Humanities and Social Sciences

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    Exploration of higher education qualifications on women’s participation and appointment to decision making positions in public administration in Lusaka, Zambia.
    (The University of Zambia, 2024) Nsana, Sharon
    The success of development efforts depends on making women equal partners in all matters of the economy. Higher education, to be certain, by itself, is not a panacea but a necessary condition for the advancement of women in society. Through higher education, the journey towards participation in decision making power begins. Access to education is considered an important determinant of women’s appointment to decision making positions in public administration. This is because women’s increased education is positively associated with autonomy of decision making in different sectors of society. As such, women’s decision-making power increases when they are empowered with higher education. The main objective of this study was to explore the role that higher education qualification plays on women’s appointment to decision making positions in public administration. The sample for the study included 25 participants who were interviewed from various ministries in Lusaka. Both secondary and primary data were gathered for the study. Primary data was gathered using semi-structured interview guides and secondary data was obtained from documents such as journals, reports as well as websites. The research design used was a case study design. Non-probability sampling technique, using purposive and snow ball sampling methods were employed in the study. Data were analysed using thematic analysis by employing reflexive thematic analysis. Findings of the study revealed that despite women acquiring higher education qualification in Zambia, their appointment to decision making positions in public administration has not been achieved fully. Factors such as horizontal and vertical segregation were found to affect women mostly at institutional level and also were the reasons for the low numbers of women in decision making positions. Therefore, the study recommended that various stakeholders need to prioritize the importance of women’s participation and appointment by enacting and implementing laws, policies and regulations. Women also should be empowered with training and upgrading skills to better participate in decision making.
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    Village banking and their influence on the welfare of women in Kaunda square stage one, Lusaka district.
    (The University of Zambia, 2024) Katowa, Vincent
    This study aimed to investigate the role of village banking in contributing to women's economic welfare in Kaunda Square Stage One. The research had three objectives: to establish the economic benefits that women gain from village banking, to determine the challenges that hinder village banking's contribution to women’s economic welfare, and to identify community strategies that can enhance the effectiveness of village banks in contributing to women's economic welfare. The study used mixed methods, and simple random sampling was used to select respondents interested or engaged in village banking activities. A total of 90 participants were selected, and data was collected through questionnaires and in-depth interviews. Qualitative data was analyzed using key themes, while quantitative data was analyzed descriptively by using percentages and frequencies/counts. The study found that village banking has a positive influence on the income levels of the participants. With the availability of income, participants were able to access medical services, and the right quantity and amount of food, engage in entrepreneurship activities, and keep their children in school, which improved their well-being. The study also found that challenges such as short payback periods, loan default, and improper record-keeping decreased the influence that village banking had on their well-being. However, the study found that by ensuring financial training, clear village banking rules and regulations, and regular meetings, village banking's contribution to the participant's welfare could be enhanced. The impact of village banking on the women of Kaunda Square Stage One cannot be overstated. By providing them with access to financial resources and credit, this initiative empowers them to establish or grow their own businesses, which in turn can lead to greater financial stability for themselves and their families. The study recommends that participants should prioritize their education and not just their children to ensure self-development. The study also encourages the government to provide support to village banking groups with vocational training in tailoring and hairdressing since participants lacked the expertise to sustain a profitable business over time. The paper further recommends that the government establish monitoring mechanisms to ensure that village banking groups adhere to responsible lending practices to reduce default rates and prevent the breakdown of village banking systems. The paper suggests conducting further research to explore the effects of village banking after the village banking cycle ends.
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    Trade and exchange among the iron age inhabitants of Bwinambo site in Chinsali, Zambia.
    (The University of Zambia, 2020) Lumpa, Elise Mwila
    Trade and exchange were critical areas of prehistoric people’s economic activities as they shaped their societies and adaptation to changing environments. This study explores aspects of trade and exchange among Iron Age inhabitants of Bwinambo archaeological site in Chinsali, Zambia. The site is especially suited for the study being located within the Tanganyika – Nyasa corridor in the north-eastern Zambia, an area that was a hive of trade activities during the pre-colonial period. Archaeological survey and excavation of four sites, revealed evidence of factors indicative of a settlement site such as a perennial source of water, wildlife and smelting kilns. Recovered materials from the excavated areas include local and imported pottery, beads, Metal objects, iron slag, hematite, fragments of shells, animal bones, fragments of human bones, charcoal, ash and burnt clay. Analysis of materials from the site revealed evidence of both local and external contacts stretching as far as the east African coast and Malawi. This is evidenced through similarities in pottery which does not belong to the known pottery tradition of the region in which the site lies. These include the Early Iron Working ware, Ivuna pottery, Proto Swhili Ware, Nkope ware, Kapeni ware and Mwabulambo ware. Cultural flora such as coconut plantations also revealed undisputed evidence of external contacts with the East African Coast. Local exchanges, on the other, were revealed through pottery from Kalambo, Kamnama, Makwe, Chondwe and Samfya. These have revealed evidence that the Tanganyika – Nyasa Corridor involved cross cultural contact characterized by interactions happening at multiple stages. The study concludes by emphasising that the objects of these exchanges were not restricted to exotics but rather a wide range of commodities that included pottery, iron, iron objects and food stuffs. Therefore, the absence of exotic goods in the archaeological record should not in any way rule out possibilities of long distance trade and exchanges. It can thus be inferred that these exchanges happened on a fairly regular basis and were not limited to personal bonds of reciprocity.
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    The effectiveness of parliamentary reforms on citizen participation in parliamentary affairs in Zambia.
    (The University of Zambia, 2021) Ng’andu, Everty
    The government of the Republic Zambia introduced parliamentary reforms in order to bring parliament closer to the people and enhance the functions and effectiveness of the National Assembly as a legislative body and agent of development. The reforms were part of the public sector reforms programme (PSRP) embarked on by the Zambian government after 1991 in order to promote efficiency and effectiveness in public institutions such as parliament. This study investigated the effectiveness of parliamentary reforms in enhancing citizen participation in parliamentary affairs. Two objectives guided the study which is; firstly, to examine the strategies used to reform parliament in Zambia. Secondly, to assess the extent to which the objectives of the parliamentary reforms have increased citizens’ participation in the legislative functions in Zambia, and to make policy recommendations that would enhance citizen participation in parliamentary affairs in Zambia. A case study in which 12 Members of Parliament, three directors of civil society organizations, and eight parliamentary support staff, and 30 ordinary citizens were purposely and conveniently sampled, and used in the study. The researcher used interview guide to collect data from Members of Parliament, directors of civil society organizations and parliamentary staff. Focus group discussions on the other hand were used to obtain data from ordinary citizens. The study revealed that citizens were generally aware of the National Assembly of Zambia and that MPs are elected to represent them. However, this did not translate into understanding and appreciation of the roles of the National Assembly. The study also established that the principal roles of parliament are legislation, representation and oversight. The study established that strategies used to reform parliament were: establishment of parliament radio and TV studios, establishment of constituency offices, construction of committee building/visitors center and formulation of strategic plans. With regard to factors affecting the effective implementation of the parliamentary reforms, it was established that these include, lack of time for MPs to visit their constituencies, inadequate government funding to support reforms, excessive executive powers, lack of political will, lack of monitoring and evaluation of the reforms. In terms of the levels of awareness and the extent to which citizens participate in parliamentary affairs, the study revealed low levels of both awareness and participation by citizens in parliamentary affairs in Zambia. Some of the factors contributing to the low levels of awareness and participation in parliamentary affairs include: long distances to constituency offices and parliament, strict security checks at Parliament, unfulfilled promise by MPs, fear of the unknown, language barrier, political and gender violence, lack of rule of law, inappropriate NAZ structures and failure to link constituency offices to ward development committees. Due to these limiting factors the majority of the citizens still have scanty knowledge of these reforms let alone the functions and roles of the National Assembly. The study concluded that parliamentary reforms to a greater extent have not been effective in promoting citizen participation in parliamentary affairs and as such government, the Members of Parliament, parliamentary staff, and indeed civil society organisations have a mammoth task to disseminate information to members of the public on the importance and benefits of participation in parliamentary reforms and affairs. Therefore, it was recommended among other things that the government should ensure that constituency offices are depoliticized, capacity built, strengthened and effectively used to sensitize the public about the openness of Parliament. Further, the study suggested some of the areas of future research not comprehensively covered in this research.
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    Meanings of male circumcision amongst circumcised men in Zambia: a case study of Gondwe township in Chilanga district.
    (The University of Zambia, 2021) Phiri, Wilson L.
    Background: Zambia has been battling the spread of HIV/AIDS using different interventions such as abstinence campaigns, messages of being faithful to one faithful partner, correct and consistent condom use. The Zambian government endorsed Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC) as an additional biomedical strategy for preventing HIV/AIDS and reducing the risk of cervical cancer in women. Circumcised men attach different meaning and cultural values to their circumcision status. In Zambia much research has been done on male circumcision and most of these studies have focused on focused on knowledge, perceptions, acceptability and barriers to access MC services in general and research is yet to profile the meaning of circumcision and the cultural values attached to it by circumcised men. Aim: The study sought to understand the meaning of Male Circumcision (MC) among the circumcised men in Gondwe Township Lusaka. Methods: This was a qualitative study with an Interpretive Phenomenological research design. Data were collected using in-depth interviews from 20 circumcised men who were living in Gondwe Township at the time of study, who were 18 years and above. Participants were recruited using purposive and snowball sampling methods. Interviews were audio recorded. Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis method was used for data analysis. Results: The study found that male circumcision carries health, social and cultural meaning and is understood primarily as a symbol of hygiene and a complimentary method of HIV prevention and other Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs). Additionally, male circumcision is a cultural practice that signifies a transition from boyhood to manhood among the circumcising ethnic groups in Zambia. MC also acts as an agent of socialization which teaches young boys the responsibilities; prepare them for sex, marriage, parenthood, respect for different people, a way to earn respect, promotion of division of labour and formation of social structures in society. The study further showed that the important factors influencing men to opt for circumcision were hygiene and cleanliness, protection from HIV and STIs, sexual pleasure, prevention of penile and cervical cancer, influence from peers, spousal/partners, parents and other family members. Conclusion: Based on the findings of this study, it can be concluded that male circumcision has health, social and cultural meaning to the circumcised men and they viewed it as a method of maintaining hygiene and a complimentary method of HIV prevention and other STIs. It is also viewed as a cultural practice which signifies manhood among the circumcising ethnic groups in Zambia. However, based on the findings of this study, possible implications for the circumcision practice include attaining masculinity, protection and prevention of diseases, maintaining hygiene and cleanliness, socialization and earning respect in society.