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The impact of sustainability accounting and reporti firm value: a case study of listed company’s on Lusaka securities exchange (LUSE).
Get PDFThesis of Master of Science in Accounting and FinanceThere is a growing interest among stakeholders in the subject of Sustainability Accounting and Reporting (SAR). Literature based on SAR has reviewed that there exists a relationship between SAR practices and firm value. However, this has not been confirmed or verified. The aim of this research was to investigate the impact of SAR on firm value, focusing on companies listed on the Lusaka Securities Exchange (LuSE). Overall, the objective of this research is to
drive positive change, improve company performance, and ensure that companies operate in a socially, environmentally and economically responsible manner. This objective was achieved in three specific objectives firstly by examining the sustainability accounting and reporting practices among LuSE listed companies in Zambia, secondly by analyzing the relationship between SAR and firm value and lastly by identification of the key drivers to implementing SAR practices among LuSE listed companies. In doing so, the study adopted pragmatic philosophy and employed panel content analysis to examine the annual reports, separate
sustainability reports and websites of the companies listed on LUSE, analyzing data from 2012 to 2022 financial reporting period. The results revealed that the overall average sustainability index for 22 listed firms from 2012 to 2022 was found to be 48%. Whilst the overall average environmental sustainability index was found to be 44% and the overall average social sustainability index was found to be 42%. The results found that level of sustainability accounting and reporting practices has been increasing over the time from the last decade, however there has been gaps with regard to smaller firm which are still struggling with board presence and financial stamina. It was also found that SAR has impact of sustainability reporting on firm value and overall firm performance. A weak correlation was observed which is also significant tested at 5% level was found with R squared of 0.32. Thus, the findings indicate that weak association between the dependent variable ROA and the independent variables that is Environmental and social sustainability indicators. With overall mean of 0.164
and SD= 0.169. Based on the model, it was determined that Environmental and social sustainability indicators played a pivotal role in firm value. These results show that corporate sustainability reporting index has positive and significant impact on firm performance in Zambia. Specification tests concluded that FEM was the best method to interpret the association between sustainability disclosure and firm value. Thus, the R2 value apparent in Table 2 under the FEM is 19.54 percent. The coefficient of SR shows a positive and statistically significant effect on Tobin’s Q, under the FEM (p < 0.01) which implies SAR has a positive
effect on Firm value. SAR had positive impact on ROA which in turn also had positive influence on firm value at the level of 0.01 and 0.1 respectively. The main drivers of SAR practices were firm size, media visibility and ownership structure are the most important drivers of the disclosure of sustainability reports, while corporate governance only seems to have an influence on the existence of audit or sustainability committees. Therefore, it was recommended that there is need to educate and improve SAR awareness among LuSE listed companies and beyond in order to achieve sustainable development
Causes of employees’ job dissatisfaction among health workers in selected public hospitals in Zambia.
Get PDFThesis of Master of Science in Human Resource Management.The main aim of this study was to investigate causes of employee job dissatisfaction among health workers in public hospitals in Zambia. The specific objectives were: To determine the levels of job dissatisfaction and the extent of employee job dissatisfaction among health workers
in selected public hospitals in Zambia; To establish the factors contributing to job dissatisfaction among health workers in selected public hospitals in Zambia; To develop a framework for minimisation of job dissatisfaction among health workers in selected public hospitals in Zambia. The study adopted a descriptive research design with a cross-sectional and institutional-based approach. The study population included all the 205 health workers at Chongwe District Hospital and Mpanshya Mission Hospital in Rufunsa District. The study utilised stratified random sampling and a total of 84 respondents were included in the sample, giving a 41% response rate. The collection of qualitative and quantitative data was done through both open-ended questions through an interview guide and focus group discussions and close-ended questions via a survey. Qualitative data was analysed through thematic analysis while quantitative data was analysed through descriptive statistics using percentages. The study found that 61.9% of respondents reported a high level of job dissatisfaction among Health workers at Chongwe District Hospital, indicating a significant issue affecting morale and productivity at the institution. Various factors were identified through quantitative data as contributing to job dissatisfaction among health workers, including poor working conditions, lack of promotion opportunities, ineffective management practices, unclear organizational policies, and low salaries. These issues were prevalent at both Chongwe District Hospital and Mpanshya Mission Hospital, highlighting systemic challenges impacting employee satisfaction in the healthcare sector. Recommendations to minimize job dissatisfaction included creating a conducive working environment, improving remuneration and benefits, enhancing communication and involvement in decision-making processes, providing sufficient staffing and resources, and implementing stress management strategies. Additionally, the study suggested promoting fairness and transparency in promotion procedures and establishing career advancement pathways to address concerns related to job dissatisfaction
Exploring curriculum-related barriers to the teaching and learning of anti-corruption education in selected secondary schools in Zambia.
Get PDFThesis of Master of Education in Sociology of Education.This study aimed to explore the curriculum-related barriers in the teaching and learning of anti-corruption education in selected secondary schools in Zambia. The study sought to identify the challenges teachers encountered in their quest to deliver Anti-Corruption Education (ACE) while also exploring barriers learners faced in the learning of anti corruption content and values. It further examined the perceived views of teachers and learners about the purpose of anti-corruption education in the curriculum in selected secondary schools in Zambia. The study sample consisted of fifty-two respondents and used sampling techniques such as convenience and expert purposive sampling techniques. The data were collected using questionnaires on teachers, focus group discussions with pupils and semi-structured interview guides with administrators and technocrats. The data collected was then analysed thematically. The research employed a qualitative exploratory multiple case study design to investigate this topic and covered the two provinces of Lusaka and Northern provinces. The research findings shed light on a plethora of issues hindering the effective delivery of anti-corruption education including the lack of specific training in value impartation skills for teachers, the limitation of anti-corruption education content coverage and the delayed induction of learners into integrity education through the curriculum. Moreover, the study among other challenges also identified insufficient teaching and learning resources on anti-corruption education, the absence of dedicated forums for teachers of anti corruption education carrier subjects. Lack of real-life role models and double standards by some teachers, coupled with a constrained censure of the vice by key figures in society. The study showed that a radical modification to the curriculum is needed. It recommended the introduction of a comprehensive stand-alone subject on integrity education or at the very least an increment in the depth, provision of a continuum and higher number of carrier subjects which have been identified by this and other researchers as being suitable for further insertion of anti-corruption education such as business studies and language subjects. Training programs should also be developed to equip teachers with the necessary skill set for effective anti-corruption value impartation and delivery in learners. Furthermore, monitoring and evaluation mechanisms need to be established to assess the impact and effectiveness of anti-corruption education initiatives in the curriculum.
Key Words: Anti-Corruption Education, Carrier Subjects, Impartation Skills, Monitoring and Evaluatio
An inquiry into the access and condition of sports facilities for physical education within secondary schools in Serenje district, Zambia.
Get PDFThesis of Master of Education in Physical Education and Sport.This study inquired into the access and condition of sports facilities for physical education in public secondary schools of Serenje district, of central province of Zambia. It adopted the descriptive approach embedded in qualitative research design. The population consisted of all public secondary schools in Serenje district and its teachers and learners. The sample for the study included 10 teachers who teach physical education or are engaged in sports and 30 learners who take physical education as a subject at 5 selected public secondary schools. The sample was selected using purposive sampling procedure. The research made use of the semi- structured interview schedule, FGD and the observation checklist to collect data. Data was analysed using the thematic analysis developed from the objectives and emerging themes. The results showed that public secondary schools of Serenje have sports facilities for sports considered “national” that is, football, netball, volleyball and running track. The results also indicated that there are some other sports facilities like the swimming pools, basketball court and tennis court in schools that were built before independence. However, presence of all these facilities in these public secondary schools, the results showed that they are in poor condition with the participants attributing this to the following reasons; no government or school policy, vandalism, theft, poor attitude from both the teachers and learners, and lack of commitment from school administrators. This status quo brings to question how physical education is taught in public secondary schools with such deplorable sports facilities. Based on the findings of the study, the following major recommendations were made;
All public schools should come up with a policy on how to finance the procurement and maintenance of sports facilities at their school
Vandalism of public properties including sports facilities should attract a stiff penalty to deter people from vandalizing them
Government should increase funding to schools and apportion a certain amount for development and maintenance of sports facilities in schools.
Key Words: Physical Education, Access, Sports Facilities
An investigation into the effect of organizational culture on strategy implementation: a case of investrust bank of Zambia.
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The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of organizational culture on strategy implementation with Investrust Bank being the case study. And so, to achieve this the research objectives were: to diagnose the distribution of the types of organizational culture at Investrust Bank and to propose the best culture distribution that a bank can adopt to improve strategy implementation, in this case Investrust Bank. The sequential exploratory design where the qualitative phase of data gathering and analysis is followed by the quantitative
phase of data gathering and analysis was used. The researcher used a combination of stratified sampling and convenience sampling due to the mixed method research approach that will be adopted. The sample size was derived from the target population of 300 employees at Investrust Bank using the Taro Yamane formula, and 171 participants were involved in this study as per calculation. The study employed questionnaires and surveys for primary data collection and internet articles and data archives for secondary data collection. To analyze the
data collected using qualitative and quantitative methods, thematic analysis and descriptive analysis were used. The study findings revealed that organizational culture does have an effect on strategy implementation in Investrust Bank Plc. However, this effect is dependent on the measure to which a particular organizational culture type is been exercised. Using Cameron & Quinn’s OCAI tool the results revealed that the distribution of in the bank was as follows: the dominant being hierarchy culture (51%), followed by market culture (31%), then
adhocracy culture (9%) and lastly clan culture (9%). The study concluded that organizational culture does have an effect on strategy implementation and using the OCAI tool it was based on the measure of it in the bank which revealed that the four types of organizational culture were irregularly distributed and so the effect on strategy implementation stifled the process instead of easing the process. And the following recommendations were made: introduce a ‘strategic management’ department that will solely focus on strategy; adopting a well balanced
mix of all four types of organizational culture in accordance with Cameron and Quinn’s Competing Values Framework; and ensuring that process of adopting the types of organizational cultures is done prudently without experiencing competition between dimensions; and for management to deliberately design a working environment that is aligned to the envisaged culture that encompasses all four types of organizational culture. Keywords: Organisational Culture, Strategy Implementation, Strategic Management, Value
A study of the factors affecting profitability of Zambian commercial banks: a case of ZANACO.
Get PDFThesis of Master of Science in Accounting and Finance.All businesses regardless of the nature require profitability for them to progress. Therefore, this thesis aimed at assessing Zanaco’s profitability using ratio analysis, through three major objectives (i) To ascertain Zambia National Commercial Bank’s ability to generate return to its shareholders during the period 2016-2021. (ii) To determine Zambia National Commercial Bank’s ability to convert sales into profit during the period 2016-2021. (iii) To identify internal factors influencing Zambia National Commercial Bank’s ability to generate profit and returns to its shareholders during the period 2016-2021. The study used both primary and secondary information. Primary information was collected through structured questionnaires. Data analysis was done through SPSS V26 for primary data and excel for secondary data for the period 2016 - 2021, the response rate of primary data collection which was physically administered to Zanaco employees was 35 respondents indicating a 65%. Secondary data was collected through the analysis of Zanaco’s financial statements for the period 2016-2021. The findings review that the profitability ratios show that the bank has a stable ROA, and ROE, but low EPS and ROCE. The Low NPM below 30% for the years under review thus implying that Zanaco is minimally profitable, because of Zanaco’s high Expense operational ratios EOR. Zanaco bank is liquid as it is able to convert its assets to cash easily, but does not have enough cash flow. Additionally, the bank is affected, by inflation and macro-economic factors, however due to the bank size, capital, asset quality, credit rating and effective cost management strategies the bank is able to withstand turbulent economic impacts
Exploring the role of civic education in climate change awareness to enchance food security among farmers of Gwembe valley of Southern province of Zambia.
Get PDFThesis of Master of Education in Civic Education.Climate change and its negative effects have become a global concern as they impend the production capacity of farmers more especially in the developing countries like Zambia. To this effect, the study explored the role of Civic Education in climate change awareness to enhance food security among farmers of Gwembe valley. The objectives of the study were to; explore the form of Civic Education through which farmers learned about climate change to increase food security; explore the effects of climate change on food security among farmers of Gwembe valley, and to establish sustainable measures farmers would employ to ensure food security at household amidst climate change. A sample of 25 participants was used: 15 farmers who were homogenously selected and 10 informants from different government departments such as agricultural extension officers, forestry and meteorological officers as well as fisheries and livestock who were all selected using expert purposive sampling technique. Data was collected using qualitative method through semi-structured interviews and was analysed by using thematic analysis technique. The study revealed mixed views on farmer’s understanding of climate change. Positively few farmers indicated that they adequately understood climate change because they learned from the community meetings, workshops and seminars they were attending which were organized by experts from government’s institutions and NGOs. Negatively, the study found that majority of the participants had inadequate knowledge about climate change due to high illiteracy levels on Climate Change issues which led to high engagement in unconventional farming as well as non application of initiatives aimed at building resilience and food security. The study also unveiled that climate change had negative effects on agricultural production like crop farming, livestock and fish farming which resulted into food insecurity. The study found that increased food insecurity caused vulnerability of farmer’s livelihood as it increased crime rate, high levels of pupils dropping out of school, increased sexually transmitted diseases, drug abuse, gender violence and divorce as well as high cost of food. The study also established that some farmers employed some sustainable measures such as crop diversification, irrigation and livestock rearing, planting drought resistant crops and practicing conservation agriculture in order to enhance food security. Based on these findings, the study strongly recommends the use of Informal Civic Education due to its flexible methods such community meetings, workshops as well as door to door campaigns in delivering climate change information to both the educated and the uneducated farmers. Also, government to intensify sensitization awareness, education, weather alert messages and climate change programs on radio and television in both English and local languages. By so doing, farmers would connect
what they see or hear on television and radio to what they learn from the climate change agents and in turn, it would invoke change in attitude and behaviour towards how they perceive the whole concept of climate change.
Key words: Civic education, informal civic education, climate change, food security, agricultural production, Gwembe valle
The effect of corporate social responsibility on the company performance in the telecommunication sector: a case of ZAMTEL ltd.
Get PDFThesis of Master of Business Administration General.Corporate Social Responsibility can be defined as a concept whereby businesses willingly integrate social, environmental and ethical standards into their operations in order to improve the organisation‟s performance, lives of employees, local communities and the society as a whole. The study focused on determining the effect of Corporate Social Responsibility on the company in the telecommunication sector: a case of Zamtel Limited. Previous studies have mainly focused on investigating the relationship between Corporate Social Responsibility and the company‟s financial performance. Very little information is available on the concept with regard to the reasons why companies in the mobile telecommunication industry are engaging in Corporate Social Responsibility programmes. The researcher used a descriptive research design. Simple random sampling and purposive sampling methods were used to select a sample which comprised managers, unionised employees and customers of Zamtel limited. Out of a sample of 145 participants, only 120 questionnaires were answered and returned. This represented an 85 % response rate which was very satisfactory. Primary data was collected through a questionnaire which had both quantitative and some qualitative questions. The data was analysed using descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis. The results of the study showed that the independent variables being; the economical, ethical, legal and philanthropic responsibilities had a relationship with the dependent variable which is the company performance. The conclusion of this study was based on the multiple linear regressions, which examined the cumulative effect of the independent variables on the dependent variable. The multiple linear regressions gave a multiple correlation coefficient of 0.979, which showed that the relationship between the four independent variables cumulatively on the dependent variable was very strong and positively correlated. This implied that by investing in Corporate Social Responsibility, companies in the telecommunication sector will have improved performance owing to customer and employee
loyalty among other reasons. The study recommends that Zamtel Ltd invests in its employees and increases the support to social causes
Learners’ problem-solving processes in linear programming at selected schools of Lusaka district of Zambia.
Get PDFThesis of Master of Education in Mathematics Education.This study investigated problem-solving processes of Grade 12 learners in linear programming. A total of 24 Grade 12 learners and 2 teachers of Lusaka district of Zambia were purposively sampled for the study from two selected secondary schools. The study employed the qualitative research approach which followed a descriptive case study design. Data was collected using lesson observations, semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions. Thematic analysis was used to analyse data. Polya’s four stages of problem solving: understand the problem, devise the plan(s), execute the plan(s) and looking back, and also the cognitive process dimension of the revised Bloom’s taxonomy guided the analysis of the data. The study
was guided by the following research questions: How do Grade 12 learners engage in solving problems in linear programming? What factors affect Grade 12 learners’ problem-solving processes in linear programming problems? How can Grade 12 learners’ problem-solving processes in linear programming be enhanced? The findings showed that learners in their quest to understand linear programming questions would read the question(s) at least once, though it is not a guarantee for correct solution, they would identify key statements and list phrases with their associated mathematical symbols, and the cognitive demands at this stage were retrieving and recognising factual knowledge. At the devise-a-plan stage, learners were able to transform the conditional statements into inequalities, devise tables of values showing possible pair of coordinates and showed rough-workings. Although, some learners experienced difficulties in comprehending the language of linear programming which led to deriving incorrect inequalities. At this stage, cognitive demands included interpreting and translating the linear programming problem(s) to construct their own meaning and organise facts. At the execute the plan(s) stage, learners could graph the inequalities, identify the feasible region with its boundary points, derive the profit function, test the boundary points into the profit function to determine the pairs of coordinates (x, y) that would yield the max/minimum profit and calculate the maximum/minimum profit. However, some learners experienced difficulties in arriving at correct solutions owing to lack of procedural and conceptual knowledge on how to graph the inequalities and calculating the maximum profit. This stage involved different cognitive levels from Applying through to creating and learners would engage in different cognitive processes from applying inequalities to deriving the feasible region, to evaluating the maximum/minimum profit. The findings further showed that after solving problems in linear programming, learners made little or no effort to engage in a critical examination of the solution arrived at, so as to ascertain whether it is correct and whether the plan can be used to solve another problem(s). At this stage, learners were also operating at the evaluating cognitive level and could engage in the cognitive process of verification and reflection on the problem-solving processes applied for mistake identification and knowledge consolidation. The study showed that learners’ problem-solving processes were constrained by the misunderstanding of the mathematical language of linear programming, poor foundation in pre-requisite knowledge of linear programming, inconsistency of shading the unwanted region at junior and senior secondary levels and lack
of monitoring skills for checking the steps of their solving process affected the learners’ problem-solving processes as they were unable to identify and correct errors and mistakes. To enhance or improve learners’ problem-solving processes, it was suggested that there is need for teachers to be ensuring that learners have the prerequisite knowledge before introducing Linear Programming and there is need for consistency of shading either the unwanted or wanted region at both junior and secondary level to prevent learner misconception. It was further suggested that there is need to promote learner group-working as an approach to teaching linear programming. More learner interaction with authentic and situational problems is another measure that may enhance problem solving process in linear programming
A study of the viability of Zambia co-operative federation (ZCF) installed solar milling plants in Zambia.
Get PDFThesis of Masters of Business Administration- Management Strategy.Zambia co-operative federation has been occupied with the desire to supply affordable and quality mealie meal to the rural communities, sustain a viable projection through loan collection while maintaining “public trust”. The aim of this study is to critically evaluate the viabilities of the Solar milling plants and thought process of cooperatives in rural areas on repaying back of loans using pragmatic action research. This thesis contributes to the empirically and theoretically based understanding of, the impact of the presidential funds in Zambia. A case study of Solar Milling plants across Zambia via ZCF. This study was a participatory in nature, hence, a cross sectional approach was undertaken in the first half of 2018, 2019 and part of 2020 to access primary, district and provincial corporative responses regarding viability of the solar milling plants in the community and to ZCF. In the results, several findings were established which tried to satisfy the objectives of the study. The correlation model revealed that there was a significant difference in between monthly target and monthly recovery fund. A weak relationship was found between the two variables that indicate differences exist between the two groups. This implies that a the viability of solar milling plant and loan recovery is low and not very feasible. This result was found to be significant with p values less than 0.05 and the entire model was significant at p-values (0.0387<0.05). Regarding the factors related to Zambia Co-operative Federation (ZCF) Debt recovery on the installed solar milling plants in Zambia were revealed to repayment history, capacity of machine, Binding cooperative contract, raw material and system of recovery, OR=0.8494, p=0.001. It was also found that despite minor difference these factors were established to directly relate to debt rectory. All in all the study established that although,
the trend has been going up, the PI trend is still below 1. This means each invested dollar is generating revenue of less than 1 dollar. Since the profitability index is less than 1, the project should be rejected. Recommendations have been made to ZCF management to also provide resources for the cooperatives who are managing the milling plants with startup capital to buy maize and packaging materials for the mealie meal and also provide tools for recovery officers to use when following up loan payments from cooperatives. The need to train cooperators on corporate governance, book keeping so that there is comprehensive general accountability. There is need also to increase revenue collections for the federation through support system where co-operatives are assisted with resource base to buy raw materials needed for production, By doing that co-operatives will have products readily available for communities to come buy thereby making sales and thus revenue in a sustainable manner while maintaining “public trust”, the paper ought to improve the sports pages by restructuring the entire sport desk