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Exploration of the perceptions of academic staff on performance appraisals: a case of some selected private universities in Lusaka district.
Get PDFJournal articleToday, universities around the world are largely concerned with the reputation and quality of their universities regardless of location. They have also become competitive within the present turbulent environment. As such, they have a huge responsibility to transfer knowledge to society through highly skilled academic staff. One way universities ensure they have skilled staff is by managing the performance of their academic staff through accurate appraisals which can help determine training needs and increase motivation through the feedback process. This study therefore explored the perceptions of academic staff on performance appraisals in selected private universities in Lusaka district. The study utilized a qualitative approach and data was sourced using open-ended questionnaires from 30 respondents including academic staff and supervisors from five private universities and it was analyzed thematically. Findings showed the
prevalence of participatory appraisals but noted varied perceptions among academic staff. While some perceived the appraisals positively and reported improvements in their performance, others expressed dissatisfaction due to infrequent feedback resulting mainly from lack of associated rewards. It was also
revealed that academic staff are more likely to perceive appraisals positively if they have desired outcomes. Interestingly, supervisor qualifications did not significantly influence academic staff perceptions. The study suggests aligning appraisal processes with motivational components to enhance academic staff motivation, performance, and job satisfaction. Keywords: Performance appraisal, Academic staff, Supervisors, Private universities, Effect, Perceptio
Effects of planning on the successful implementation of feeder road projects in Zambia.
Get PDFThesis of Master of Engineering in Construction Management.Of the many studies that have been done in the Zambian Construction Industry particularly the road construction sector, very little attention has been paid to planning and its effects to the overall implementation of the feeder road projects. The success of any construction project is seen when the implementation and subsequent handover of the final product for use are in accordance with the planned budget, implementation period, desired quality, and answers the set objectives. However, feeder road projects in Zambia have been known to take longer than planned, incur cost
overruns due to variations, and rarely completed to the satisfaction of the stakeholders. The main aim of this research was to propose a Model with planning practices that would improve the management of feeder road projects in Zambia as a means of minimizing project implementation failure. This was done by assessing the planning practices that were in place and identifying the key bottlenecks. The study was limited to feeder road construction projects within Zambia. The research was conducted using the cross-sectional study design and the study population of interviewees and questionnaire respondents comprised professionals involved in feeder road construction project planning at national, provincial and district levels. The methodological approach used was in three angles starting with structured interviews which led to the development of a questionnaire and then three case studies. This was preceded by a detailed literature review. Results revealed some constraints in the manner in which feeder road projects were planned. Amongst the identified problems were, non-adherence to institutional strategic plans where more than 66% of respondents attested to this, political interference in the planning processes ranked highest during analysis of external interference with a mean score of 4.07, improper project prioritization, uncoordinated and non-detailed contract procurement, over procurement as was observed from the projects under MLGRD whose contract sum was more than 500% above budget. Evaluation of bidders not being robust enough was another issue. Projects analyzed under MLGRD also reviewed that more than 90% neither had a design or supervision consultant engaged. The analysis further reviewed that only 8.3% of projects were completed out of the 210 that were procured under MLGRD between 2016 and 2021. After case studies, a model was developed and proposed to be used in enhancing feeder road project planning in Zambia. It was established that the lapses in the project planning processes had a negative impact on project delivery resulting in situations like cost overruns, project delays and quality shortfalls. The researcher therefore recommended the adoption of the developed model for use by implementing institutions even as other researchers considered developing it further. The findings from this study were expected to enhance feeder road project planning in Zambia
Evaluation of the impact of the stock price on the financial performance of telecommunication companies in Zambia: a case study of Airtel Zambia limited (2012 – 2021).
Get PDFThesis of Master of Business Administration in FinanceIn the fast-paced telecommunications sector, understanding the relationship between a company's stock price and financial performance is crucial. This study focuses on Airtel Zambia Limited, a company where stock price changes could impact revenue. Despite growing market share, Airtel Zambia faced operational challenges and negative performance indicators due to economic turbulence in Zambia and the COVID-19 induced recession. This led to a substantial loss in 2020. Existing literature lacks a comprehensive understanding of this relationship, creating a knowledge gap. This study aims to fill this gap by analyzing the correlation between Airtel Zambia's stock price and annual net revenue. The objective is to determine how stock price changes influence financial performance. The study uses primary and secondary data to examine historical data related to Airtel Zambia's stock price and annual net revenue. Statistical techniques like regression analysis and correlation calculation were used to evaluate the relationship between these variables. Surveys were also conducted to gather employee insights on the impact of stock price changes on revenue. The analysis revealed a significant negative correlation between Airtel Zambia's stock price and annual net revenue. Despite stock price volatility, the company's revenue remained relatively stable, suggesting other factors play a larger role in revenue generation. This study highlights the complex relationship between stock price and financial performance in the telecommunications sector, specifically focusing on Airtel Zambia Limited. The findings underscore the need to consider various factors when evaluating a company's financial health. These insights could guide strategic decision-making within Airtel Zambia and other telecom companies. Future research could explore the specific factors driving revenue generation in the telecommunications industry, enabling targeted interventions to enhance financial performance and contribute to sector growth and sustainability
Rural development through industrialisation: a case study of Mansa batteries limited, 1978-1994.
Get PDFThesis of Master of Arts in HistoryThe study traces the origin and development of Mansa Batteries Limited with the view of examining the challenges the Company faced, as well as assessing its socio-economic impact on the people of Mansa and the neighbouring districts. It reveals that the need for regional balancing in terms of allocating industries in the country and the presence of Manganese in Mansa were the major factors which led to the establishment of the battery factory in the area. The study
indicates that Spark batteries constituted of mostly imported raw materials; a situation which management through the Company’s Research Committee attempted to turn around by substituting foreign raw materials with local ones. However, the attempts failed to a great extent since most of the raw materials which Mansa Batteries Limited sought to purchase from local suppliers were processed from imported inputs, which made the manufacturers not to venture
into commercial production due to difficulties faced in importing such inputs. The study shows that Mansa Batteries Limited faced numerous operational challenges which included capacity underutilisation, machine breakdowns, lack of foreign exchange to purchase foreign raw materials, components and machinery; inadequate qualified personnel and poor product quality. The study reveals that typical of most parastatals in Zambia, Mansa Batteries Limited faced
administrative challenges and political interference which largely contributed to its poor performance. Additionally, the study shows that economic problems such as loan repayment obligations, credit sales, Kwacha depreciation and trade liberalisation negatively affected the performance of the Company. The study further demonstrates that the numerous operational, administrative and economic challenges the Company perpetually faced over the years induced
liquidity problems which became very serious in 1993, and resulted in frequent closures of the factory in 1993 and 1994, before it was finally placed under receivership by the Development Bank of Zambia in November, 1994.The study argues that in spite of the numerous challenges the Company faced, it had positive economic and social impact on the people Mansa and the neighbouring districts
Parental involvement in school-based sexuality education in primary schools in Nyimba district, Zambia.
Get PDFThesis of Master of Education in Educational Psychology.The study explored the involvement of rural parents in school-based Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) to learners in four rural Primary Schools in Nyimba district in Eastern Province in Zambia. The objectives of the study were to explore how CSE was taught in rural Primary schools in Nyimba District and establish the challenges faced by teachers in the provision of sexuality education lessons in schools in the district, determine parental involvement in sexuality education in the selected schools, and determine the challenges faced by parents when communicating with children on sexuality matters. A case study design which was supported by qualitative methods of data collection was used in the study. A case study was utilized to gain concrete, contextual, and in-depth knowledge about parental involvement in school based CSE program implementation. In addition, a case study was used to evaluate how school-based Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) program was being implemented and explore how successful the program was. The study relied on the interpretivist paradigm to comprehend the beliefs, motivations, and reasoning of study participants which in turn enabled me to decode the meaning of the data which was collected. The paradigm was also utilized to enable me to gain further depth through experiences and perceptions of participants regarding parental involvement in school-based sexuality education programs. Interview guides were used to generate qualitative data and 28 study participants were enrolled on the study. Purposive sampling was utilized to identify and select participants who were best suited to answer the research questions. The participants comprised of 12 teachers from the selected Primary schools and 16 parents from villages around the schools. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. Thematic analysis was utilised to allow for an in-depth examination of the matters contained in the data by classifying and matching themes which were similar. The study found that CSE was being taught in the sampled Primary schools using an integrated approach. The study findings also revealed that the provision of school -based sexuality education was difficult due to lack of adequate teaching and learning materials. In addition, the findings revealed that some parents acknowledged that teaching sexuality education in schools was progressive and that parents talk to their children about sexuality education matters in their homes. However, findings indicated that some parents were concerned with the content of the curriculum which they view as not to be age appropriate for the learners. It was recommended that teachers who teach CSE be supported with adequate teaching materials to achieve success. It was also recommended that sensitization be carried out among parents to provide more information to parents and guardians to reduce misperceptions surrounding the teaching of Comprehensive Sexuality Education to Primary School going pupils. Key words: Comprehensive Sexuality Education, School-based programs, age appropriate, Children, Learner
Pedagogic strategies teachers use to teach reading in english to grade three deaf learners at selected special needs schools in Lusaka district.
Get PDFThesis of Master of Education in Literacy, Language and Applied Linguistics.This study sought to analyze the pedagogic strategies teachers use to successfully teach grade three deaf and hard of hearing learners to read English language. The objectives of the study were to; (i) Analyze pedagogic strategies teachers use to teach reading to deaf and hard hearing children. (ii) Examine the appropriateness of teaching and learning materials used when teaching reading to deaf and hard of hearing children. (iii) Determine the challenges faced by teachers in an English reading instruction. This research adopted two learning theories, which included constructivism and multimodality theory. The study was qualitative in nature and a case study design was adopted. To come up with the with the study sample, purposive sampling was used. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews and classroom lesson observations. The study sample consisted of three (3) administrators, seven (7) teachers and twenty-five (25) pupils totaling to thirty-five (35) participants. The collected data was analysed thematically as guided by the research questions. The findings established that teachers teaching deaf and hard of hearing learners reading in English employed a number of strategies in their reading instruction. The pedagogic strategies included picture reading, picture and word matching, lip reading, repeated class reading, fingerspelling, look and say, storytelling, translanguaging, sandwiching, interactive whole class reading, role play, language games, demonstration, miming, letter or word matching, question and answer, teaching using concrete or real objects and teaching learners Zambian sign language. The varied use of teaching and learning materials like picture charts, flash cards, picture cards, word cards, story books with a lot of pictures and real or concrete objects in hands-on and manipulative classroom activities proved to be appropriate and demonstrated the importance of employing a diverse range of resources in an English literacy instruction. The findings further revealed a number of challenges which ranged from the lack of teaching materials to the absence of specialized teachers. The study concludes that to the greatest extent possible, teachers used strategies and materials which were appropriate for deaf and hard of hearing learners despite facing a number of challenges which need addressing if teachers are to do a better job. Arising from the findings, the researcher recommends that the Ministry of General Education through the Curriculum Development Centre to work hand in hand with teacher specialists from respective Special Needs Schools so as to develop more appropriate teaching and learning materials for deaf or hard of hearing learners. Key words: Pedagogic, strategies, reading, deaf and hard of hearing, constructivism, multimodal
QTL analysis for resistance to anthracnose in bukoba X kijivu population of common bean (phaseolus vulgaris).
Get PDFThesis of Master of Science in Plant Breeding and Seed Systems - Crops.The fungus Colletotrichum lindemuthianum which causes anthracnose disease in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) has a high genetic variability that requires deployment of loci with resistance to a wide range of C. lindemuthianum races. Most of the loci have been sourced from the Middle American genepool which are usually small seeded requiring many generations of back crossing to recover the original big seed size in Andean gene pool varieties which are also the required market classes in Zambia. This requires identification of loci with durable resistance from the Andean gene pool to reduce the time and cost of resistance breeding. Two Andean parents were used in this study Bukoba (ADP 7) and Kijivu (ADP 33). From previous studies by Sansala et al., (2023), the Andean variety Bukoba showed resistance to a number of races of C. lindemuthianum however the genetic architecture of this resistance was unknown and thus this study. A population of 158 F4:5 Recombinant Inbred Lines (RILs) were developed from a cross of two Andean parents Bukoba and Kijivu and evaluated at the University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia. The seven races for this study were 19, 38, 51, 167, 263, 1050 and 1105. These were selected based on their prevalence in Zambian bean growing regions and the virulence levels. The population was genotyped using 12000 SNPs out of which 1,838 were polymorphic between the parents and used to build genetic maps. Composite interval mapping was used to identify the quantitative trait loci (QTL). A total of 8 QTLs: ANT01.1, ANT01.2, ANT02.1, ANT04.1, ANT05.1, ANT06.1, ANT10.1 and ANT11.1 with R2 values ranging from 3.6% for ANT06.1 on Pv06 to 70.1% for ANT01.1 on Pv01 were identified. These were both novel and verified conditioning major and minor resistance to the seven races of C. lindemuthianum in this study. ANT01.1 and ANT04.1 were major QTLs while the rest were minor QTLs suggesting the role of both qualitative and quantitative resistance in the mapping population. The major QTLs identified in this study co-localized with previously reported major genes proving their usefulness as target genes for developing durable resistance to anthracnose using gene pyramiding and marker-assisted selection. ANT01.1 co localised with the Co-1 locus a major Andean locus that conditioned resistance to the very virulent races 1050 and 1105 in this study while ANT04.1 controlled four moderately virulent races 19, 51, 183 and 263. This locus co-localises with well-known Middle American loci Co 3, Co-15, Co-16, Co-y and Co-z and the NB-ARC domain cluster that are responsible for resistance to a number of the pathogen’s races. Although ANT02.1 was a minor QTL, but due to its co-localisation with the I-gene, it should be s considered a candidate for gene pyramiding together with the 2 major QTLs identified as a means of deploying the most durable and cost effective breeding strategy for controlling C. lindemuthianum in Zambia with Bukoba as the
source of resistance especially in the yellow bean class
Analysis of social entrepreneurship in Zambia: a case study of female university graduates.
Get PDFThesis of Master of Business Administration in Finance.The emergence of social entrepreneurship as a worthwhile approach for alleviating social problems has shown that women are more prone to social entrepreneurship, especially as they take up courses in entrepreneurship at university level. The current study was motivated by the increasing
number of women taking up entrepreneurial activities with a social focus. The study was undertaken among female university graduates in Zambia to analyse aspects of social entrepreneurship intention. The emergence of social entrepreneurship as a worthwhile approach for alleviating social problems and that women are more prone to social entrepreneurship, while universities offer entrepreneurship courses, motivated the study. Ajzen’s Theory of Planned Behaviour was used in the study. It assessed personal attitude, subjective norm, perceived behaviour control, prior entrepreneurship exposure and prior experience as predictors of social entrepreneurship intention among female university graduates in Zambia. Using the mixed methods design, a sample of 500 female graduate students was randomly derived and answered the Entrepreneurial Intentions Questionnaire (EIQ). Analysis by hierarchical multiple regression at 95% confidence level and p-value significant at 0.05, revealed that all the models were significant. Prediction of SEI among female Zambian university graduates was strongest when the variables of variables of PA, SN, PBC, PEE and PE were considered together. The study is consistent with Ajzen’s theory of planned behaviour. Recommendations are made to government and educational institutions to adopt strategies to inspire SE
Assessment of the food safety knowledge, attitudes and handling practices among food handlers in hospital facilities of Mufulira district, Zambia.
Get PDFThesis of Master of Science in Food Safety and Risk Analysis.To prevent the spread of harmful bacteria, individuals who handle food must adhere to strict guidelines, including maintaining proper hygiene and following established food handling practices, particularly when preparing large quantities of food. Food handlers in the hospitals of Mufulira District play a vital role in preventing foodborne illnesses. The objective of this research was to assess the levels of knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to food safety among food handlers in hospital facilities. The study focused on staff responsible for handling food within the hospitals. A random sampling technique was employed to choose the target group. A sample of 100 individuals was selected using systematic random sampling, with 35 participants from Hospital X, 20 from Hospital Y, and 45 from Hospital Z. Data on knowledge, attitudes, and practices were collected through a structured questionnaire. Additionally, Key informants were interviewed using guided questions to complement the quantitative data. Statistical analyses were performed using descriptive statistics, with one-way ANOVA employed to compare mean scores for knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP). A logistic regression model was utilized to test for associations between independent variables. The findings showed that food handlers at Hospitals X and Z had inadequate knowledge (45.7% and 42.2%, respectively) and poor practices (48.6% and 42.2%, respectively) despite demonstrating positive attitudes (94.0% and 93.0%, respectively). At Hospital Y, food handlers exhibited fair knowledge (55.0%), positive attitudes (95.0%), and poor practices (50%). Overall, the hospitals showed inadequate knowledge (mean score: 46.0%), poor practices (mean score: 45.0%), and positive attitudes (mean score: 94.0%). Using established cut-off points (poor ≤ 53%, fair 54%-79%, good ≥ 80%), knowledge and practices were rated low, while attitudes remained positive. These results indicate potential risk of foodborne illnesses in hospitals, driven by inadequate food safety knowledge and poor handling practices.
Keywords: Food safety, Food handler, Knowledge, Attitude, Hospital
Dolutegravir-associated resistance gene mutations among people living with human immunodeficiency virus in Malawi.
Get PDFThesis of Master in One Health Laboratory Diagnostic.The emergence of drug resistance among Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) patients poses a significant challenge to the success of antiretroviral therapy (ART) programs globally. In Malawi, where HIV prevalence remains a major public health concern, the incorporation of Dolutegravir (DTG) into first-line ART regimens has demonstrated significant promise in improving treatment outcomes. However, the development of resistance to DTG threatens these advancements, necessitating continuous monitoring and adjustments in treatment strategies. This retrospective study identified HIV drug resistance mutations associated with DTG use among individuals living with HIV in Malawi. Data from HIV-positive individuals aged 15 to 60 years, undergoing routine ART monitoring, were evaluated. Patients with high viral loads (≥ 1000 copies/ml) were included, and HIV-1 pol gene sequences were examined to identify mutations linked to DTG resistance. Phylogenetic analysis was performed to assess the relatedness of samples
with resistance mutations. A total of 91 sequences from various districts in Malawi were reviewed, comprising 60.4% females and 39.6% males. DTG resistance mutations were found 15.4% of samples, with females accounting for 57.1% and males for 42.9% of those affected. G118R/R, G140A, Q148H/R, and R263K mutations associated DTG resistance, to varying levels, were identified. Among the 14 cases, 50% exhibited high-level
resistance, 28% intermediate resistance, and 14.3% low resistance potential. The findings indicate a widespread distribution of DTG resistance mutations across Malawi, with evidence of both isolated and clustered patterns of resistance mutation from different districts emergence suggesting transmission of resistance within the communities. These DTG resistance mutations impact treatment outcomes by reducing the drug's binding
efficiency to the integrase enzyme, which is essential for HIV replication inhibition. Mutations such as G118R and Q148H/R significantly impair DTG’s potency, potentially leading to treatment failure, virological rebound, and an increased risk of onward transmission of drug-resistant HIV strains. Additionally, these mutations can limit future ART options by conferring cross-resistance to other Integrase Strand Transfer Inhibitors (InSTIs), complicating treatment regimens and increasing healthcare costs