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: a case study of Nyangu Village in Rufunsa District, Lusaka Province.
Get PDFArticleChild marriage remains a concern globally, more so in developing countries, including
Zambia. The purpose of this study was to explore the factors that perpetuate child
marriage and strategies to prevent them: A case study of Nyangu Village in Rufunsa
District, Lusaka Province. The main objectives of the study included; to explore the
existence of child marriages within Nyangu village of Rufunsa District, in Zambia; to
identify unique factors that foster child marriages in families and communities in
Nyangu village; to identify gaps that are in marriage laws in Zambia; and to determine
strategies that can prevent child marriages in families and communities in Nyangu
village. This research applied a qualitative approach. The study sample included a total
of twenty three participants; sixteen under eighteen participants made up of fourteen
girls and two boys; one Headwoman, One headmaster of the primary school of the
community, and five parents made up of community leaders, two male and three female.
Purposive sampling was used to determine the sample for the study. Data was collected
using semi-structured interviews and a focus group discussions. Thematic analysis was
used to analyse the data. The study revealed that child marriages existed in Nyangu
village and were influenced by factors common and generational. These factors
included poverty, lack of education, influence from parents and culture, gaps between
the two legal systems, lack of developmental programs, and early pregnancy. The study
recommended the government of Zambia harmonising the two national laws; the
government of Zambia offer holistic resources support towards learners to support the
free education policy; improving the lives of families in the village through the
promotion of tourism in the village and surrounds, as it is located at the border of three
countries and in close proximity to the Luangwa River and national parks; lastly, to
improve reporting systems and implementation of the police service in the village.
Key words: Child marriage, education, early pregnancy, poverty, laws of Zambia
School of Engineering:Past Examination Papers,2020-2022
No full textUniversity of Zambia
School of Engineering
2020-2022 Past Examination Paper
Improving discharge prediction for poorly gauged hydropower potential sites : a case study of Mabula Kapi site.
Get PDFThesisKafue Gorge Regional Training Centre (KGRTC) intends to carry out full feasibility
studies for the development of Mabula Kapi hydropower site located on Kaombe
River in Serenje District. KGRTC installed a hydrological gauging station at the site
in September 2019. However, the small hydropower potential site is considered to be
poorly gauged since it lacks adequate streamflow and/or rainfall data required for
hydropower planning and design. Mabula Kapi was initially investigated to
prefeasibility study level, using hydrological data from an adjacent catchment on
Lusiwasi River, which was considered to be hydrologically similar. The catchment
area-ratio method which was applied is a simple approximation because catchment
characteristics between donor and target catchments rarely match perfectly. For
Mabula Kapi site, the presence of a natural lake on the Lusiwasi donor catchment
raised uncertainties about similarities in the drainage network and therefore the
accuracy of transposing hydrological data. Additionally, anticipated future climate
changes raised uncertainties about the sustainability of the proposed hydropower
plant.
In this study, several discharge prediction methods were reviewed and rainfall-runoff
computer modelling was selected as the most suitable method for predicting discharge
for Mabula Kapi Catchment. The method was applied to accurately predict discharge
time series by creating a conceptual representation of relevant hydrological processes
for Mabula Kapi Catchment in a computer-based open-source model known as
PITMAN. The PITMAN model was largely selected due to limitations in local input
data availability and project budget. Satellite rainfall point data known as the Climate
Hazards Group InfraRed Precipitation with Station data (CHIRPS) was adopted as
one of the modeling inputs because of its good correlation with ground measured data.
A 30-year discharge time series was simulated for Mabula Kapi site using the
PITMAN model. The model was calibrated by matching simulated discharge and
observed discharge time series from the newly installed gauging station at Mabula
Kapi site. The derived time series were used to estimate the installed capacity (8.2
MW), annual energy yield (38 GWh) and design flood (120m3
/s). Runoff simulations
done in the model using future rainfall and temperature projections indicated that the
average annual energy for the power plant is likely to reduce by 11% from 2040 to
2059. It is recommended that the estimated energy reduction be taken into account
when conducting financial analysis for the project and that further climate tests be
done using other credible climatic projections which may be available.
Key words: CHIRPS, Hydropower, Modelling, Rainfall, Streamflo
Prediction of target mean strength of concrete mixes.
Get PDFThesisIn practice, cured concrete strength may exhibit strength variation from batch to batch
and within batch despite the mixes being of the same proportions and with quality control.
On the other hand, structural concrete elements are designed to meet specific
characteristic strength. In order to ensure compliance to the specified characteristic
strength, concrete mix designers target strengths higher than the specified characteristic
strengths, commonly known as Target Mean Strength. This study aimed at establishing
the margins between characteristic strength and Target Mean Strength for various local
concrete mixes. In order to achieve this overall objective, a semi-structured questionnaire
was used to identify the popular concrete mix design models in the country. The identified
model was then validated through experimental mix designs, concrete mixes, cube
casting, curing and strength testing. The mixes were designed for normal concrete classes;
C20, C25 and C30. The sample size for each of these classes was guided by the British DOE method of mix design that demands for standard deviation to be calculated from at
least 20 results and the Indian Standard IS 456:2000 that demands a sample size of at
least 30 for each concrete class. This study utilized 101 concrete mixes; 31 samples for
C30 and 35 for each of the C25 and C20 classes. The mix materials used were Ordinary
Portland cement 42.5R manufactured by Lafarge Zambia, 20mm crushed coarse
aggregates and crushed fine aggregates. Three concrete cube specimens were cast for
each mix, cured for 28 days and tested for compressive strength at the Civil Engineering
Laboratory of the University of Zambia. From the compressive strength results, the
probability density function for each class was generated using Microsoft Office excel.
The determined standard deviations (s) from the distributions were 8.19, 8.00 and 8.27
MPa for concrete classes of C20, C25 and C30, respectively, which implied margins of
13.43, 13.12 and 13.56 MPa, respectively for 95% reliability (k=1.64). Therefore, the
established margins (kxs) can be used for predicting Target Mean Strength of concrete
mixes at 95% reliability for the Zambian concrete mixes provided the BS-DOE model is
applied and constituent materials are similar to those used in the study.
Keywords: Characteristic Strength, Target Mean Strength, Standard Deviation, Margin,
British-DO
Factors influencing development objectives of small to medium size enterprises : case of Kamwala market.
Get PDFThesis of Master of Business Administration – General.This research investigates the multifaceted factors influencing the development objectives of Small to Medium Size Enterprises (SMEs). In recent years, SMEs have emerged as significant contributors to economic growth and job creation globally, making understanding their development dynamics imperative. Through a comprehensive literature review, this study establishes a theoretical framework encompassing internal and external factors shaping SME development objectives. Utilizing a mixedmethods approach, including surveys and interviews, data was collected from a diverse sample of SME owners and stakeholders. Statistical analysis, including regression analysis was employed to identify and interpret the significant factors affecting SME development objectives. Findings indicate that factors such as access to finance, managerial skills, market conditions, technological adoption, regulatory environment, and networking opportunities significantly influence SME development trajectories. Moreover, qualitative insights provide nuanced understanding and context to the quantitative findings. The implications of these findings for SME owners, policymakers, and other stakeholders are discussed, along with recommendations for fostering SME development. This research contributes to both academic literature and practical strategies aimed at supporting the growth and sustainability of SMEs in diverse socio-economic contexts
Effect of new borehole pricing regime in the wake of groundwater regulations in Zambia.
Get PDFThesis of Master’s in Business AdministrationWater is life, essential for human existence, and its importance for individual health as well as the well-being of a nation and access to good quality water cannot be overemphasized. It is therefore believed that a borehole is a hydraulic structure which when properly designed and constructed, permits the economic withdrawal of water from an aquifer that can give fresh water to human beings, and other uses such agriculture, aquaculture, hydropower, industries and recreation. However, the fact that many boreholes fail, or perform poorly within a short time from construction is partly due, to a lack of professionalism in the drilling sector and the agencies and individuals that engage with it. Hence, the research objectives of the paper are generally focusing on how the
regulation has impacted the pricing of a borehole in Zambia and provide the benefits that goes with regulating the borehole drilling and how the consumers stand to benefit from the groundwater regulation. The study used a descriptive research design targeting a total of 65 respondents. The participants
in the study, included WARMA (n=5), Drilling Companies and Clients/Customers (n=60). The non-probability sampling and purposive sampling to be specific was used for the targeted respondents as the study focused on Lusaka Province, Livingstone, Mongu, and Ndola, which are the locations of and bases of operations for most drilling companies. It employed both quantitative and qualitative approaches as it entailed the having gained an in-depth understanding of the phenomena under the study and help to understand the reality and how people interpret their different borehole drilling experiences. The study discovered that drilling companies were registered companies, and that the majority of them were licensed with WARMA in class B which is mostly for the international companies and that after the introduction of drilling licenses by WARMA, the cost of drilling a borehole went higher than before such that both clients and drilling business companies were affected negatively hence the uproar. It is evident that participants had strong opinion that drilling companies and their consumers suffer the impact when ground water and boreholes are regulated since they forced to pay more, and it takes a long time for drilling companies to obtain a license, without which it is impossible to drill a borehole. On the other hand, it was revealed that borehole regulations ensures that all people
have equal access to water resources that are available in adequate quantities and of high enough quality for a variety of purposes, such as commercial, the generation of hydropower, leisure, agriculture, mining, and navigation. In conclusion, the development of management and monitoring of borehole standards strategies for borehole drilling is necessary since groundwater pollution is site specific and that to provide a good water supply service, every water borehole drilled, and every pump installed must be undertaken in a professional manner. Groundwater regulations have brought sanity in the industry thereby
promoting sustainability of the ground water resources by inhibiting ramparted drilling of borehole which may lead to depletion of the resource. Further, the regulations provide for water quality standards that enforces assessments and treatment of polluted water which promotes the positive strides made by the government to increase the provision of safe and clean water. In addition to the enforcement of ground water regulations, it is imperative for the regulator to carry out sensitization programmes in communities and make sure that people understand why the regulation of drilling of boreholes was introduced in Zambia and its benefits to both the drilling business companies and the public at large
An analysis of the effects of consumer behavior on small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Kafue.
Get PDFThesis of Masters in Business Administration.Kafue as business settlement area has several small and medium enterprises which are currently dwindling due to several factors ranging from the harsh economic factors that the country is facing at large. But beyond that despite the government emphasizing on the importance of SMEs, it seems
several consumers do not choose to buy from SMEs in Kafue and a number of them are also suffering COVID-19 shock. While Kafue district has over 100 SMEs, generally, SMEs in Kafue are not doing well and hence, they need some form of capacity building to develop and contribute effectively to national development. It was based on the above facts that the study of this nature has to be conducted. This research focused on analyzing the effects of consumer behavior on the growth of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Kafue district of Lusaka province of Zambia. The main objective of this study was to find out the effects of consumers behavior in context of social, cultural, and buying behaviors on SMEs in Kafue District of Lusaka province Zambia. To analyze the effects of consumer behavior on the growth of SME, the study found out the impact of consumer attitudes related to buying behavior and their perception on the growth of SMEs. This study used case study descriptive research design. A both qualitative and quantitative method of data collection and analysis was applied. Considering the population of consumers and SMEs owners in the study, the researcher applied a purposive sampling selection technique, and 67 participants were selected as 20 owners of SMEs and 47 consumers. The study found that consumer negative behavior towards local SMEs is because of the perceptions they have towards SMEs, and some caused by the practices done by SMEs such as lack of good customer care, unfair pricing to mention but a few. The study also established that their low customer retention by SMEs hence, increasing the number of consumers choosing not to buy from them. The owners of SMEs also lamented that their growth is directly linked to consumers buying from them
Strategies of improving the performance of girls in mathematics at secondary school : a case study of selected schools in Lusaka district.
Get PDFThesis of Master of Education in Management.In Zambia it has generally accepted that good performance in mathematics has become a prerequisite for one entry into tertiary education regardless of one’s sex. In a bid to find themselves places in colleges and universities, many more girls are victim of rejection because of poor grades in mathematics compared to boys. The study looks on strategies of improving the performance of girls in Mathematics at secondary school. The study adopts a Descriptive design Approach, which will employ research methods, questionnaires and interviews. The target population comprised learners, mathematics teachers, Head of Department and School
managers at secondary level. Probability sampling techniques were used to select pupils and teachers from Secondary School A. The total study sample was 50. Two instruments were used for data collection in the study: the questionnaire and interviews. Qualitative data were collected and analyzed on an on-going process as themes and sub-themes that emerged through thematic analysis. The findings showed that quality of instruction, teacher motivation, teacher qualification, learners’ attitude, low parental involvement had bearing on girls’ poor academic performance in mathematics. Based on the findings of the study, it was concluded that, the barriers to improving learning outcomes in Zambia are many and cut across both the demand and supply side, and interact across the school, district, provincial and national levels. The study recommended that parents should get involved in pupil’s education in order to help monitor children’s performance through homework as well as monitoring the time spent on social media and other vices. With regard to parental support to girls ‘mathematics education, the study established that many parents believe that girls were poor performers in mathematics hence they do not help them. With regard to girls ‘attitude towards Mathematics, the study established that most girls in selected secondary schools in Lusaka district had negative attitude towards
mathematics. In order to improve teaching and learning practices secondary school, the study recommends that the school management sensitize mathematics teachers not to be gender biased in their lessons by involving both boys and girls equally in mathematics lessons. Secondary School mathematics teachers need to present to girls’ scientific theories that suggest that mathematics performance is the result of experience and not genetics as well as guidance teachers ‘need to work in collaboration with teachers of mathematics and the school head teacher in secondary schools must provide girls with many efficacy-building experiences in mathematics
An evaluation of online digital platform in facilitating recruitment in non-governmental organisation in Lusaka :a case of john snow health Zambia.
Get PDFThesis of Master of Business Administration.This study evaluated the efficacy of online digital platforms in facilitating recruitment within a non governmental organization (NGO) in Lusaka, focusing on John Snow Health Zambia (JSH-Z). Through a qualitative approach aligned with interpretivist principles, 92 JSH-Z employees were surveyed to assess awareness levels, explore existing policies, and identify challenges related to online recruitment. The findings revealed a significant level of staff awareness regarding the online
recruitment platforms utilized by JSH-Z, indicating effective communication and training initiatives. However, perceptions of policy effectiveness varied among respondents, suggesting areas for improvement and implementation challenges. The study recommends future longitudinal research to track the evolution of online recruitment practices at JSH-Z and comparative analyses with similar NGOs to identify best practices and areas for enhancement. This study contributes to the
understanding of recruitment effectiveness, particularly within the context of NGOs, and highlights the importance of continual evaluation and improvement in utilizing online platforms for talent acquisition
SMEs and export trading in Zambia : examining the role of Zambia development agency’s training on export readiness.
Get PDFThesis of Master of Business Administration.This research examines the impact of entrepreneurial training provided by the Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) on the sales performance of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) engaged in export trading in Zambia. Employing a mixed-method approach, the study surveyed 89 trained SMEs out of a population of 132 registered SMEs based in Lusaka who underwent ZDA's training program in 2022 and 2023. Findings indicate that the training equips entrepreneurs with skills necessary for international competition, with trained SMEs demonstrating higher levels of awareness of international trade regulations and compliance. Despite facing challenges such as lack of capital, currency fluctuation, and high business costs, trained SMEs show a propensity for market expansion and product diversification. The study underscores the positive impact of ZDA's training on SME performance in export trading, emphasizing the need for continuous support,
innovation, and collaboration to sustain success in global markets. It recommends future research to explore longitudinal impacts, conduct comparative analyses, and leverage digitalization for enhanced effectiveness