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Factors affecting the implementation of the accrual-based international public sector accounting standards (IPSAS) as planned in Zambia.
Get PDFThesis of Master of Business Administration – Management StrategyThe purpose of this Dissertation was to determine factors affecting the implementation of the accrual-based International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) as planned in Zambia. In 2013, the Zambian Government announced its intentions to transition to Accrual based IPSAS from the traditional cash-based method of accounting. However, by the end of 2021, Zambia was yet to migrate to accrual based IPSAS. The study adopted a quantitative research design. The results of the study showed 88.1 percent of the participants were aware of the Government’s intention to adopt accrual based IPSAS. In terms of perceived benefits, the findings agreed that overall, the accrual based IPSAS had more benefits compared to the traditional cash-based method. However, the participants disagreed that the Zambian Government could not adequately finance the costs related to the implementation of accrual based IPSAS. Additionally, they also disagreed with the statement that the public sector lacked adequate human resources to implement the accrual based IPSAS in Zambia. Further, they were of the view that the current policy and regulatory frameworks were adequate to support the adoption of accrual based IPSAS. Furthermore, the technology that is currently in use in public institutions was noted to be compatible with accrual based IPSAS. The findings showed that challenges in the adoption process included the inadequate knowledge among public institutions’ staff on the use and application of accrual based IPSAS in Zambia. Equally, there was inadequate training among public institutions’ staff in the application and use of accrual based IPSAS. With regards to whether Government had devoted many resources to the process of adopting the accrual based IPSAS, the participants were of view that it had not. The Dissertation recommends that the government, through the Ministry of Finance as an implementing policy agency, should ensure there is sufficient awareness of the road map for the adoption process with clear milestones defined. Additionally, the government should engage more stakeholders in the road map implementation process and consider implementing the accrual based IPSAS in a phased manner. Furthermore, there is need to assess the status of the current infrastructure compatibility for accrual based IPSAS. This will help to address the impediments currently being faced in the migration process
An exploration of how the teaching and learning of civic education contribute to transformative eduction in Zambian secondary schools: a study of four selected secondary schools in Kabwe district, central province.
Get PDFThesis of the Master of Education in Civic Education.The study explored how the teaching and learning of civic education contribute to transformative education in selected secondary schools of Kabwe district, Zambia. The study had three research objectives. The first one was to establish how teaching and learning of Civic Education contribute
to transformative education among learners in schools. The second one focused on exploring challenges that impede Civic Education as transformative education among learners in schools and the third one focused on investigating possible measures that could be adopted to support Civic Education as transformative education among learners in schools. The study used qualitative paradigm with an application of case research design. The study recruited thirty (30) participants and there were selected using homogenous and expert purposive sampling. Data was collected
through individual interviews and focus group discussion. Data was analyzed using thematic approach. The study revealed that civic education helps learners to understand their rights, develop critical thinking in learners and prepare analytical leaders. Equally, it was revealed that civic education prepare future and current participants in national development. On challenges that impede Civic Education as transformative education among learners in schools, these were the themes: inadequate school infrastructure, teacher incompetence, use of traditional strategies by teachers, pupil congestion and lack of teaching materials. Others included less contact sessions allocated for teaching Civic Education and lack of practical in Civic Education. On suggestions that could be adopted to support Civic Education as transformative education among learners in schools, the study revealed that provision of adequate school infrastructure, providing more learning materials, allocating more time to teaching of Civic Education and introducing practical in Civic Education was cardinal. The study concluded that despite challenges that impede the teaching of Civic Education in schools, Civic Education is still fundamental in transforming learners and the community. Therefore, the study recommended that there is need for teachers of Civic Education to embrace the use of active pedagogies when delivering civic education lessons as this may be critical for fostering transformative education
Investigating the causality between economic growth, trade and income inequality in SADC (1985-2020).
Get PDFThesis of Master of arts in Economics.Southern Africa remains one of the most unequal regions in Africa. This is despite maintaining real positive growth rates and an impressive trade liberalisation believed to have desirable impact on the standard of living and the redistribution of income within and among trading nations. Conversely, empirical literature on the nexus between economic growth, trade openness and income inequality remain open to public debate at global, regional as well as country level. This study investigates the causal relationship between economic growth, trade openness and income inequality in 11 SADC countries from 1985-2020. Data was obtained from World Development Indicators (WDI), Standard World Income Inequality Database (SWIID), International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank (WB). A multivariate analysis was adopted using Panel Autoregressive Distributive Lags (ARDL) and the Pooled Mean Group (PMG) model. Dumitrescue and Hurlin causality tests were also conducted. Cointegration was detected which revealed the existence of a long run relationship among the variables. Additionally, the estimated results indicate that in the long run, economic growth and trade openness worsens income distribution in SADC. Causality tests also reveal a unidirectional causality running from economic growth to income inequality and from trade openness to income inequality and not vice versa. The implications of the above findings are that SADC needs to focus on a more inclusive and higher growth than the current growth rates and develop appropriate trade policies which are specific to the circumstances of the region. Fiscal policy reforms with increased expenditure on education will also help reduce income disparities in the long run
Evaluation for drought tolerance and anthracnose resistance of selected pinto genotypes of common bean (phaseolus vulgaris l.).
Get PDFThesis of Master of Science in Agronomy.Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is an important legume crop grown for household revenue, food and nutrition security in many parts of the world. Common bean is classified into Andean and Middle American gene pools. Most of the beans grown in east and southern Africa countries including Zambia are Andean. In the recent years there has been interest in Zambia in growing pinto beans, which is a major Middle American market class especially in the US, but new to Zambia and most other African countries. The adaptation of pinto beans to Zambia isn’t well established especially that the country is prone to drought and anthracnose disease. Anthracnose is the most important disease of common bean in Zambia, which is likely to affect production of this market class in a similar way it has affected other currently grown market classes. Additionally, drought has become an increasingly important production constraint because of frequent drought episodes in bean growing areas caused by climate change. Furthermore, production of common bean has been expanding to geographical areas that are prone to drought. Identification of pinto beans genotypes that are tolerant to drought and resistant to anthracnose could support production and productivity of pinto beans in Zambia and other African countries. The objectives of this study were: (i) Evaluate the agronomic and morpho-physiological response of selected pinto genotypes to terminal drought, and (ii) Determine the response of selected pinto genotypes to seven races of Colletotrichum lindemuthianum the causative fungus for anthracnose. A total of 56 pinto bean genotypes and 4 checks were evaluated for tolerance to drought and resistance to seven races of C. lindemuthianum. Evaluation for drought tolerance was conducted using one pot experiment and two field trials. For the pot experiment, Electrolyte leakage and canopy temperature depression was measured on the 56 pinto genotypes and 2 checks grown under drought stress (DS) and Non-Drought stress conditions. The two field trials for drought tolerance were conducted at the University of Zambia (UNZA) and Golden Valley Agriculture Research Trust (GART) Research farms under drought stress and non-stress conditions. The primary traits measured included pod number, shoot dry weight, seed weight and seed yield. The traits computed from these primary traits were harvest index (HI), pod harvest index
(PHI), yield geometric mean (GM) and yield percentage reduction (YPR). There were significant differences among 56 genotypes in all primary and computed traits indicating significant genetic differences in their response to drought. The average YPR for GART and UNZA were 43.6% and 58.5%, respectively. The genotypes with highest GM at GART and UNZA were NDZ14048-5 (1,200 kg ha-1 ) and NDZ14048-2 (1,331 kg ha-1 ), respectively. Seed yield was significantly correlated to PHI (r=0.55***) and HI (0.68***) under DS suggesting the important role that these two partitioning indices played in the observed drought tolerance for some of the genotypes. Therefore, PHI and HI can be used to indirectly select for drought tolerance. The genotypes NDZ14048-2 and NDZ14048-5 were particularly outstanding in their seed yield performance under both DS and NS conditions. The 56 pinto genotypes and checks were evaluated for resistance to races 51, 65, 73, 247, 253, 263 and 1085. Significant differences were observed among the 56 pinto genotypes in their reaction to seven races of Colletotrichum lindemuthianum. In general, the reaction of the 56 genotypes was skewed towards susceptibility except for races 51 and 73. There was no genotype that was resistant to all seven races. In general, the genotypes that showed resistance to most of the races were those that carried Co-4 2, which highlighted the importance of this locus to anthracnose resistance. The three genotypes NDZ14006-4, NDZ14110-4 and NDZ14043 showed superior resistance among the 56 pinto genotypes used in the current study as each was resistant to six of the seven races used in the current study. The genotypes NDZ14048-2 and NDZ14048-5 which showed superior seed yield under both DS and NS, and carry the Co-4 2 anthracnose resistance loci were resistant to five of the seven races used in the current study. The combination of high seed yield (under both DS and NS) and anthracnose resistance exhibited
by NDZ14048-2 and NDZ14048-5 make them ideal for use to enhance the adaptation of pinto beans to anthracnose and drought
Grain storage facilities maintenance challenges in Zambia: a case study of the food reserve agency.
Get PDFThesis of Master of Engineering in Engineering Management.This study was aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of strategic maize storage in Zambia. Maize is a staple food in Zambia. However, because of seasonal production, its storage must be such that it is kept in good condition for sustained supply all year round. It has been observed that a large proportion of stored grain is wasted because of poor post-harvest management in Southern African countries such as Zambia. Among the factors responsible for losses are inadequate and ineffective grain storage facilities and poor handling practices. In Zambia, the mandate for management of sustainable national strategic food reserves and ensuring national food security lies with the Food Reserve Agency (FRA). This research therefore used the FRA as a case study to investigate the challenges that the agency faces in the management maize storage facilities. Using the mixed methods approach, the study deployed explanatory case study with the study centered on three key theories, namely: maintenance management, asset management and property management with the scope covering all the silos and six sheds managed by the FRA across Zambia. The specific objectives of the study were to establish the current state of strategic storage facilities, to determine the maintenance philosophy used in the management of strategic storage facilities, to establish the challenges faced in the maintenance of strategic storage facilities and to determine the best and most cost-effective strategies to use in the maintance of strategic storage facilities. The study’s participants were drawn from within the FRA and held different portfolios that included marketing, standards and quality, warehousing, property management and monitoring and evaluation. Among the findings of the study was that the depots and sheds of FRA were in fairly good and acceptable condition. The findings, however, showed that the FRA did not have a clear maintenance management policy or a maintenance management philosophy. Much of its approach to maintenance management was on an ad hoc or reactive basis. Additionally, capacity gaps, technical and financial inadequacies were identified as major challenges in conducting effective maintenance management. Other findings showed that the FRA conducted inspections on its property but that these were not structured. Overall, there is need for the FRA to adopt robust policies on maintenance management so that the implementation of maintenance management is well planned and structured
Genomic epidemiology and zoonotic potential of staphyloccus aureus from pigs and humans in Lusaka province of Zambia.
Get PDFThesisPigs have been shown to be a reservoir for Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus)
including methicillin resistant strains which are collectively called Livestock-
associated S. aureus (LA-SA) and Livestock-associated Methicillin-resistant S. aureus
(LA-MRSA), respectively. These strains significantly colonise and cause infection in
farmworkers and other individuals in contact with pigs. These persons are presumably
the source of LA-SA transmission to household members and their associates.
However, there is sparse information about LA-SA strains circulating in most African
countries, including Zambia. This study aimed at determining the genomic
epidemiology and zoonotic potential of S. aureus from pigs, farm and abattoir workers
in selected districts of Lusaka province of Zambia. It was a cross-sectional study in
which a total of 493 pig nasal swabs, 53 hand and nasal swabs each were collected
from farm and abattoir workers. Forty-four human clinical isolates from a previous
study were also included for selected genotypic investigation. Conventional
microbiological methods were used to detect and identify S. aureus while the disc
diffusion method was used to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility patterns.
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with gene specific primers was used to confirm the
species identity of S. aureus and detection of antimicrobial resistance and virulence
genes. Genetic diversity of the strains was done using spa typing and whole genome
sequencing (WGS). The overall prevalence of S. aureus in the study was 33.1%,
specifically 37.8% for pigs and 11.8% for humans. The isolates were resistant to
several anti-staphylococcal antibiotics including penicillin, tetracycline, and
ciprofloxacin, with resistance rates ranging from 18% to 98%. However, the isolates
showed considerable susceptibility to chloramphenicol, gentamicin, and co-
trimoxazole. All isolates were susceptible to vancomycin. Although the mecA and
mecC genes which encode resistance to methicillin were not detected, other resistance
genes encoding resistance to tetracyclines (tetM, tetK, and tetL) and to erythromycin
(ermB and ermC) were detected using PCR, while WGS showed the presence of other
resistance genes which encode resistance to beta-lactams (blaZ), macrolides
(vga(A)V), and fluroquinolones (gryA and gyrlA). More virulence genes were
detected in silico via WGS compared to using PCR. These virulence genes included
the aureolysin gene (aur), hemolysin genes (hlgA, hlgB, and hlgC) and enterotoxin
genes (seg, sei, sem, sen, seo and seu). Immune evasion cluster genes (sak and chp)
were also detected in some of the isolates from pigs. While several serine like protease
genes (splA to F) were detected in both human and pig isolates. Spa typing by both
PCR and WGS revealed that most of the isolates belonged to the typical livestock-
associated spa types (t1430 being the most common). Typical livestock-associated
sequence types ST753 and ST9 were detected in two of the isolates. Novel spa and
sequence types were detected among the isolates. Mobile genetic elements (plasmid,
transposon and several insertion sequences) associated with the aforementioned
resistance and virulence genes were also detected in silico in the isolates. Phylogenetic
analysis based on WGS revealed that the isolates clustered together with typical
livestock-associated ST398 MRSA isolates and were clonally related. The findings of
our study show that LA-SA is present among pigs and workers who work closely with
pigs in Zambia and there may be both zoonotic and anthropogenic transmission going
on. Furthermore, these isolates pose a high risk to human health as they harbour both
resistance and virulence genes which are possibly carried on mobile genetic elements
and may thus spread easily. Therefore, continuous monitoring of S. aureus in this
sector using a “One health” approach to combat S. aureus infections and prevention of
the emergence and spread of antibiotic resistant strains is recommended
Experiences of school managers with the management of production units: a case of selected secondary schools in Lusaka province, Zambia.
Get PDFDegree of Master of Education in Educational Administration and ManagementGlobally, there has been an increase in the realization of the need for introducing a Production
Unit (PU) in schools. In Zambia, PU in schools was introduced around the mid-nineteen seventies
following a presidential directive in 1975. Nevertheless, the program has had little success linking
vocational theory and practice, including desirable attitudes to manual work, training management,
and marketing skills or producing school income-this impetus to understand educational managers’
experiences managing PU in secondary schools. Using a hermeneutic phenomenology, the current
study examined educational manager’s experiences in the management of PU in 3 secondary
schools in Lusaka Province among 45 systematically easy accessed purposively selected school
managers, 3 Head teachers, 3 deputy Head teachers, 30 heads of Departments, 3 PU coordinators,
and 6 PTC members. Data was collected using semi-structured interview guides and analysed
using thematic analysis. The study findings revealed that most educational managers in selected
secondary schools effectively managed and implemented PU despite experiencing some notable
challenges. Contrary to other studies that were done on PU, this study’s findings indicate that
managers had some negative experiences such as lack of permanent labor as pupils core business
is class work. It also revealed that the positive experiences were as a result of effective
implementation and management of PU. There was also an extra income for the schools, skills
training for both members of staff and teachers and improved on partnership with other schools.
The study findings also revealed that various stakeholders were involved in the management of
PU, including school administrators (i.e., Head teacher, deputy head teacher, Head of Department),
PU coordinators, PTC committee members, and the pupils, among many others. The study findings
further revealed that the many factors that were experienced that contributed to the challenges met
in the management of PU were lack of adequate funding/ start-up capital, market for the produce,
partnership and skilled workforce, land for PU, and machinery. Based on the study findings, there
is an urgent need for training educational managers in managing various PU activities and
providing consistent and adequate funding for PU. There is also need for the School Management
team to involve all stakeholder in the entire PU process.
Keywords: Educational Manager, Experiences, Management, Production Unit, Stakeholder,
Zambi
Assessing the knowledge, attitude and practices of healthcare workers on COVID-19 infection prevention and control at Isoka district hospital, Zambia.
Get PDFThesis of Master of Science in Public Health.Introduction: The Coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus, called Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has continued to wreak havoc across the globe. It has spread to literally all the countries and territories around the word, killing millions of people and decimating national economies. Zambia like many countries, is grappling with the Covid-19 pandemic and has, as
of 29th April, 2021, reported a cumulative total of 307,636 cases with 39,933 deaths. Healthcare workers the world over, are at the forefront in the containment of Covid-19, its diagnosis, and management of infected patients and this is the case in Zambia. As a result, they are more exposed and prone to Covid-19 infection and are potential means by which the disease can spread from health facilities to the community. Thus, having the right knowledge and attitude, as well as employing the best practices, towards Covid-19 infection prevention and control, among healthcare workers, is cardinal if the fight is to be won.
Objective: This study sought to understand knowledge, attitude and practices of healthcare workers on Covid-19 infection prevention and control at Isoka District Hospital in Zambia. Methodology: The research conductance a mixed method, cross-sectional survey using a structured questionnaire which collected data on demographic information, knowledge, attitudes, and practices of healthcare workers at Isoka District Hospital. The collected data was coded and analysed using SPSS version 20.0. Descriptive statistics, one-way ANOVA, Chi- square analysis and the Pearson’s correlation coefficient was used to understand the characteristic composition of the population, relationship between demographic information and KAP factors and the correlation between KAP variables.
Results: Results show that healthcare workers at Isoka District Hospital have adequate Covid- 19 IPC knowledge, positive Covid-19 IPC attitudes and good Covid-19 IPC practices. Results also show that demographic factors such as level of education, profession, religion as well as whether a healthcare worker lives with people or not, has a relationship with their knowledge, attitudes or practices. Further results indicate that there is a correlation between knowledge and
attitudes of healthcare workers. Conclusion: Researches like this research help in assessing the adherence of healthcare workers to Covid-19 IPC measures, especially those in rural areas. Although factors such as myths and misconceptions have continued to impact the knowledge, attitudes and practices of
healthcare workers negatively, healthcare workers at Isoka District hospital showed adequate knowledge, positive attitudes and good practices concerning Covid-19 IPC. More and continuous sensitisation and training needs to be done in order to not only equip healthcare workers with knowledge for fighting this pandemic but to also prepare them for any future similar outbreaks
Community policing: a strategy for conflict prevention in the community: a case study in the selected communities in Solwezi district.
Get PDFThesis of Master of Science in Peace, Leadership and Conflict Resolution.The study explored Community policing strategy as a strategy for conflict prevention in the selected communities in Solwezi district for Northwestern province. The selected communities for the study included Kandemba, Kyawama, Messager, Kandundu and Magrade compounds in Solwezi district. The study was guided by the following study objectives; Exploration of community policing strategy as a tool for conflict prevention in Solwezi district, to identify challenges in community policing strategy in the prevention of conflicts and to propose approaches for conflict prevention in Solwezi district. The dissertation used qualitative case study design and was guided by broken window and social capital theories. The study purposely selected the communities in Solwezi district and 22 participants among them were three police officers from CSD at Solwezi police, four church leaders from dominant churches, political leaders, business and markets community leaders, the Mayor of Solwezi and five (5) selected members from each community. Data was collected through interviews and Focus Group Discussion. The study revealed that community policing strategy is a tool for conflict prevention by enabling the community participates in planning for the safety and the security of their community although community policing in Solwezi district is not being effectively implemented rendering it as if it is an ineffective tool for conflict prevention. The study further revealed that, lack of funding to community policing strategy implementation, lack police officers training in community policing exhibited by negative attitude of police officers towards the community thereby hampering effective implementation of community policing in the Solwezi and as a result the strategy has insignificant impact on conflict prevention
Support to informal women entrepreneurs and their business: a case of Musakanya market, Mpika district.
Get PDFMaster of Art in Development studiesUsing a triangulation mixed methods design, this study looked at how support that women
entrepreneurs in the informal sector receive affects their businesses. The objectives that guided the
study were: to establish the nature of support that informal women entrepreneurs receive; to
examine how the support to informal women entrepreneurs enhances their business; and to identify
the challenges that informal women entrepreneurs face in accessing business support. The study
total sample size was 81 and the participants were selected using purposive and systematic random
sampling techniques. The findings showed that majority (80%) of the informal women
entrepreneurs at Musakanya market depend on informal support which comes in the form of
financing and hands on support from friends, family, spouses, self-funding and chilimba. The study
also showed that the support which has been received by the informal women entrepreneurs has to
an extent enhanced their businesses in as far as improving business savings, profit margins,
business sustenance, quality of decision making and livelihoods are concerned. In as far as the
challenges, results revealed the following challenges; high repayment rates of loans, no
advertisement of available support by government and other stakeholders, cumbersome
application process, infrequent and inconsistent support, ruined friendships, unreliability and
insufficient funding. The study concluded that the women entrepreneurs have relied on informal
support channels to sustain their businesses because the formal support is unstable and unreliable.
Additionally, the study further concluded that the women’s businesses have been enhanced to a
minimal extent as a result of the nature of support received. The study recommended that
Government programs and projects meant to support informal women businesses should be
predictable and viable so that many women run businesses can benefit from the support, lower
repayment rates on the loans and simplified application process for business support to allow for
equal opportunity among potential applicants.
Key Words: Support, Women entrepreneurs, Business, Informal and Formal