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Now showing 1 - 5 of 11

Recent Submissions

The role of indigenous knowledge in disaster risk reductin and climate change adaptatin in Chikwawa, Malawi
(AOSIS publishing, 2024-11-14) Mwalwimba, Isaac K.; Manda, Mtafu; Ngongondo, Cosmo
The role of indigenous knowledge in disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate change adaptation cannot be underestimated. It acts as a preparedness and response tool to climate change-related impacts such as flods, droughts and strong winds. However, inadequate studies about indigenous knowledge in Malawi is a major challenge when dealing with extreme climatic conditions. Learning from indigenous knowledge systems, by investigating fist what local communities know and have, can improve the understanding of local conditions and can provide a productive context for activities designed to help communities reduce vulnerability to climate change impacts. This paper assessed the role of indigenous knowledge systems in DRR and climate change variability and adaptation strategies in Chikwawa district. The study used a participatory research approach involving interactive research methods such as focus group discussions (FGDs), key informant interviews and participant observations. Data from key informants and FGDs were analysed thematically. The study revealed various indigenous knowledge which communities in the Chikwawa district use to respond to climate-related impacts such as flods. Some of these include hippopotamus relocating from the river to the village, extreme hissing of pythons in nearby forests, buffaloes and zebras wreaking havoc in the villages and crocodiles flcking to the village
Lilongwe: City report
(African Cities Research Consortium, 2024-05) Brown, Donald; Manda, Mtafu; Mwalyambwile, Tuntu
Lilongwe is the capital of Malawi and its largest city, with a population of around 1 million. Three-quarters of all residents live in informal settlements, characterised by poor-quality housing and living conditions. This paper draws together a set of studies completed by a team of researchers in Lilongwe as part of the African Cities Research Consortium (ACRC). The aim of the studies was to understand the political-economic factors that have contributed to Lilongwe’s development problem over time. The argument is that, with the introduction of multiparty democracy in 1994, a highly competitive electoral system emerged, with the winners rewarding supporters through patronage and clientelism. While this pattern of politics is found in other democracies, the key difference in Malawi is the effect of its small economy, widespread poverty and low public finances on the relative magnitude of clientelism. Reform coalitions are emerging to support participatory informal settlement upgrading, but they require capacity building. It is concluded that the capability of these coalitions to reach scale hinges largely on whether the small amount of funding pledged by Lilongwe City Council can attract additional resources (probably from external aid agencies), how the invited spaces of participation will be facilitated in neighbourhoods where local government structures have been politicised, and how far communities can participate in local political spaces influenced by democratic reforms, clientelism and limited resources.
Flood vulnerability assessment in rural and urban informal settlements: case study of Karonga District and Lilongwe City in Malawi
(Springer Nature, 2024-03-31) Mwalwimba, Isaac Kadono; Manda, Mtafu; Ngongondo, Cosmo
Flood vulnerability assessment (FVA) informs the disaster risk reduction and preparedness process in both rural and urban areas. However, many food-vulnerable regions like Malawi still lack FVA supporting frameworks in all phases (pre-trans-post disaster). Partly, this is attributed to lack of the evidence-based studies to inform the processes. This study was therefore aimed at assessing households’ food vulnerability (HFV) in rural and urban informal areas of Malawi, using case studies of Traditional Authority (T/A) Kilupula of Karonga District (KD) and Mtandire Ward in Lilongwe City (LC). A household survey was used to collect data from a sample of 545 household participants. Vulnerability was explored through a combination of underlying vulnerability factors (UVFs)-physicalsocial-economic-environmental and cultural with vulnerability components (VCs)-exposure-susceptibility and resilience. The UVFs and VCs were agglomerated using binomial multiple logit regression model. Variance infation factor (VIF) was used to check the multicollinearity of variables in the regression model. HFV was determined based on the food vulnerability index (FVI). The data were analysed using Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA), artifcial neural network (ANN) and STATA. The results reveal a total average score of high vulnerability (0.62) and moderate vulnerability (0.52) on MCA in T/A Kilupula of Karonga District and Mtandire Ward of Lilongwe City respectively. The FVI revealed very high vulnerability on enviroexposure factors (EEFs) (0.9) in LC and(0.8) in KD, followed by ecoresilience factors (ERFs) (0.8) in KD and(0.6) in LC and physioexposure factors (PEFs) (0.5) in LC besides 0.6 in KD for the combined UVFs and VCs. The study concludes that the determinants of households’ food vulnerability are place settlement, low-risk knowledge, communication accessibility, lack of early warning systems, and limited access to income of household heads. The study recommends that an FVA framework should be applied to strengthen the political, legal, social, and economic responsibilities of government for building the resilience of communities and supporting planning and decision-making processes in food risk management.
Community awareness of dental fluorosis as a health risk associated with fluoride in improved groundwater sources in Mangochi District, Malawi
(IWA Publishing, 2023) Andreah, Kondwani; Tembo, Mavuto; Manda, Mtafu
Fluoride is one of the priority chemicals being monitored under the sustainable development goal target for drinking water. Excessive ingestion of fluoride in concentrations higher than 1.5 mg/L may cause dental, skeletal and neurological disorders. The study assessed community awareness of dental fluorosis as a health risk associated with fluoride contamination in groundwater sources in Mangochi district. Water samples from 82 water points were tested for fluoride and concentrations between 0.2 and 27.2 mg/L were detected, with a mean value of 3.7 mg/L and a median value of 3.1 mg/L. Nine water points registered fluoride concentrations above 6 mg/L, which is Malawi standard value for fluoride in boreholes and shallow wells. Prevalence rate for dental fluorosis among children in the study was at 82.7%. However, 100% of the children’s parents displayed low or no awareness of dental fluorosis as a health risk associated with fluoride contamination in drinking water. The study recommends the use of solar powered reticulated systems, whose water source shall be from a contamination-free zone, and supply to the affected villages. Human health risk assessment using the US-EPA approach needs to be conducted in the affected villages to understand the extent of exposure to fluoride-related health risks
Tariff setting for the sustainability of communal water points in Mangochi District, Malawi
(IWA Publishing, 2023) Andreah, Kondwani; Manda, Mtafu; Tembo, Mavuto
The Malawian Government adopted a community-based management model for rural water supply systems, which assumes that users would cover costs related to the operation and maintenance (O&M) of their communal water points through regular cash contributions. These communal water points are mostly boreholes fitted with Afridev hand pumps. However, studies have shown that Afridev hand pumps continue to fail within 3–5 years after installation, despite having a design lifespan of 10–15 years, mostly due to insufficient O&M. Therefore, this study assessed the adequacy of tariffs being used at different water points in Mangochi District in Malawi through a household (HH) survey with a sample size of 288 HHs and a market prices survey. The results showed that 90% of the HHs were making contributions that could not sustainably support the lifecycle O&M costs or the afterlife replacement of the Afridev hand pump. This study suggests a consistent minimum annual water point fund collection of MWK142,050 (US$172.29)1. It is recommended that the study be replicated in other areas. It is also recommended that further studies should focus on HH affordability with respect to the recommended tariff.