementation phases.