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An Assessment of the Role of Civil Society Organisations in Promoting Peaceful Assembly in Lusaka District (2020–2025)
(2026) KUMWEMBE, Kathy Towela
This study assessed the role of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in promoting peaceful assembly in Lusaka District between 2020 and 2025. While Zambia’s Constitution guarantees the right to peaceful assembly, the practical exercise of this right has continued to face legal, political, and institutional challenges, particularly within urban contexts. The study therefore sought to examine the activities undertaken by CSOs, stakeholder perceptions of their contributions, and the challenges that affect their operations. Guided by Resource Mobilization Theory, the study adopted a case study design and employed a mixed-methods approach. Data were collected from twenty (20) purposively selected respondents comprising CSO representatives, government officials, and community members in Lusaka District. Data collection methods included semi-structured interviews and document review, while analysis was conducted using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. The findings indicate that CSOs such as Chapter One Foundation, Caritas Zambia, SACCORD, and YALI play a supportive role in promoting peaceful assembly through civic education, legal advocacy, media engagement, and community training. Respondents reported that these activities have contributed to increased public awareness of peaceful assembly rights, enhanced citizen engagement, and improved dialogue between CSOs and state institutions. However, the study also found that CSO operations are constrained by restrictive legislation, particularly the Public Order Act, political interference, inadequate and unstable funding, and security-related concerns. The study concludes that CSOs contribute meaningfully to the promotion of peaceful assembly in Lusaka District, primarily through advocacy and facilitation, rather than through measurable policy or legal reform within the study period. The study recommends strengthened state civil society engagement, improved implementation of existing laws governing public assemblies, and enhanced resource mobilization for CSOs. These conclusions are drawn strictly from the evidence generated by the study.
Investigating the Challenges of Implementing the Free Education Policy on Sanitation Levels in Monze, Zambia: A Case Study of Manungu Secondary School
(2026) MBULO, Matildah
This study examined the challenges of implementing the free education policy on sanitation levels at Manungu School in Monze District, Zambia. The study focused on staff-to-toilet and student-to-toilet ratios, the adequacy of handwashing facilities, the availability of sanitary bins in female toilets, and the impact of increased enrolment on classroom air quality. The study targeted pupils, teachers, support staff, and head teachers, with a sample of 261 respondents drawn from a total population of 3,024. A mixed methods approach was employed, where quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and qualitative data were analyzed thematically. The findings revealed that the free education policy led to increased enrolment and staffing levels without a corresponding expansion of sanitation and classroom infrastructure. As a result, toilets were overcrowded, handwashing facilities were inadequate, sanitary bins were absent in female toilets, and classrooms were congested with poor ventilation. These challenges disproportionately affected female pupils and female staff, leading to discomfort, compromised hygiene practices, reduced instructional time, and an overall decline in the quality of the learning and working environment. The study concluded that although the free education policy has improved access to education, inadequate sanitation infrastructure undermines its effective implementation and sustainability. The study recommends increasing the number of toilets, improving handwashing facilities, providing sanitary bins in female toilets, and upgrading classroom infrastructure to match enrolment levels. Future research should involve multiple schools and longer study periods to better understand the long-term sanitation implications of the free education policy in Zambia.
An Investigation of the Role of Women’s Financial Inclusion Initiatives in Promoting Gender Equality in Kasenengwa District
(2026) BANDA, Martha
Gender inequality in access to financial resources remains a major development challenge, particularly for women in rural communities. This study investigated the role of women’s financial inclusion initiatives in promoting gender equality in Kasenengwa District of Zambia. Specifically, the study sought to (i) examine the nature of women’s financial inclusion initiatives available in the district, (ii) assess the challenges affecting the effectiveness of these initiatives in promoting gender equality, and (iii) propose strategies for strengthening women’s financial inclusion initiatives to enhance gender equality outcomes. The study adopted a qualitative case study research design in order to gain an in-depth understanding of women’s experiences and perceptions regarding financial inclusion initiatives. The study population consisted of 500 women participating in financial inclusion programmes in Kasenengwa District, from which a sample of 50 respondents was selected using purposive sampling to ensure that participants had relevant experience with financial inclusion initiatives. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and focus group discussions, and the findings were analysed using thematic analysis. The findings revealed that initiatives such as Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs), microfinance programmes, cooperative savings schemes, and community lending groups have significantly improved women’s access to credit, savings, and income-generating opportunities. These initiatives have contributed to increased financial confidence and greater participation of women in household economic decisions. However, the study also found that cultural norms, unequal power relations within households, and limited financial literacy continue to restrict the full realization of gender equality. The study concludes that while women’s financial inclusion initiatives contribute to women’s economic empowerment, their effectiveness in promoting gender equality depends on complementary interventions such as financial literacy training, gender-sensitive policies, and community efforts to transform restrictive social norms.
Keywords: Financial inclusion, gender equality, women empowerment, rural development, savings groups.
Correlation between Social Cash Transfer Participation aAnd Basic Needs Fulfilment among the Elderly in Ng'Ombe, Lusaka
(2026) NGULUBE, Joshua
The Social Cash Transfer (SCT) programme in Zambia has served as the foundation of the national social protection framework throughout the last twenty years but the linkage between the participation of the elderly beneficiaries in the programme and the existence of basic needs being fulfilled is still not well comprehended. This is of importance especially in urban informal settlements where cost of living has increased sharply whilst transfer values have remained relatively the same. This paper has discussed the association between SCT involvement and basic need satisfaction among the elderly beneficiaries in Ng'ombe, Lusaka based on three objectives to evaluate the relationship between programme awareness and basic need satisfaction, to determine the relationship between payment characteristics and basic need satisfaction and to determine the relationship between fund utilisation patterns and basic need satisfaction. A quantitative correlational design was adopted. A stratified random sampling was employed to represent the elderly SCT beneficiaries in terms of age, gender and disability status whereby a sample of 311 elderly were selected out of about 1,247 registered beneficiaries. The structured questionnaire interviews with Likert-scale items were used to collect data and analysed with Pearson correlation coefficients in IBM SPSS. The findings were mixed. Availability of credible, trustworthy sources of SCT information was positively related to less economic and caring load (r =.357, p <.01), and a moderate level of programme understanding (r =.130, p <.05). General awareness levels and knowledge of complaints mechanisms, conversely, did not have any significant correlation with any basic needs indicator. The transfer amounts showed some small but statistically significant relationship with the reduction of food insecurity (r =.140, p <.05), but did not show any significant relationships with healthcare access, housing, or dignity. The duration of the programme gave what seems to be a divergent result: longer participation was more positively associated with burden reduction (r =.135, p <.05) but negatively associated with food insecurity reduction (r = -.114, p <.05), suggesting a weakening of the material impact of the programme over time despite the continued presence of its psychosocial benefits. Combined, these results indicate that the SCT programme in Ng'ombe, Lusaka has significant potential to relieve the psychosocial burden among the elderly beneficiaries, but lacks the ability to alleviate material needs due to the lack of transfer values that have not kept pace with urban living expenses. Outcomes seem to be determined by the quality of beneficiary engagement, rather than merely the enrolment status. The paper suggests inflation-linked increases in transfer levels and community-based information interventions through local trusted intermediaries. The next step in research will be to investigate the frequency and predictability of payment as predictors of the effectiveness of the programme and to study the interaction of SCTs with complementary social services in each demographic subgroup.
An Assessment of the impact of Alternative Banking Channels on Financial Performance of Commercial Banks in Zambia
(2026) MWALE, Chikumbutso
The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of alternative banking channels (ABCs) on financial performance of Commercial Banks in Zambia which includes Internet banking, mobile banking, agency Banking and automated teller machines (ATMs), focusing on Stanbic Bank, First National Bank Zambia, and Zanaco from 2021 to 2023. The findings of the study confirmed that alternative banking channels exert a statistically significant and positive influence on the financial performance of commercial banks in Zambia. This suggests that the ongoing digital transformation in Zambia’s banking sector is generating measurable financial benefits, and that banks that invest in diverse and integrated alternative banking channels stand to achieve superior financial performance. Anchored on financial intermediation theory and agency theory, the research adopted a quantitative approach with a correlational research and causal-comparative design. Secondary data was sourced from various sources such as Bank of Zambia publications and banks’ annual reports. These were analyzed using panel regression, descriptive statistics and correlation matrix techniques through MS Excel and SPSS. The findings of the study revealed a statistically significant positive relationship between financial performance and Alternative Banking Channel adoption. Mobile banking showed stronger marginal effect (coefficient = 0.041, p = 0.000), followed by the aggregate Alternative Banking Channel index (coefficient = 0.468, p = 0.000). Agency banking, ATMs and internet banking also positively contributed to Banks net profits. However, cybersecurity risks, infrastructural deficits, and limited financial literacy constrain Alternative Banking Channels effectiveness. The study recommends enhanced financial literacy initiatives and more investments in digital infrastructure to maximize the benefits of Alternative Banking Channels and contribute to policy formulation and academic discourse in Zambia’s banking sector.