MPhil graduates present to current students

 

On Saturday 9 July 2016, the MPhil in Development Policy and Practice students of 2015 and 2016 had the privilege to meet two students from the pioneer class of 2014. The two students, Saarah Salie and Percy Makombe, are two of the students who were the first to graduate with an MPhil in Development Policy and Practice. Salie and Makombe presented their dissertations to the two groups. The 2015 and 2016 students met for the first time on Saturday and the presentations by Salie and Makombe were the highlight of the day. Students shared their views and experiences and were clearly very impressed with the interesting topics that were presented.

Saarah Salie's presentation entitled "Islands of effectiveness in co-government arrangements: the case of three coalition-led municipalities in South Africa" sought to identify the reforms and principles most useful to achieve governance gains, in power sharing arrangements that are politically unstable and sometimes predatory environments.

Percy Makombe’s (right) presentation entitled “Governance reforms and national benefits: problems and prospects in Marange Diamond Mining in Zimbabwe” was based on a study that tracks the history of diamond mining at Marange diamond fields, describing what has played out since the discovery of huge diamond deposits in 2006.The study considers potential entry points to try and effect reform in diamond mining in the country.

The presentation session was followed by a dinner which was well attended. Both the presentation and the dinner provided a networking platform for students, faculty members and donors. Overall, a day that will be remembered by all present and will be marked as an annual event on the GSDPP calendar.