The September issue focuses on a number of key topics related to development. It offers a variety of perspectives on such matters as community participation in development, development and technology, development policy and water services, development and tourism, public-private partnerships in metro cities, emerging issues in smallholder organic production, and the economics of livestock production on communal land. It also includes a special section for research notes. The purpose of this section is to encourage emerging (or rather developing) authors to sharpen their writing skills. The Development Southern Africa editorial team wants to give the voices on the periphery a hearing in this important publication, while ensuring that the journal's accreditation status and quality are not compromised in the process of supporting new authors. We take this opportunity to encourage postgraduate students and other authors who are making a start in academic writing to take this opportunity to have their theories and views tested by our experienced and respected team of reviewers, to benefit from the valuable feedback they will receive, and to participate in our continuing quest for quality, focus, relevance and a culture of scholarship in the dissemination of knowledge.
We are confident that you will find this issue stimulating, and relevant to pressing current developmental challenges. We take this opportunity to thank all the authors who contributed to this issue.
Dr Mogomme Masoga
Editor