PhD in Law graduate Dr Elisabeth Achancho faced huge challenges after being locked out of South Africa during the COVID-19 pandemic.
‘I applied from Cameroon to study at UKZN for my PhD and finalised my registration in South Africa in February 2020, returning to Cameroon in March to look after my children with plans to come back shortly before my proposal defence scheduled for May in that year,’ said Achancho.
‘Unfortunately, it was then that COVID-19 hit the hardest and borders were closed, reopening again in October when I was able to return. However, due to the lockdown regulations it was impossible to meet colleagues and supervisors to discuss research ideas or to access the campus library,’ said Achancho.
With the challenges of gaining access to the country as well as access to research materials and research facilities derailing her studies, she persevered and navigated the challenges, using online tools at her disposal, support from her supervisors Professor Freddy Mnyongani and Dr Clydenia Stevens as well as securing a doctoral scholarship from the National Institute for the Humanities and Social Sciences (NIHSS).
Said Achancho: ‘My proposal defence was rescheduled for November 2020 and held via Zoom. The NIHSS provided me with a data sim card and UKZN gave me internet data which all assisted with online research, Zoom conferences and workshops. In 2021, the lockdown was relaxed and I was able to apply for access to campus as well as to the postgrad study area. However, most research activities remained online. My supervisors were excellent, always understanding and ready to assist in my academic journey.’
Achancho’s study titled: Legal Harmonisation of Non-Tariff Barriers of Regional Economic Communities as a Catalyst to the Realisation of the African Continental Free Trade Area argued that the key to achieving economic and social advancement as envisioned by Agenda 2063 of the African Union (AU), lies in removing all the possible barriers to trade and fostering closer co-operation between the different Regional Economic Communities (RECs) on the continent. The study is significant in that it proposes a model of legal harmonisation of non-tariff barriers with a view to facilitating free trade.
‘This is ground-breaking research that requires policy actions from the AU and African Continental Free Trade Area community to generate the necessary socio-economic effect,’ she said. ‘It has a great societal impact and human interest because if the proposed legal harmonisation model is implemented, traders, investors, businesses and community citizens will feel legitimately protected and have access to free movement and intra-regional trading with confidence regarding the applicable rules. Most importantly, individuals can rely on regional laws in national courts sparing them the perplexing task of deciding which law applies in international commercial transactions and cross-border trade.’
Achancho is dedicating her PhD to her daughter who was born at the beginning of her doctoral journey.
‘My last child was born in the middle of my PhD studies hence I call her “my shock absorber” and dedicate the degree to her. I am married with four kids and in all I do, the presence of my family around me, their support and encouragement, keeps me going and motivates me.’
Words: Thandiwe Jumo
Photograph: Sethu Dlamini