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A study of the effect of reverse logistics practices on company Performance : case study of Simba breweries in RDC.
Get PDFThesis of Master of Science in Operations, Projects, and Supply Chain ManagementRecently the subject of RL has grown exponentially due to an increase in the global population and consumption activities. As it accounts for the products' Life Cycle, companies are now pressurized to be more responsible when dealing with the environment and the end-of-life products they produce. Though RL has been proven to be an effective and efficient way of dealing with the environment and optimizing the performance of companies in developed countries, companies in developing countries such as Africa are still unable to implement it in their businesses. In developing economies such as the Republic Democratic of Congo, a limited number of studies have been conducted on RL in general and on evaluating its economic effects on the performance of companies. This research identifies the gap and aims to evaluate the effects of RL practices on the performance of SIMBA Breweries. The objectives are to determine the impact of Remanufacturing, to measure the effects of Recycling, and to evaluate the effects of Reuse practices on the performance of the company.
The study adopted a descriptive research design, and data was collected from 70 respondents knowledgeable in the RL. Stratified random sampling was used to select the sample size of respondents from different departments, and primary data was collected using a questionnaire through a drop-and-pick-later method. Secondary data was collected from published and unpublished sources. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics of mean and standard deviations to elaborate the pattern and trend, and inferential statistics was performed to determine the components of the multiple regression that predicted the relationship between variables in Microsoft Excel. Only Reuse was implemented and had a strong and positive relation with the company performance with a correlation and regression coefficient of 0.91 and 3.38. Recycling and Remanufacturing were not correlated with the performance of the company as the correlation and regression were null. Reuse decreased the company's cost by 65% and increased profitability by 60%. It is therefore recommended that the management should look at RL practices as a strategic method that can be used to improve its performance. Recycling and Remanufacturing should also be implemented to improve the performance of the company. Employees need to be trained and equipped with sufficient and appropriate knowledge of the RL system
Exploring curriculum hurdles in implementing the social studies curriculum in Zambia: perspectives and experiences of civic education teachers.
Get PDFArticleThe study explored teachers’ experiences in the teaching of Social Studies subject at Junior SecondarySchool in selected schools of Zambia. Employing the qualitative interpretivism research paradigm, theinvestigation utilized purposive sampling to select participants. Data collection instruments includedinterview guides for Head of Departments (HODs), Focus Group Discussions (FDGs), and observationchecklists for Social Studies Teachers who included Civic Education instructors. Thematic analysis wasemployed to analyse the collected data. The study revealed a multifaceted perspective on the integration ofCivic Education into the Social Studies curriculum. While the integration offered the advantage ofstreamlining the examination process by consolidating subjects, it also introduced challenges such ascontent overload, diminished academic performance, resource inadequacies, time constraints in completingthe syllabus, elevated pressures on untrained educators, and deficiencies in teaching competency, skills, andtechniques. Drawing from these findings, recommendations were made, including the need for the Ministryof General Education (MoGE) to increase the training of Social Studies teachers, provision of essentialteaching resources to schools, engagement in seminars, workshops, and continuous professionaldevelopment (CPDs), and enhancement of school infrastructure. Furthermore, the study proposes that thegovernment should provide support to educators involved in the creation of Social Studies teachingmaterials, encourage action research practices among teachers, foster collaboration among colleagues toshare best teaching practices, and allocate increased funding to schools.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/379638917_Exploring_Curriculum_Hurdles_in_Implementing_the_Social_Studies_Curriculum_in_Zambia_Perspectives_and_Experiences_of_Civic_Education_Teachers [accessed May 11 2024]
Assessing the effect of motivation on employee performance in Zambia: a case study of Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) headquaters in Lusaka district.
Get PDFThe overarching focus of this study was to establish effects of motivation on employee performance at Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) Headquarters in Lusaka District. The study objectives were to establish the types of motivation ZRA provided to its employees, examine the employees’ expectations of motivation, and lastly establish the effects of motivation on employee performance. The research approach of this study was quantitative, and a descriptive case study design was adopted. Stratified random sampling of participants was employed to select respondents from ZRA Headquarters and a questionnaire with Likert scale statements was distributed to 192 employees. Questionnaires were administered via email and 183 respondents returned them fully answered. The Likert Scale data were analyzed by descriptive analysis by calculating the mean and standard deviation of the results. The findings revealed that a myriad of motivation was provided by ZRA to employees. Then the study also revealed that employees also had expectations of the kind of motivation to be provided to them by their management. Regarding the effect of motivation on employee performance, it was revealed that motivation influenced individual hard work, reinforcement of morals and integrity, rejection of underhand bribes by clients and many other effects. The findings of the hypothesis showed that the mean values were skewed towards the Likert responses ‘agree’ confirming that motivation affected employee performance positively. The study concluded that motivation played a pivotal role where productivity through human effort was concerned. The study made three recommendations. The management and Board of ZRA should understand the human nature and their employees’ needs at the workplace as this determines the direction of rightful motivation to provide to them. ZRA should create a committee of incentives provision comprising of ordinary employees and management personnel to have inclusive suggestions of incentives that have a bearing on the needs of the employees. Then employees need to be informed and oriented on the role of motivation being different from their execution of job description tasks that motivation plays a specific role of boosting their daily work efforts. The study suggested areas for future research: Firstly, theirs need to ascertain the gender inclusiveness of motivation provision to employees at ZRA, to establish management’s parameters of motivation provision to employees at ZRA and to ascertain domesticated policies that directly propagate motivation provision to employees at ZRA
Analysis of the methods being used to teach initial literacy in english at selected schools in Pemba district, Zambia.
Get PDFThesis of Master of Education in Literacy, Language and Applied Linguistics.The language policy in Zambia indicated that initial literacy in Zambian Languages should be introduced in grade one while initial literacy in English should be introduced in grade three and a document called National Literacy Framework was provided to this effect. However, the document contained details of how to proceed with teaching initial literacy in each Zambian Language and none for the initial literacy in English. It was from this background that a study was conducted. The purpose of the study was to find out how the teachers in selected schools of Pemba District were teaching initial literacy in English without a guide by the Ministry of Education. The research design was case study and the approach was qualitative. It included document analysis of teachers’ preparations of grade three literacy lessons in English, lesson observations and checklists. There were also interviews with individual participant teachers. The target population involved all the Grade 3 teachers and all the Grade 3 learners in Pemba District. The sample consisted of 6 primary schools and 8 grade three teachers. The distribution of the teachers was not consistent because the selected had different numbers of Grade 3 teachers. Lesson preparation documents for initial literacy in English for the 8 teachers were analysed, the 8 teachers were observed teaching initial literacy in English and were subjected to a semi – structured interview. All the activities were done within their school and classroom environments. The data was analysed qualitatively. It was grouped into identified themes according to research objectives. The findings revealed that teachers used whatever methods/strategies they thought could make their teaching effective. Such methods were question and answer, demonstrations, class and group discussions, role play, synthetic phonics, look and say, pair work and teacher expository. Further, the content was sequenced according to books and documents they thought could enable them to teach initial literacy in English effectively. Such books and documents were the syllabus, the National Literacy Framework, Grade 3 Teachers’ Guide and Learners’ Books. Another finding was that teachers were facing challenges to teach initial literacy in English to learners who could neither speak nor read English with understanding. In addition, teachers expressed desire to be up skilled in the teaching of initial literacy in English through Continuous Professional Development meetings. In view of the findings, the following major recommendation was made: Curriculum developers to provide clear guidance on instruction to teach initial literacy in English for the Zambian schools
An assessment of the management strategies to street vending : a case of Chipata city.
Get PDFThesis of Master’s Degree in Business AdministrationBackground: street vending is a Globally practice differently in different countries. For example in china, it seems to be more structured because there are designated specific areas or markets for street vendors, providing them with permits and infrastructure stalls or kiosks, and such areas are often subject to regulations regarding hygiene, safety, and operating hours. In Zambia, it seems not have proper direction as weather it is allowed or not. Government is seldom being stiff by prohibit street vending yet at times compromised by political influence. This means even when formal places for street vending are pronounced, it remains on paper different from what is prevailing on the ground. The Study objectives were; 1) To ascertain the nature of players involved in street vending management. 2) To assess the management strategies that have been employed in street vending. 3) To recommend sustainable management approaches to street vending in Chipata CBD. Methodology: The study employed a qualitative case study A purposive sampling criterion was used in the selection of 267 participants, of whom 2 were key informants and 265 streets vendors. A semi-structured questionnaire guide, audiotaping, and note-taking were used to collect data and NVIVO 12 software was used for data analysis. Results: key major players in street vending management include vendors and city council.
factors for street vending included Employment opportunities, Business convenience, Social capital, Inadequate training skills. Institutional strategies for managing street vending include Vending spaces, the Use of force by law enforcers and the issues Licensing system. Conclusion: Addressing street vending issues in Chipata city and zambia as whole there is need of Mainstreaming of street vending support into national policy
Population genetic structure of ixodid ticks and phylogenetic analysis of rickettsia in Chongwe and Chisamba districts of Zambia.
Get PDFThesis of Master of Science degree in Infectious Diseases.Ticks are known vectors of various disease-causing pathogens worldwide. The distribution of ticks, their genetic makeup and relations has not been fully explored. This study focused on the population genetics of Ixodid ticks and the molecular epidemiology of Rickettsia species infecting them. Population genetics is vital to understanding the vectorial capacity of the ubiquitous Amblyomma, Hyalomma, and Rhipicephalus tick species that can transmit various disease-causing organisms including Rickettsia which cause a group of re-emerging diseases known as Rickettsioses. This study was conducted on ticks that were collected from Chongwe and Chisamba districts of Zambia in November 2020 and June 2021 respectively. Ticks collected were morphologically identified, homogenised, DNA extracted and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) run using primers to amplify the cytochrome subunit I (CO1), 12SrDNA and 16SmRNA for tick species verification and population genetics as well as ompA, ompB and gltA genes for
Rickettsia molecular epidemiology followed by sequencing. Sequences obtained were blasted then edited using ATGC plug in Genetyx ver.12 and aligned using clustalw. For Rickettsia, phylogeny was established using Mega version XI. Comparison of population genetics was by MEGA XI, DnaSP, Arlequin (Fst), NETWORK and GENAlex (to measure diversity). It was found that tick populations in Chongwe and Chisamba district were identified as belonging to Amblyomma, Hyalomma and Rhipicephalus genus. These tick populations were high in genetic diversity and low in genetic differentiation. The tick populations were observed to carry Rickettsia species with Amblyomma and Hyalomma carrying over 95% of the Rickettsia detected. Rickettsia species detected were R. africae and R. aeschlimannii-like are both zoonotic known to cause febrile diseases of varying morbidities and mortalities. The study accounts for the low genetic differentiation to the free movement of animals that act as carriers for the ticks across the
two districts. Due to this effective vector control methods can be extrapolated between the two districts. The high genetic diversity is an indication of an expanding population and hence potential occurrence of diseases carried by the ticks such as Rickettsia. The Rickettsia species detected are all zoonotic species and hence pose a risk of the outbreak of Rickettsioses in the areas the vectors are expanding to. This warrants surveillance of Rickettsioses and further research on vector populations, factors attributed to their expansion and the pathogens they carry around the country
Clinical and molecular evaluation of pseudomonas aeruginosa nosocomial infections among adult patients at the university teaching hospital in Lusaka province and Ndola teaching hospital in Copperbelt province of Zambia.
Get PDFThesis of Doctor of Philosophy in Infectious Diseases.Pseudomonas is a type of bacteria commonly found in the environment, like soil and water. Of the many types of Pseudomonas, the one that most often causes infections in humans is called Pseudomonas aeruginosa, accounting for about 10% of hospital-acquired infections. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the most commonly isolated nosocomial pathogen, often found in numerous reservoirs in hospital settings, such as disinfectants and medical devices. It has limited susceptibility to antibiotics, leading to increased morbidity and mortality. Despite the previous research reports on Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Zambia, there is a paucity of data on clinical Pseudomonas aeruginosa population diversity and molecular characterization of clinical isolates in correlation with clinical outcomes. Further, data on the genetic determinants of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is scarce. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate hospital-acquired Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections in selected hospitals of Lusaka and Copperbelt provinces in Zambia. The study assessed the
clinical and molecular characteristics of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and determined predictors of hospital-acquired infections with multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa in patients at various study sites. The study also evaluated antimicrobial resistance patterns in patients infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa at different study sites. Frequencies were estimated, and the association between the outcome variable (positive culture) and categorical predictor
variables was analyzed using the Chi-square test and logistic regression. Further, the study described phenotypic characteristics, assessed the genetic diversity of clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and assessed the clinical relationship between Pseudomonas aeruginosa phenotypes and genotypes with antimicrobial resistance and treatment outcomes. A year-long hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted from April 2020 to April 2021 at two large tertiary-level hospitals in Zambia. Hospitalized and out-patients with previous hospital contact were screened for nosocomial infections, followed by the collection of specimens (skin swabs, urine, or sputum) for bacteriological culture and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) amplification of 16S rRNA gene fragments. Nosocomial infections were defined according to the World Health Organization case definitions. Clinical assessment and follow-up of patients till discharge, 30 days, or death were conducted to establish the clinical outcomes. The Kirby-Bauer's disk diffusion method was used to evaluate antibiotic resistance patterns. The resistance genes, bla IMP, bLaOXA 51, and other resistance genes were detected using PCR. Eight hundred and forty-one clinical specimens were collected and analyzed, 640 from the University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka district and 201 from the Ndola Teaching Hospital in Ndola district. Of the 841 participants, 116 (13.7%) were diagnosed with Pseudomonas aeruginosa nosocomial infections. Among these, 96 participants were males (71.2%), and 20 were females (28.8%). The study participants ranged from 15 to 98 years, with a mean age of 51 (SD ± 18). Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (57%) were the most common, followed by those from pressure sores (38.7%). Antibiotic sensitivity of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was best with amikacin and worse with cefepime. We observed a high prevalence of multidrug resistance (73.6 %). The Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) was associated with
carbapenem-hydrolyzing b-lactamase gene blaOXA-51, literacy level, and ward attendance. Conclusions: This study showed that multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa is highly prevalent in the hospital settings at the University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka province and at the Ndola Teaching Hospital in Ndola in the Copperbelt province of Zambia. This calls for establishing and implementing antimicrobial stewardship programs, using antimicrobial
sensitivity to treat infection, and strengthening the AMR surveillance system and awareness at the two hospitals
A study of the effect of foreign exchange rates on the financial performance of power utility companies in Zambia : a case of Copperbelt energy corporation plc.
Get PDFThesis of Master of Business Administration in Finance.Just like other sectors, energy sector in Zambia has faced exchange rates volatility for a long time. Research has shown that Zambian kwacha has been unstable and that it has been depreciating. This study aimed at assessing the effect of foreign exchange rates on the financial performance of power
utility companies in Zambia as a result of the devaluation of kwacha. It was an empirical study as the researcher sought to gain knowledge by using quantitative data. Secondary data used in this study was extracted from Copperbelt Energy Corporation Plc’s published audited financial statements for the period of 5 years from 2017 to 2021. Regression analysis using GraphPad software and Microsoft tools were used to analyze data and findings were presented in tables and graphs. The main results of the study showed that foreign exchange rates had an effect on the financial performance of CEC Plc. Whenever kwacha depreciated, financial performance of the company went down and vice versa. The results further, suggests that there was a medium positive relationship between foreign exchange rates and key financial performance indicators. Henceforward, it was recommended that CEC Plc should ensure that foreign exchange risk management techniques such as money market hedge, exposure netting and hedging with invoice currency are used to minimize foreign exchange risks. It was also recommended that further studies be done in this sector using other financial performance indicators which were not employed in this study to increase the knowledge base
Effects of the minimum wage policy on employment in the retail sector-Lusaka province.
No full textThesis of Masters in Business Administration - General.The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the minimum wage policy on employment in the retail sector particularly in Lusaka Province. Structural questionaires & interviews were conducted with a sample of respondents and the data analyzed. The study focussed on the multinational retail sector. This study presents evidence on the awareness, compliance and effects of the minimum wage policy on employment. The findings show that while the vast majority of workers know that there is a minimum wage in force in Zambia, comparatively few employees know the exact amount of the minimum wage. Interestingly, most sociodemographic determinants, such as sex, age, education, marital status, or form of employment, are barely correlated with this knowledge. However, both aspects of awareness of the minimum wage are found less often among employees in the retail sector, for whom the statutory minimum wage is likely to be of particularly high relevance, than among employees with higher wages. This results of this study indicate that despite the importance, majority of retail workers are less informed on the Minimum Wage Policy. They expressed the need for more sensitization by their employers or government. An important aspect of minimum wages in the developing world particularly in Zambia is the degree of compliance, given the regulatory structures tend to be substantially less developed than those in developed countries. However, in this study it appears the extent of compliance is fairly high among multinational retail companies as all the respondents
indicated wage rates that are either within or more than the statutory minimum wage brackets. The study also established effects of the minimum wage policy on employees. The respondents indicated an increase in the wages as one of the effects of the MW policy, while employers highlited a negative effect on profitability.
Key words: Retail, Minimum, Wage, Policy, Effect
Seroprevalence of toxoplasma gondii and its associated risk factors in cats in Lusaka district, Zambia.
Get PDFThesis of Masters in Veterinary Medicine.Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic disease caused by Toxoplasma gondii. It is of public health importance because of the economic loss caused in food animals and the severe disease it causes in fetuses through their pregnant mother and immune-compromised individuals. Despite this fact, there are still very few studies that have been done for T. gondii here in Zambia. This study was a cross section study carried out from February 2018 to September 2019 in different veterinary facilities as well as from stray cats trapped using cages in the surrounding areas. A questionnaire was also used to retrieve information from domestic cat owners in order to identify the potential risk factors of T. gondii. 178 sera samples were analyzed for Immunoglobulin G (IgG) anti bodies using an Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) kit for In vitro Diagnosis vet screen Toxoplasmosis multi-species Indirect kit (France). Results from the study on Toxoplasmosis infection in both domestic and stray cats were analyzed using Chi-square and
binary logistic regression. The overall prevalence was calculated to be 16.85% while the seroprevalence of domestic cats was found to be 20.4% and that of stray cats was found to be 13.3%. It was established that sex and diet were both significantly associated with Seropositivity with IgG antibodies and these were considered as risk factors. When the stray and domestic cats were compared, there was a significant difference between the two groups. It was established that older cats were more likely to get T. gondii infection than younger cats. There was no significant association between the owners’ awareness of the T. gondii and Seropositivity of their cat. There is need to have awareness campaigns to educate cat owners on hygiene practices when handling cat excreta as well as the need to confine cats and avoid them from straying