MULUNGUSHI UNIVERSITY MULTIDISCIPLINARY JOURNAL

Deeds not words: Marianist brothers, agents to moral and youth leadership in Zambia’s Matero Township

Audrey Muyuni — Mon, 29 Jan 2024 08:20:09 +0000

This article seeks to investigate how the Marianist Brothers in their endeavour to provide education to local boys achieved the five-fold pedagogical moral values and evoked the youthful character of their learners to become leaders and entrepreneur in life after school. The study was anchored on Cox’s theory of phenomenology of religion. The research was qualitative in nature and employed the case study design specifically the follow-up case in order to get the in-depth information from participants’ lived experiences. The total of 35 participants took part in this research. The key participants were purposively sampled while the former boys were identified through Respondent Driven Sampling. The findings showed that the brothers’ everyday life was the core in forming the soul of Christ in their learners. The former pupils emulated the characteristics of the Marianist Brothers. They were hardworking, honest, punctual, passionate and rendered service to others. The study revealed that the former boys who took part in the study, were all in high profile positions. Further, it was revealed that the former boys who were not in formal employment had a self-sustainable business. The study established that the educational virtues the boys leant from MaBoys provided them with a positive mindset to be productive citizens in life. The study recommends that the Educational National Curriculum should consider making Religious Education a compulsory subject to all learners. By doing so, learners may acquire moral values for behavioural transformation and capacity building in youths.

Sustainable tourism and cultural heritage in Zambia

Charles Sianga Kabeta, Trinity Chikwanda — Mon, 29 Jan 2024 08:35:33 +0000

The study examined Zambia’s potential in Sustainable Tourism and Cultural Heritage of the Ten (10) natural waterfalls situated in five provinces of Zambia. The study investigated the extent of visitations of these waterfalls annually by international and local tourists. The United Nations World Tourism Organization General Assembly Resolutions guided the study. Sustainable tourism is tourism that takes full cognizance of the current and future economic, social and environmental impacts on visitors, the industry and hosting communities. Cultural Heritage is an expression of the community’s ways of living developed and passed on from one generation to another through customs, practices and values among others. Methodically, the study was guided by a purposive sampling technique using the descriptive and applied qualitative research techniques whose main objective was description of the state of affairs of the natural waterfalls as they exist currently and arrived at an inductive Ex post facto research for descriptive purposes. The findings indicated minimal visits of the sites mainly by domestic local tourists due to poor infrastructure and underdevelopment of the sites which is below international standards. The findings further highlighted little or no social and economic benefits of the local people due to few cultural heritage activities being done on the sites which has undermined tourism industry. The researchers, therefore, recommended development of the sites to international standards to make them more attractive to tourists and attainable to national economic tourism sustainability thereby contributing to economic growth and poverty reduction among the local people around these sites.

Combating malpractices with digital strategies in national business and technical certificate examinations

Mon, 29 Jan 2024 09:00:02 +0000

The use of digital strategies to combat examination malpractices is a relatively new innovation. NABTEB, in recent years, adopted digital measures as part of its vital role in enhancing quality assurance of its assessment as well as ensuring commitment to global best practices. Based on this premise, the Board put some necessary measures in place to mitigate cases of malpractice before, during and after examinations. Despite the noble idea of introducing digital strategies: Biometrics Registration, Electronic Processing of Results and Photo-Embossment on Certificates, perceived challenges persist and the effectiveness of the innovation remains uncertain. This study therefore, investigated the effectiveness of selected digital strategies in combating examination malpractices and challenges associated with the application. Four research questions guided the study. The study adopted ex-post facto design of descriptive survey, employing quantitative and qualitative approaches. The population comprised all the students who sat for 2005-2022 May/June National Business Certificate (NBC)/ National Technical Certificate (NTC) examinations and admission staff of tertiary institutions in Nigeria. The sample comprised all the confirmed cases of impersonation and double scripts submission in the years under review and 252 admissions staff of tertiary institutions were randomly selected. Two instruments were used: Reports on Examination Malpractice Cases and Questionnaire on Effectiveness of Photo-Embossment on Certificates to Curb Examination Malpractice (QEPECCEM) (Cronbach Alpha = 0.81). Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics while qualitative data were analyzed thematically. Findings revealed that the use of digital strategies has reduced the cases of impersonation and double scripts submission significantly. Non-verification of some candidates’ biometrics, among others, hindered the effective use of digital strategies. More effective use of digital innovation in educational assessment was recommended among others.

Effects of gendered language on educational inclusivity: views of senior learners from selected schools of Lundazi district, Zambia

Jelice Sakala, Ireen Moonga — Mon, 29 Jan 2024 09:12:38 +0000

Language users differ in the degree to which they employ gender distinctions between male and female pupils in school. Speaking a gendered language may highlight gender roles and this in turn is associated with a greater gender gap in education attainment. This study, therefore, was based on an analysis of gendered language in selected co-education Day Secondary Schools of Lundazi District. It sought to determine the contributing factors to gendered language in schools; its effects on Educational inclusivity between male and female learners; and how learners could avoid using gendered language that affects educational inclusivity. The study was conducted on 80 learners from 5 Secondary Schools, (8 boys and 8 girls) from each school that were purposively sampled. The study was based on a qualitative approach informed by the descriptive research design with narrative forms. Focus group discussions were used as a method of data collection. Data was analysed thematically. The study, based on the speech Act Theory, revealed the importance of being culturally sensitive to gender norms and language conventions that could damage and hinder success in children’s education attainment_.The study indicated that gendered language had a negative effect on educational inclusivity. It then recommended that the government, through the Ministry of Education, should include in the curriculum, topics on gendered language and its effects on learners in order to equip the public with information on the effects of demeaning gendered language and narrow the gender gap in education attainment.

Awareness and utilization of artificial intelligence among full-time students of literature at Kwame Nkrumah University in Zambia

Jive Lubbungu, Pethias Siame — Mon, 29 Jan 2024 09:28:45 +0000

This study explores the awareness and utilization of Artificial Intelligence (AI) among full-time students of Literature at Kwame Nkrumah University (KNU) in Zambia. Through in-depth interviews and thematic analysis, the research investigates the students' familiarity with AI concepts, their perceptions of AI's relevance to the field of Literature, and the extent to which AI tools are integrated into their academic pursuits. Employing a qualitative approach, the study gathered and analyzed data through interviews with 30 purposefully selected participants supplemented by questionnaires distributed to 20 randomly selected students. A total of 50 3^rd and 4^th year students of Literature were targeted. The objectives of the study were to establish the awareness levels of AI among full-time students of Literature at KNU, to examine the perceptions/attitudes of full-time students of Literature at KNU, to identify the challenges and benefits of using AI in a Literature-based educational setting and to determine the extent to which AI is being used by the full-time students of Literature at KNU The study employed a descriptive thematic analysis to make interpretations or meanings of the data. The study revealed that AI enhanced students’ analysis and understanding literary works, majority were exposed to and familiar with AI among other findings. Findings from selected students of Literature offer insights into their perceptions of AI’s role in literary analysis, research, and creative processes. Ultimately, this research contributes to the broader discourse on the intersection of AI and the humanities, highlighting its implications for pedagogy and scholarly engagement.

Exploring the use of artificial intelligence in higher learning institutions: a case of David Livingstone College of education

Kaula Kanyemba, Fidelity Phiri, Velenasi Mwale Munsanje, Obrain Mwaanga — Mon, 29 Jan 2024 10:04:01 +0000

The study aimed at exploring the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) by faculty and students at David Livingstone College of Education (DALICE) in teaching, learning and research. The study was conducted at David Livingstone College of Education in Livingstone, Southern Province of Zambia. The study was guided by the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT). The study enrolled 141 respondents: One college administrator, all 6 Heads of Department, 54 faculty members and 80 students. The study adopted a cross-sectional design using simple random sampling to select students for inclusion in the study while faculty were all purposely selected and included in the study. An Online survey was used to collect data from faculty and students while a structured interview guide was used to collect data from the Heads of Departments and college administrator. The study findings show that the majority of the faculty (93.8%) and students (84.2%) were aware of the existence of AI tools and technologies used for teaching, learning and research. The most used AI tools by faculty were Turnitin (40.6%), ChatGPT (25%), Google Cloud AI (25%) and Grammarly (12.5%), Wordtune (6%), MATLAB (6%) and DALL-E (1%). The most commonly used AI tools by students included ChatGPT (45.5%) Google Cloud (41.8%) plagiarism software (3.6%) and MATLAB (1.8%). The study established challenges that impede the utilization of AI at DALICE and these include a lack of AI policy, Inadequate ICT infrastructure, erratic internet connectivity, low skills, high subscription fees to some AI tools and lack of training on AI.

Legal and institutional aspects of sustainable cultural heritage: the case for institutional enforcement cooperation

Lennox Trivedi Samamba — Mon, 29 Jan 2024 10:12:49 +0000

This article examines the efficacy of the legal and institutional framework which governs the management, use and trade in Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH)—as an integral part of the environment—in Zambia, in promoting a Sustainable Cultural Heritage (SCH). The central premise of this article is that SCH is a function of Effective Enforcement of General Environmental Violations, and Specific Environmental Violations—the Cultural Violations. The central argument of this article is that effective enforcement of general and specific cultural violations is likely to deter unlawful destruction and trade in ancient heritages and relics, and promote a SCH. The corollary argument is that the quality of enforcement of environmental violations is likely to be enhanced by promoting regulatory cooperation among the Competent Environmental Regulatory Authorities—the Zambia Heritage Conservation Commission, and the Zambia Environmental Management Authority (ZEMA. Driven by the Enforcement Theory of Heritage and Cultural Conservation, the hypothesis of this study is that the lack of security of tenure of the Zambian Heritage Commission Members, the lack of enforcement power on the part of the said Commission, the low fine (K 750) for the destruction and unlawful trade in heritages and relics which are provided under the Heritage Commission Act 1989, the poor enforcement capacity (low staffing levels, poor funding, short geographical reach, insecurity of tenure of the Members of the ZEMA Board, under the EMA 2011), and lack of the statutory power on the part of competent environmental regulatory authorities to cooperate in the enforcement of general and specific (cultural) environmental violations are a constraint on SCH.

Resilience and adaptability: current chisungu practices in selected communities in Zambia

Mary Mbewe, Mwaka Siluonde, Victoria Phiri Chitungu — Mon, 29 Jan 2024 10:25:32 +0000

This paper explores contemporary practices of the chisungu female initiation ceremony in Zambia, focusing on selected communities in Kabwe, Lusaka, and Petauke. Employing qualitative methods, including participant observation, semi-structured interviews, and focus group discussions, the study engages traditional counsellors, women who have undergone initiation, church leaders, and church groups. Contrary to predictions of extinction, the research reveals that traditional teachings for girls and women persist in contemporary society. However, the findings present a nuanced picture of complexity. While chisungu ceremonies are still practiced, their prevalence has significantly diminished compared to the past. Where the ceremonies are still practiced, the research found that the practice of chisungu is influenced at individual and family level by various factors, including social class and religious orientation. The study also brought to the fore the fact that teachings have also adapted to contemporary concerns, incorporating education on issues such as HIV/AIDS. As such, the study sheds light on the resilience of chisungu in the face of changing societal dynamics. Hence, while acknowledging a decline in prevalence, the enduring significance of chisungu lies in its adaptability to contemporary issues. This is an adaptability that reflects an ongoing cultural evolution that balances tradition with evolving social norms and health considerations.

The mediation role of psychological well-being at work on the relationship between shiftwork and work engagement among nurses in Zambia:

Mpola Shalooba, Victor Chikampa, Peter R. Nguluwe — Mon, 29 Jan 2024 10:37:48 +0000

Work engagement is an important latent variable because of it being linked to the bottom line of the organisation. Engaged employees work hard by investing their physical energies towards accomplishing work tasks hence improved work performance that eventually leads to good financial performance. An empirical evaluation of the antecedents of work engagement is therefore required. A quantitative ex post facto survey design was used in this study. The research hypotheses were empirically evaluated using a sample of 200 respondents from two selected level one hospitals in Kabwe district with a mean age of 2.35 and standard deviation of .819. The sample was comprised of males (12%) and female (88.0%) with levels of qualification distributed as follows: Certificates (15%), Diploma (80%), others (5%). Non-probability technique specifically convenient sampling was used to select the sample. Hypothesized relationships in the proposed structural model was analysed through partial least squares structural equation modelling in Smart PLS 4.0. Good reliability coefficients as well as convergent and discriminant validity were established. Reasonable fit for the measurement model was attained. The study established that psychological well-being mediated the relationship between shift work and job engagement with a t-value bigger than 1.96 and p < 0.05. Statistically significant path coefficients between shift work and psychological well-being, as well as psychological well-being and job engagement were established. This study has provided empirical evidence that psychological well-being acts as a mediator in the relationship between shift work and job engagement. Since shift work disrupts ones biological clock, human resource practitioners ought to mentally prepare employees on the negative effect of shift work on how well they can remain engaged. The study recommends that future studies with bigger and culturally diverse samples be carried out due to limited evident of convergent validity and with smaller r-squared values.

Psychological capital and innovative work behaviour as predictors of employee in-role behaviour

Mon, 29 Jan 2024 10:51:08 +0000

This study investigates the empirical relationship between psychological capital and innovative behaviour and whether the two latent variables act as antecedents of employee in role behaviour. Competitive advantage can be attained through in- role work behaviours in that they determine how well a business can offer quality goods and services at a fee to clients, being in the position to meet the objective of making profits and social responsibility targets. If in-role behaviours have such important organizational outcomes it is therefore important to explore some of their antecedents. A survey design was used to achieve the research objectives. Participants in this study were a group of 193 employees aged between 20-60 from the public sector selected based on a non-probability sampling technique specifically convenient sampling. The instruments included: The psychological capital rating scale, the innovative behaviour scale and the in role behaviour scale (Williams & Anderson, 1991). Item and factor analysis was performed via SPSS 25. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was performed for the measurement model and through Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) and the hypothesized paths in the proposed structural model were empirically assessed using Lisrel 8.80. The three measuring instruments had acceptable reliability levels. Through exploratory factor analysis, all three scales demonstrated Uni-dimensionality. The goodness of fit indices showed that the measurement model achieved a reasonable fit with the data. The completely standardized gamma matrix of path coefficients for the structural model indicates a statistically significant relationship between psychological capital and innovative behaviour with a t-value of 4.915 which is bigger than 1.96 and p< 0.05, psychological capital and employee in role behaviours with t value of 2.874 which is also bigger than 1.96 and p < 0.05. The relationship in the beta matrix between innovative behaviour and employee in- role behaviour is supported with a t value of 2.352. Empirical results for this study have proven that psychological capital and innovative behaviour are predictors of employee in- role behaviour.

The Gendering of Empowerment for Christian Women in Kabwe, Zambia: A Study of Selected Church Denominations

Joseph K. Hachintu — Mon, 29 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This article investigates the gendering of empowerment for Christian women in selected Church denominations of Kabwe town in Zambia. Christian women have been disproportionately vulnerable to misrepresentation when it comes to the allocation of leadership roles in the church and other positions of influence in society. In communities outside church circles, this uneven vulnerability between women and men is evident in the perceptions and analyses of the means of surviving the socio-economic hurdles because of differences in gendered norms, divisions of labour, resource access and power relations. In Christianity, the challenges seem to be exacerbated by the religion’s belief in the patriarchal set-up which seems to place the female gender in a subordinate position in society. To explore this apparent paradox, the study drew upon a sample of 32 participants; 20 females and 12 males, purposively selected from 4 Christian church denominations within the Kabwe Urban in Zambia. These were subjected to interviews, which served as the foundation for primary data collection. The recorded transcripts of the interviews were analysed thematically for participants’ perceptions of the management of socio-economic empowerment among Christian women. The primeval sexual equality, equality distorted by ‘the fall’, the need to break gender norms, the need for women to prove themselves worthy and the need to support women were established as emerging themes from the study. The study recommended the need for women to recognise their potential and prove themselves worthy; and the need to enforce affirmative actions to help establish the rights of women.

Communication of science and Public Health Information, Epidemiology and management of COVID-19 in Zambia; Lessons learnt

Mon, 29 Jan 2024 14:14:38 +0000

The study sought to understand the availability and adequacy of information about Covid-19; the veracity of information communicated by journalists to the public; misconceptions about Covid-19 among the various sections of society; the knowledge, attitudes and practices of the people around Covid-19; and establish best practices and lessons learnt on how to address the Covid-19 pandemic in future. This is a cross-sectional study that used a single-method approach based on the survey approach. Thus, the study used a quantitative research methodology. Data were col-lected using self-administered structured questionnaires from households in Kazungu-la, Livingstone, Kafue, Lusaka, Kabwe, Kapiri Mposhi, and Nakonde districts in Zam-bia. Data analysis employed descriptive analysis. The study findings established that most of the respondents had heard of Covid-19 at the time of this survey and also understood the symptoms of Covid-19 that included coughing sneezing, shortness of breath, fever and some indicated diarrhoea. Further-more, the findings revealed that Covid-19 spreads from mouth droplets from infected persons, physical contact, and contact with animals infected with the virus. In terms of knowledge of measures to prevent the spread of the virus, respondents indicated hand washing with soap and masking, while others indicated social distancing, reducing pub-lic gatherings, staying at home, and avoiding physical.The study also noted various challenges in Covid-19 information communication as well as some best practices. In terms of challenges encountered in communicating Covid-19, the study noted misinformation, misconceptions, and conspiracy theories around Covid-19. The study further noted various measures put in place by the dis-tricts, such as having District Response Teams to coordinate sensitisations. Recom-mendations were made to health practitioners and policy makers.