The Mulungushi University Multidisciplinary Journal (MUMJ) follows the policies and guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and abides by its Code of Conduct in handling all aspects of publication ethics and potential misconduct. All submissions undergo a rigorous double-blind peer review by an expert Editorial Board and specialized peer reviewers to ensure high academic standards, ethical compliance, sound methodology, and practical relevance.

MUMJ is committed to the highest standards of double-blind peer review. Peer review is mandatory for all submitted manuscripts, with the exception of Editorials and invited Commentaries evaluated directly by the Editorial Board. Double-blind peer review limits bias, guarantees methodological rigor, and ensures meaningful contributions to evidence-based solutions in Zambia, across Africa, and globally.

1. Submission & Preliminary Desk Screening (Days 1–5)

• Registration & Notification: Upon submission, the corresponding author receives a registration number via email. This manuscript ID must be referenced in all subsequent communications.
• Author Constraints: Authors cannot add, remove, or reorder author names after submission. Communication must occur strictly with the Editor-in-Chief or Managing Editor.
• Desk Evaluation: The Editorial Board conducts an initial screening for plagiarism (Turnitin), formatting, and alignment with MUMDJ's scope. Unsuitable papers are desk-rejected within 5 days.

2. Double-Blind Peer Review (Weeks 2–5)

• Reviewer Assignment: Manuscripts passing preliminary screening are assigned to two (2) independent external peer reviewers based on their subject expertise and publication records. Authors may suggest potential reviewers without conflicts of interest, though the journal reserves final selection rights.
• Confidentiality & Guidelines: Reviewers and editors must adhere strictly to COPE ethical guidelines, preserving author confidentiality and protecting intellectual property.
• Review Window: Reviewers are assigned a strict 14-to-21-day window to evaluate the work using a standardized marking grid focusing on originality, validity, practical/policy impact, and clarity.

3. Decision Framework (Weeks 5–6)

Decisions are rendered exclusively by the Handling Editor and Editor-in-Chief based on reviewer feedback:

• Accept: The manuscript meets high academic standards and moves directly to production.
• Revisions Required (Minor/Major): To ensure a swift publication cycle, MUMJ allows a maximum of two (2) rounds of review. Authors are urged to address all feedback comprehensively in the first revision cycle.

• Minor Revisions: Authors are given 7 to 10 days to resubmit. Verified directly by the Section Editor.
• Major Revisions: Authors are given up to 21 days to resubmit. In split decisions (e.g., one major revision, one reject), the manuscript is referred to a third independent reviewer for a tie-breaking evaluation.
• Decline Submission: If two reviewers recommend rejection, or if major conceptual flaws cannot be resolved through revision, the manuscript is rejected.

4. Production, Copyediting & Proofreading (Weeks 7–8 / Max Week 12)

• Author Copyediting: Upon acceptance, authors receive an edited text version for minor structural, language, or reference corrections. Substantial text changes are prohibited beyond this phase.
• Proofreading & Galleys: The production team formats the manuscript into the MUMJ template and generates a PDF galley proof. Authors must review proofs via digital markup tools and return corrections within 48 hours.
• Publication: The finalized paper is assigned a Digital Object Identifier (DOI) and published online first. Overall publication takes 60 days for standard submissions and a maximum of 90 days for complex cases requiring second-round reviews.