Institutional Repository

Recent Submissions

• Loading...

  Item type:Item,

  Balancing power and democracy:A framework for managing civil-military relations in democratic Malawi

  (2026) Chazema, Thokozani Andrew

  Show more

  This study aimed at understanding civil-military relations in a democratic Malawi. Evidence in the global south suggests a recurrent unconstitutional changes of governments through coup d’états, hence portraying militaries negatively. Globally, coup d’états have been given much scholarly attention, but this study focused on situations where civilians and the military have defended democratic values, which have not received adequate pedagogical attention. A mixed-method research design was used, and data were collected using a structured questionnaire and interview guide. A total of 386 respondents completed a structured questionnaire to address the first objective, while 65 key informants were interviewed to address the second and third objectives. The fourth objective synthesised the results of the first three objectives. Quantitative data analysis for objective one used multiple regression. The data from key informants was analysed qualitatively using content analysis, once the data had been saturated. The study found that merit-based promotions, merit-based appointments, joint training, representational recruitment, reforms, specialisation, professionalisation, and delivery of public goods and services are the driving factors of stable civil-military relations and that these factors have a significant contribution to the military as a stabiliser and a precondition for democratisation. The study revealed varied consequences of the interaction of key civil-military relations players, such as upholding constitutionalism and oversight over the military. The study further revealed that there was active participation through deliberations, monitoring and reporting civil-military relations issues, administration of justice, the presence of peace and security and the military's satisfaction of the given tasks and missions as measures of effectiveness. The study integrated data from the three objectives and developed a Rhombus Diamond Framework, which demonstrates that the military is a fulcrum that keeps civil-military relations in equilibrium. The Rhombus Diamond Framework promotes good governance and accountability and informs policy development and decision-making in the security sector. However, politicisation and participation overload of the military, resistance to change, inadequate resources and role familiarisation gaps remained civil-military problematique areas that need improvement. The study recommends awards based on meritocracy and education in the civil-military relations academic field to resolve the civil- military relations problematique areas. The Rhombus Diamond Framework can further be theoretically developed. Further research could refine and expand the framework, exploring its applicability in different contexts and regions

  Show more
• Loading...

  Item type:Item,

  Determination of the North Rukuru river flooding extent in Karonga District, Malawi

  (2025) Manda, Geoffrey Gomboza Mlita

  Show more

  Karonga district has experienced devastating floods since 1946, and it was the worst-hit district in Malawi in 2017. The district faces an increasing flood risk due to the downstream overflow of the North Rukuru River (NRR) and dyke failure. A reliable mitigation strategy involves using flood inundation maps to assess flood extent and dyke effectiveness. This study aimed to determine North Rukuru River flooding extent. Flood frequency analysis using streamflow data (1979–2022) from Mwakimeme gauge station applied Gumbel’s and Log-Pearson Type III (LP3) distributions to estimate peak flows for various return periods from NRR. Chi-square, Anderson-Darling, and Kolmogorov-Smirnov tests identified LP3 as the best-fit distribution. Peak flows for 2, 5, 10, 25, 50, and 100-year return periods were 1028 m³/s, 1306 m³/s, 1474 m³/s, 1675 m³/s, 1815 m³/s, and 1950 m³/s, respectively. These were input into a HEC-RAS model to simulate flood depths along river reaches. Maximum channel flood depths at Mwakimeme gauge station were 5.15 m, 6.00 m, 6.47 m, 6.99 m, 7.33 m, and 7.65 m for the respective return periods. ArcGIS was used with HEC-RAS outputs to generate flood inundation maps. Flooded areas under the same return periods were 254,209.5 m², 289,555.8 m², 309,817.3 m², 332,673.4 m², 348,384.7 m², and 362,771.7 m². Inundation maps developed showed Peter Mwangalaba, Mwanyesha, Mwamatope, Mwanganda, Mwanyongo, Mwahimba, Mweniyumba, Mwanjabala, and Katolora as consistently affected by all flood magnitudes. The 1.5 m height dyke was breached across all flood magnitudes. Household survey was conducted to further evaluate effectiveness of the dyke. Notably, 96.70% (381 out of 394) supported reinforcement and extension of the dyke, confirming persistent vulnerability despite its presence. Therefore, this study recommends the use of flood inundation maps developed as a flood control measure to demarcate safe zones, and to reinforce, and extend the dyke height to 2-4.6 m according to a 100 year flood depth.

  Show more
• Loading...

  Item type:Item,

  Analysis of behaviour change ideological dynamics beyond open defecation free certification: A pathway to sustainable sanitation in Balaka, Malawi.

  (2026-01) Kamwana, Laston

  Show more

  Malawi adopted the Community-Led Total Sanitation behaviour-change approach to align with global sanitation standards and eliminate open defecation. Balaka became the first Open Defecation-Free (ODF) Model District, achieving latrine and hand-washing facility (HWF) usage rates above the 95% national guideline. However, within a year, the district experienced an 11% ODF slippage, raising concerns about the sustainability of behaviour change. This study assessed post-ODF behaviour change dynamics by examining community knowledge, attitudes, practices, stages of change, and change determinants. A descriptive cross-sectional mixed-methods design was guided by the SaniFOAMS framework, the Socio-Ecological Model, and the Trans-theoretical Model of Behaviour Change. Data were collected through household interviews, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and direct observations. Quantitative data were analyzed using Excel and SPSS (V.25), while qualitative data underwent thematic analysis. Binary logistic regression and Chi-square tests assessed associations and predictors of ODF sustainability. Findings show that although communities demonstrated adequate CLTS knowledge and positive attitudes towards ODF, key hygiene indicators fell below national standards. Pit latrine coverage (89%) and usage (95.7%) were relatively high, yet HWF availability (36.5%) and hand-washing with soap (HWWS) (24.9%) remained far below the 95% guideline. Limited commitment to HWF construction and HWWS after defecation was the gap. Personal, social, technical, institutional, cultural, and religious factors significantly influenced HWF construction and HWWS (p < 0.05), while cultural and religious beliefs also affected latrine usage (p < 0.05). Overall, progression in hygiene-related behaviour change was minimal. Strengthening skills, improving access to construction materials and enhancing routine monitoring, ODF re-verification and re-certification are critical to reinforce and sustaining behaviour change post ODF-certification in Balaka.

  Show more
• Loading...

  Item type:Item,

  Spatio-temporal variability in water quality and macroinvertebrates assemblage of Lunyangwa river, northern Malawi.

  (2026-01) Lali, Aisha

  Show more

  Freshwater ecosystems in Sub-Saharan Africa are experiencing severe degradation due to agricultural expansion, urbanization, and poor sanitation, threatening the ecosystem services that riparian communities depend on. This study examined how land use affects water quality and benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages in the Lunyangwa River, Mzuzu City, Northern Malawi. Macroinvertebrates and water quality parameters were sampled at nine stations across three land use types (forested, agricultural, and urban; n=3 each) during dry (Oct-Nov 2024) and rainy (Feb Apr 2025) seasons. Data were analyzed using diversity indices, water quality standards, and multivariate statistics to assess spatial and temporal variation. Urban stations showed the most severe degradation, with very poor water quality (WQI: 186.40–204.25), lowest dissolved oxygen (3.07 ± 2.74 mg/L), highest biochemical oxygen demand (4.73 ± 1.17 mg/L), and macroinvertebrate communities dominated by pollution-tolerant taxa like Bellamya capillata and Tanypodinae, resulting in low diversity (Shannon H = 0.96). Agricultural stations displayed intermediate conditions, while forested stations maintained the highest water quality and macroinvertebrate diversity. Land use was the primary driver of variation in both water quality and macroinvertebrate composition, with temperature, dissolved oxygen, BOD, pH, conductivity, and salinity differing significantly among land-use types, while seasonal effects were minimal. The findings demonstrate that macroinvertebrates are effective bioindicators of water quality and provide scientific evidence for urgent conservation interventions, including riparian zone protection, improved wastewater treatment, and regular biomonitoring programs for sustainable river basin management in the Lunyangwa River and similar African freshwater systems.

  Show more
• Loading...

  Item type:Item,

  Rethinking Hastings Kamuzu Banda’s ‘Discriminatory’ Practices against the People of Northern Malawi

  (Makerere University, 2025-12) Njoloma, Eugenio

  Show more

  This article challenges existing scholarship that portrays Malawi’s first leader, Hastings Kamuzu Banda, as responsible for the alienation of the people of Northern Malawi. It argues that Banda’s policy choices were pursued to enhance national unity by eradicating ethnic and regional disparities in public spaces. Situated within a historical study design, this article approached qualitatively, using both primary and secondary data to support this perspective. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, focus-group discussions, archival research, and desk research. Evidence suggests that events such as language policy changes in 1968, changes in the education sector in 1969, 1987, and 1989, and the transfer of government seat from Zomba to Lilongwe in 1975 have been analytically inconsequential in justifying Banda’s perceived ‘discriminatory’ practices against the people of Northern Malawi. Nevertheless, the portrayal of Banda as having been discriminatory affected relations among the people of Malawi’s three regions, since his policy choices and actions were said to be motivated by his desire to uplift his Chewa ethnic identity.

  Show more