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Influence of Environmental Factors on Fish Distribution and Abundance in Damba Reservoir
No full textFish population are impacted with the quality of water. This study is aimed at assessing the impacts of physicochemical parameters on fish species occurrence and abundance in Damba Reservoir, located in Gusau, Zamfara State, Northwestern Nigeria. Water samples were collected monthly between January and April 2025 from four strategically selected stations based on varying anthropogenic activities. Parameters measured included pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), total dissolved solids (TDS), electrical conductivity (EC), oxidation-reduction potential (ORP), temperature, depth, and transparency using water quality meters and secchi disc. Fish were sampled using gill and cast nets and identified using standard taxonomic guides. Significant spatial and temporal fluctuations were observed across most parameters, with EC, DO, pH, and TDS emerging as the most influential variables. Fish species relative abundance, comprising Oreochromis niloticus (37.83%), Sarotherodon galilaeus (37.59%), Coptodon Zilli (17.11), Sarotherodon melanotheron (2.65), Bagrus bayad (3.37), Clarias gariepinus (0.96), and Mormyrus sp (0.49). varied across sites and months. Multivariate Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) revealed strong positive correlations between EC, pH, DO, TDS, and the distribution of dominant fish species, while temperature, depth, and transparency had limited influence. The findings highlight the need for regular monitoring and management of water quality parameters to preserve aquatic biodiversity and ensure sustainable fisheries in the reservoir. Recommendations include continuous physicochemical assessment, regulation of anthropogenic activities, and implementation of fishing controls to mitigate environmental stress and promote ecological stability
Response of the United Church of Zambia to the Conflict Generated by the Barotseland Agreement and the Associated 2010-2011 Shooting Incidents Involving the Linyungandambo Activists
No full textThis article investigates the role of the United Church of Zambia (UCZ) in fostering national reconciliation amidst the conflicts arising from the Barotseland Agreement between 2010 and 2011. The purpose of this study was to enhance understanding of the UCZ's impact on helping to prevent socio-economic and political conflicts from escalating into violence. Employing a qualitative methodology, the research involved individual and group interviews with diverse respondents including members of the Barotseland Agreement activists among whom were also members of the UCZ; current leaders of the UCZ; some political leaders and scholars who were also members of the UCZ during the conflict as well as leaders of the Church Mother Bodies. Data was analyzed through simultaneous coding, content analysis, and thematic analysis. The findings revealed that the UCZ largely failed to engage meaningfully in the reconciliation process, exhibiting partiality and a lack of strategic planning, which resulted in its perceived role as a silent bystander during the conflict induced by the Barotseland Agreement. The study identified inefficiencies in the church's prophetic voice, suggesting that it did not adequately fulfill its moral obligation to promote peace and justice as authorized by its own Constitution. Ultimately, this work aims to contribute to a more nuanced understanding of the UCZ's potential in peacebuilding and its capacity to influence national peace and reconciliation issues in Zambia. The study ends by making several recommendations including: the need for UCZ to adopt a policy of neutrality during national conflicts, develop a strategic plan for national reconciliation, and develop a platform for national dialogue with the government
Systematic Communal Impacts of COVID-19 on Fisheries and Fish Marketing in Nigeria
Full text linkIn 2020, Coronavirus swiftly spread to the world, relentlessly crashing lives and economies. Economic activities were severely affected by the pandemic especially the lockdown policy where transportation during the outbreak was restricted to reduce the spread of the virusin Nigeria. The effects of the pandemic on food and other agricultural sectors were evident as it interferes with supply chain, impaired production and distribution. Impacts of the pandemic on fisheries and fish marketing of Ogun State, Nigeria were assessed. One thousand and two (1,002) fish farmers and nine hundred and sixty-two (962) fish marketers were randomly examined and statistically analysed. Results showed that majority of the respondents believe in the existence of COVID-19 in Nigeria(82.7%) and worrisome of the pandemic as fish farmers can contact it. No significant relationship (p > 0.05) between COVID-19 pandemic and parameters of positive and negative situations of fish farmers/marketers. There were no significant relationship recorded between the pandemic and high profits gained by the fish farmers/marketers as well as increased fish marketing; between COVID-19 pandemic and decrease in fish and fingerlings production and supply; between COVID-19 pandemic and increased cost of fish feed as well as availability of feed ingredients. Significant relationship (p < 0.05) exists between COVID-19 pandemic and the fish demand. Conclusively, COVID-19 lockdown has empirical negative impacts on fisheries and fish marketing such as increased in cost of fish feeds, non-availability of feed ingredients, and decrease in table fish, fingerlings production and supply. Farmers’ enlightenment on the virus existence (being a zoonotic disease) and safety of fisheries workers,along the supply chain should be a prioritized
Characterization of Microplastics Residue in Water and Biota of Majidun Estuarines, Lagos Nigeria
Full text linkMicroplastic contamination is a critical environmental issue impacting aquatic ecosystems worldwide. Due to their environmental persistence, microplastics degrade water quality, threaten aquatic biota, and pose potential health risks to humans through water/sea food consumption. Despite the global significance of this problem, no documented studies have assessed microplastic pollution in the Majidun River, Ikorodu, Lagos State, Nigeria. This study investigated the occurrence of microplastics in surface water and commercially available aquatic species in Majidun River, Ikorodu, Lagos State, Nigeria. Water samples were collected using amber bottles and analyzed for microplastic occurrence using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), while fish, Kribia kribensis, Chrysichthyes filamentous, Galeoides decadactylus, Clarias lazera, Carranx hippos and Monodactylus sebae) and crustacean species (Callinectes pallidus), were dissected to extract and analyze gastro-intestinal contents for microplastic contamination.The results revealed significant microplastic contamination in both the water and biota (fish and crab). Neoprene and Ethylene Propylene were the only polymers detected in the surface water. In the biota, eight microplastic polymers were identified: Polyacrylamide, Polyaramid, Nylon, Polybutylene terephthalate, polyvinyl alcohol, Ethylene propylene, Polyurethane, and Neoprene. Microplastic occurrence was highest in Monodactylus sebae (23%), followed by Galeoides decadactylus (19%), Clarias lazera (19%), and Carranx hippos (18%). The lowest occurrences were recorded in Kribia kribensis, Chrysichthyes filamentous, and Callinectes pallidus (7% each). This study provides the first evidence of significant microplastic contamination in the Majidun River, highlighting the need for policies to mitigate microplastic pollution and raise awareness of its impacts on water quality, aquatic life, and human health
A Review of Import Substitution Industrialisation (ISI) Policy in Selected Industries in Zambia, 1964 – 1991
Full text linkIn 1964, Zambia’s economy relied heavily on copper mining and imports from Southern Rhodesia (SR) with a negligible manufacturing sector. The United National Independence Party (UNIP) government sought to rectify this imbalance by implementing an import substitution industrialisation (ISI) policy to diversify the economy into manufacturing and agriculture. The Industrial Development Corporation (INDECO) was established in 1965 to support this diversification. Initially, ISI was led by the private sector, 1964-1970 and later by the government, 1971-1991. While many studies argue that manufacturing industries established during this period were dependent on imports and lacked foreign exchange, this article argues that significant strides were made in ISI across certain sectors of production. Some companies in the manufacturing sector adapted foreign technologies, fabricated spare parts for machinery and utilised locally sourced raw materials, thereby reducing their dependence on imports. The government managed foreign exchange judiciously, incentivised industries and devalued the currency to promote domestic production. Export promotion of non-traditional goods was encouraged to earn foreign exchange, leading to a shift by 1991 towards importing capital goods, necessary for expanding the consumer goods industrial base
Editorial Comment
No full textThis issue of the University of Zambia Journal of Law and Social Sciences comprises a tapestry of interdisciplinary scholarship that interrogates the intersections of language, culture, identity, and advocacy within Southern African contexts. Although diverse in scope and focus, the six articles feature in this issue are drawn together around three thematic clusters: cultural expression and preservation, linguistic innovation and identity, and resistance through narrative
Spousal Violence and Spousal Education Difference in Zambia a Cross Sectional Comparative Analysis of Three Demographic Health Survey Cycles
No full textThe study aimed to establish the association between spousal education difference and spousal violence among married women in Zambia. The article invokes individual women’s datasets from the 2007, 2013-14 and 2018 Zambia Demographic and Health Surveys (ZDHSs). Currently married women 15-49 years of age who had responded to the domestic violence module formed the core of the sample (2007: 3,216; 2013-14: 7.069; 2018:5,338). Multivariate binary logistic regression was performed to establish the association between spousal violence and spousal education differences and other factors. Adjusting for if a woman’s father “ever beat her mother” and for the notion that “wife beating is justifiable”, in survey years 2013-14 and 2018, women who had equally high education level as their husbands were less likely to have experienced spousal violence (aOR=0.81,
The Effect of Moringa oleifera Leaf Meal Supplementation on Growth and Health of Village Chickens
No full textObjectives and Study Design: In a quest to intervene in high mortality incidences and poor growth among village chickens in Zambia, two experiments were carried out to study the effect of Moringa oleifera leaf meal supplementation on growth and health of village chickens. In experiment one, a total of sixty village chickens were blocked by body weight and were randomly assigned to receive isonitrogenous and isocaloric diets containing 0%, 10%, 20% and 30% Moringa leaf meal on weight basis. The experimental design was a 4x3 randomized complete block design. Individual body weights were taken on a weekly basis, while faecal samples were collected fortnightly for digestibility and microbial load assessments, using proximate analysis and plate count, respectively. In experiment 2, a total of 60 village chickens were divided equally between sex and type into 12 groups and assigned at random to three isonitrogenous and isocaloric dietary treatments containing 5%, 10% and 15% Moringa leaf meal on weight basis. The experimental design was a 3x2x2 factorial design with three Moringa leaf meal levels in the diets, sex (male or female) and chicken type (large or small) as the factors. Blood samples were taken from the wing veins using sterile needles for antibody titre level analysis using the Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay method.
Results: Results from experiment one revealed that growth were 41% and 49% (
Academics and Integrity in Biomedical Research in Zambia: Personal and Institutional Responsibilities
No full textThe pressure on academics to carry out research and to publish, while at the same time having to perform other demanding tasks, is great. Part of this pressure stems from their own institutions that stress the need for publications in order to be promoted. Generally, time to achieve this output is limited since academics have other important duties which range from lecturing, seeing students, staff and stakeholders, to conducting exams and attending numerous meetings. Furthermore, professionals who have developed to being academics are on average people of a mature age and therefore have other social responsibilities and obligations coming from their specific professions. For instance, they may be requested by their professional bodies to obtain annual licensing and to collect a certain amount of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points for re-certification. Given this scenario, juggling these multiple roles and tasks is complicated, and the temptation for academics to take shortcuts and not to stick to the moral and professional integrity that ought to guide every research enterprise in all its phases (from the design to the publication of the findings) increases. Therefore, the need exists to restate the reasons behind the call for responsible behaviours and practices in research
“Our Hell is the Other”: “The Other” in Albert Camus’s the Stranger
No full textIn every given society, we, as human beings, are compelled to live with other human beings because we cannot escape the existence of others, and we are beings embedded in a social context. We need other human beings in our lives to know ourselves and validate our existence. However, this existence with others deprives us of our freedom because others impose values and norms on us, which we have to respect and adhere to in order to be accepted in society. Therefore, according to Jean-Paul Sartre, the existence of others threatens the very essence of the being-for-itself (the human being), which is freedom; hence the famous Sartrean expression “Hell is other people”. In this article, this Sartrean expression (Hell is other people) forms the basis of our analysis of Albert Camus’ novel “The Stranger”. We have submitted that Meursault does not conform to the established values and norms of his society. Hence, he is seen as a threat to the established system of values and he consequently develops twisted, vitiated, and hellish relations with others which lead to his death