Master of Arts in Geography
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Browsing Master of Arts in Geography by Subject "Zambia"
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- ItemEnvironmental effects of mining on local communities in Kitwe and Mufulira in Copper belt province, Zambia(Kampala international University college of humanities and social science, 2018-11) Siame, KennedyWith the focus of the mining companies remaining on profit making, environmental pollution on the surrounding communities is what has characterized mining in Zambia. It is for this reason that study aimed at determining the environmental effects of mining on local communities in the Copperbelt province of Zambia. The study was guided by three objectives which were translated into three research questions; examine the methods of mining, establish the environmental effects of mining on local communities and design a model for the mitigation of environmental effects of mining on local communities in Kitwe and Mufulira. The study used a case study design by incorporating mining sites (quadrants). The assessment was made using primary data collected from a sample of 96\ key informants and 5 mining sites of 2Km2 from where samples of soil, water and vegetation where collected. Furthermore vegetation analysis was done basing on the 5 mining sites. The chemical species tested, took into consideration the analysis of Copper, Cobalt, Lead, Sulpher dioxide, dust, Total Dissolved Solids and Total Suspended Solids for air, soil and water pollution. The analysis was done using frequency distributions, trend surface analysis using Geographic Information Systems and laboratory tests of all chemical species was done and concentrations were compared with World Health Organization and Zambia Environmental Management Agency limits for air, soil and water. The results showed that the concentration of the elements (Pollutants) in soil and air were above the limit and water elements were below the World Health Organization and Zambia Environmental Management Agency limits. Furthermore, results reveal that the current mining methods practiced in Kitwe and Mufulira mining towns is underground and, surface mining, which are yet to pose a serious risk and change to the natural resources in the mining areas /communities since there is continual clearance of forest cover, erosion, formation of sinkholes and contamination of the environment by chemicals from mining processes and products. With regards to the effects of mining environmentally, the finding reveal that the effects are localized and that at local level, the uncontrolled digging and abandoning of pits has caused destruction of land beyond economic and technical reclamation. Generally, mining contributes to environmental degradation, displacement of settlements. The finding further reveals that more needs to be done by responsible agencies and the state in order to curb environmental degradation and other problems that arise from mining activities. To this end, targeted interventions such as sensitization of the general public and formation of new environmental laws and policies that will promote sustainability of the environment are recommended. The study recommends the government should enact a legislative instrument that gives local communities adequate legal backing to fully participate in environmental decisions, management and protection that affect their lives and development.
- ItemPeriodic fishing ban and community livelihood on lake Bangweulu Luwingu District Zambia(Kampala International University, college of Education,open and distance -learning., 2019-10) Chibwe, Mathews LukondeThis research aimed at investigating the effects of periodic fishing ban on fish stocks and community livelihood of Lake Bangweulu; Luwingu District of Zambia, it was guided by the following objectives: to evaluate the effect of periodic fishing ban on fish stocks of Lake Bangweulu in Luwingu District, to examine the effect of periodic fishing ban on income, business and food security of communities on Lake Bangweulu during and after the fishing ban and to propose a model for community participation in fishing ban implementation. A simple random sampling method was used to pick 87 respondents from five villages/camp out of a list of 121 households registered from village headmen and 9 key informants were selected purposively. Questionnaires were administered to the selected respondents who were involved in fishing and fishing related businesses as their source of income, interviews were also used to collect data from key informants and observation methods was also used. The results confirmed that the fishing ban was very effective and hence there were no fish on the local market during the fishing ban, Furthermore, the research revealed that, periodic fishing ban affects fish population and aquatic environment positively, representing a mean of 2.48 and 2.31 respectively, on contrary, it affect the fish size negatively as shown by a mean of 2.00. It was further observed that during the periodic fishing ban the quality of life were generally poor (50%) and during the fishing season the quality of life improves. This is because during fishing ban season, people make little income which cannot sustain them. Finally as shown 57% were below K100 (8 dollars), the community livelihood activity calendar model is proposed basing on the coping mechanism the community has adopted. The identified effects of periodic fishing ban on the community were poor income, collapse of fish related businesses, and poor food security hence poor quality of life during the fishing ban and improved quality of life after the fishing ban among the fishing communities. It was further discovered that, few people in poultry and butchery business were positively affected, adding that, the shortage of fish on the market boomed their business. The results also shows that the activities done in fishing communities are interdependent on one another, therefore, any effect on one activity trickles down on other activities. In addition the research bridged the gaps by adding information to the existing literature because they were very few literatures related to fishing ban as an area of study. The study validates that use of common property theory is suitable theory to investigate on the effect of fishing ban on fishing community and non-have conducted a similar research in Nsombo area. In conclusion it was established that, the fishing ban was very effective on Lake Bangweulu, this is because all the fishing related activities were stopped during the fishing ban. Based on the findings, recommendations were raised that people should be sensitized and educated on the importance of sustainable fishing with regards to the proposed model. People should also be encouraged to venture into other livelihoods and further research should be conducted on the effect of fishing ban on the lives of children in fishing communities