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President Edgar Lungu and the Patriotic Front used a range of incumbency advantages to tilt the playing field in their favour in the run-up to Zambia's 2021 elections and, as a result, were more visible offline than the opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) and its flagbearer, Hakainde Hichilema. In this paper, we draw on an original survey of party officials and activists and semi-structured interviews to consider the role of social media in the UPND's victory. We show how the two dominant political parties invested heavily in social media, but how the UPND's online messaging proved more persuasive and spread offline, and how social media facilitated the UPND's political mobilisation and vote protection efforts in the face of a highly uneven playing field. Social media thus played an important role in unseating the incumbent, but not because the election was won online, or because social media provided a uniquely "social" form of communication. Instead, social media helped to facilitate the flow of information across a heavily controlled media ecosystem in which face-to-face communication remained key. In making this argument, we highlight the significant impact of social media on users and non-users alike, even in a context of relatively low internet penetration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context and background: Like in a number of other developing countries, the issue of illegal occupation of land is evident in Zambia’s cities. This problem has continued to exist, despite the existence of laws and public institutions meant to address the issue. Goal and Objectives: The objectives of this paper were to establish the factors that lead to continued illegal land occupation in Zambia’s cities, establish the consequences of illegal occupation of land, and suggest how illegal occupation of land can be eradicated. Methodology: Both secondary and primary data were collected for this study. Secondary data were collected from different types of documents and these included theses, Zambian land laws, peer-reviewed journal articles, books, technical reports, and conference proceedings. Secondary data was supplemented by primary data which involved collecting data from four purposively selected government and non-governmental organisations, namely, Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources (MLNR), Kitwe City Council (KCC), Kitwe District Land Alliance (KDLA), and Civic Forum on Housing and Habitat (CFHH). From each organisation, key informants were selected based on their knowledge and experience on the subject. Thus, information was obtained from three informants from MLNR, three informants from KCC, one informant from KDLA, and one informant from CFHH. Results: Illegal land occupation in Zambian cities has continued to occur due to various factors. These factors include cumbersome land acquisition procedure, high land fees, weak enforcement of development control laws, inadequate monitoring of land use, land speculation, illegal allocation of land by some city council officials and councillors, under development of rural areas, and rapid increase in urban population. Illegal occupation of land has consequences which included demolition of property, disruption in land use planning, and loss of city councils’ revenue. In view of the foregoing, illegal occupation of land can be addressed through a number of means, which include: streamlining land acquisition procedure; reducing land fees for public land; ensuring effective enforcement of development control laws; ensuring adequate monitoring of land use; eradicating illegal allocation of land by some councillors and council employees; and improving living conditions in rural areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to investigate how political and technical factors influence climate finance coordination in different country contexts. Emerging scholarly and policy literature calls for the improved coordination of climate finance to enhance the effectiveness of multiple sources of funding for adaptation and mitigation purposes, with country ownership over coordination emerging as a potential approach. However, few studies have examined how climate finance coordination unfolds at the national level in developing countries. This paper presents findings from a comparative assessment of climate finance coordination practices in Kenya and Zambia, drawing on semi-structured interviews, policy documents, and relevant literature. Specifically, the paper investigates how political and technical forces shape climate finance coordination in contexts with varying country ownership over the coordination process. We find that political factors relating to power dynamics, framings of climate finance, and vested interests play a strong role in shaping how actors interact, hampering coordination efforts within the climate finance landscape in both countries. This adds a new dimension to calls for greater country ownership, which we suggest needs to be paired with a critical examination of political struggles and contestation. Underlying political factors relating to conflicting vested interests, different framings and discourses, political will, and power dynamics play a substantive and overarching role in shaping climate finance coordination in Kenya and Zambia. These political factors limit the extent to which greater country ownership translates to better or more effective coordination of climate finance; as such, ownership needs to be examined in the context of political struggles and contestation. Instead of just aiming to improve coordination through more formalized coordination structures, capacity building and reduced fragmentation, countries also need to be more transparent and acknowledge the deep-seated interests within the climate finance landscape, to make visible the winners and losers of various coordination mechanisms and structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of street vendors on central city streets often raises questions over the use of these spaces. This paper addresses this issue through studying the practices of government, vendors and a vendors' association in Kitwe, Zambia. Drawing largely on primary research collected between 2013 and 2018, this paper aims to understand a shift in the governing of street vending, from tolerating vendors on central city streets to banning them from these spaces in 2017. This paper unravels the rationalities of national and local government to understand this shift, and examines why certain spaces and groups of vendors were governed differently. In addition, studying the practices of street vendors and their associations showed that vendors' individual and collective acts granted some of them renewed access to the studied urban spaces. This article was published open access under a CC BY licence: https://creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Countries in the southern Africa region have set targets for malaria elimination between 2020 and 2030. Malaria vector control is among the key strategies being implemented to achieve this goal. This paper critically reviews published entomological research over the past six decades in three frontline malaria elimination countries namely, Botswana Eswatini and Namibia, and three second-line malaria elimination countries including Mozambique, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. The objective of the review is to assess the current knowledge and highlight gaps that need further research attention to strengthen evidence-based decision-making toward malaria elimination. Methods: Publications were searched on the PubMed engine using search terms: "(malaria vector control OR vector control OR malaria vector*) AND (Botswana OR Swaziland OR Eswatini OR Zambia OR Zimbabwe OR Mozambique)". Opinions, perspectives, reports, commentaries, retrospective analysis on secondary data protocols, policy briefs, and reviews were excluded. Results: The search resulted in 718 publications with 145 eligible and included in this review for the six countries generated over six decades. The majority (139) were from three countries, namely Zambia (59) and Mozambique (48), and Zimbabwe (32) whilst scientific publications were relatively scanty from front-line malaria elimination countries, such as Namibia (2), Botswana (10) and Eswatini (4). Most of the research reported in the publications focused on vector bionomics generated mostly from Mozambique and Zambia, while information on insecticide resistance was mostly available from Mozambique. Extreme gaps were identified in reporting the impact of vector control interventions, both on vectors and disease outcomes. The literature is particularly scanty on important issues such as change of vector ecology over time and space, intervention costs, and uptake of control interventions as well as insecticide resistance. Conclusions: The review reveals a dearth of information about malaria vectors and their control, most noticeable among the frontline elimination countries: Namibia, Eswatini and Botswana. It is of paramount importance that malaria vector research capacity and routine entomological monitoring and evaluation are strengthened to enhance decision-making, considering changing vector bionomics and insecticide resistance, among other determinants of malaria vector control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of monetary policy on the real sector and to assess the effectiveness of various monetary policy transmission channels in Zambia. Methodology: The Johansen cointegration approach, Error Correction Model (ECM), and Granger causality test were undertaken to achieve the study objectives. Findings: The study results reveal that economic growth proxied by Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Zambia is negatively affected by lending rates, inflation, and an increase in private sector credit, while exchange rate and deposit rates were found to have a positive impact on the other hand. These results confirm the presence of exchange rate and credit channels of monetary policy transmission in Zambia. Originality/Value: The study contributes to the theoretical and empirical literature on the impact of monetary policy on the real sector. Further, the study provides, through the results of the study, the effectiveness of various monetary policy transmission channels in Zambia. Therefore, the study is part of the studies the Central Bank and academic institutions and research think tanks can make reference to during further research and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is the second and final part of the tirin papers entitled "Social Media Usage Among University Students of Mathematics Education in Zambia" The background of this study is anchored on thefact that the implementation and integration of social media technologies particularly in the learning and teaching of Mathematics has remained one of the huge challenges, facing most colleges and universities in Zambia. This situation has been worsened by a number of factors at play which include the following: lack of digital devices, uncoordinated implementation of the social media policy, high cost of data bundles, difficulties iii accessing the internet, lack of mobile technological skills, and problems thal borders on smdents', lecturers' and policy markers' aftimdes. This final paper therefore argues that an appraisal on the design, implementation and integration of social media platforms particularly in the pedagogy of Mathematics among university stude)its is not only relevant but also an issue that should be treated ii'ith the sense of urgency especially now that the country is battling with the detrimental effects of the pandemic. In light of the challenges above, this study sought to explore the extent to which social media are being integrated and used in the Zambian edilcatiolial system by looking at the case of the Copperbelt University (CBU). In achieving this task, this study employed a narrative research design which adopted an interpretivism paradigni. Coding and thematic analysis 11'ere employed to analyze qualitative data. Qualitative content analysis techniques were peilormed over the data collected from 33 participants by means of a semi-structured qualitative survey questionnaire. The established criteria ensured that respondents had cilready participated in the first survey which rewas quantitatively conducted in thefirst paper. Moreover, content analysis results seem to suggest that niajority of the students advocate for the official usage of social media technologies in the teaching and learning of mathematics both at the university and secondary school level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the short-term impact of better access to improved water available at newly built boreholes on children's health, schooling, and time allocation in rural Zambia. We employed a difference-in-differences estimation using a dataset collected under a quasi-experimental setting. We observed significant effects of better access to improved water sources on the reduced incidence of diarrhea for pre-school children but not for school-age children. We found no significant effect on school attendance. To understand the mechanism behind this pattern, we examined any changes in time use by children who had better access to improved water sources. For girls, particularly those who lived near the boreholes, we found a significant decrease in time spent on schooling and homework and a significant increase in time spent on water-related household chores including fetching water. We did not find any significant changes for boys. Alongside a significant decrease in time spent on water-related chores by female adults, better access to improved water supply shifts the burden of water-related household chores from female adults to girls while the net burden of water collection alone for girls was unchanged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Timeliness, completeness, and accuracy are key requirements for any surveillance system to reliably monitor disease burden and guide efficient resource prioritization. Evidence that electronic reporting of malaria cases by community health workers (CHWs) meet these requirements remains limited. Methodology Residents of two adjacent rural districts in Zambia were provided with both passive and active malaria testing and treatment services with malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) and artemisinin-based combination therapy by 42 CHWs serving 14 population clusters centred around public sector health facilities. Reference data describing total numbers of RDT-detected infections and diagnostic positivity (DP) were extracted from detailed participant register books kept by CHWs. These were compared with equivalent weekly summaries relayed directly by the CHWs themselves through a mobile phone short messaging system (SMS) reporting platform. Results Slightly more RDT-detected malaria infections were recorded in extracted participant registers than were reported in weekly mobile phone summaries but the difference was equivalent to only 19.2% (31,665 versus 25,583, respectively). The majority (81%) of weekly SMS reports were received within one week and the remainder within one month. Overall mean [95% confidence limits] difference between the numbers of register-recorded and SMSreported RDT-detected malaria infections per CHW per week, as estimated by the Bland Altman method, was only -2.3 [-21.9, 17.2]. The mean [range] for both the number of RDT-detected malaria infections (86 [0, 463] versus 73.6 [0, 519], respectively)) and DP (22.8% [0.0 to 96.3%] versus 23.2% [0.4 to 75.8%], respectively) reported by SMS were generally very consistent with those recorded in the reference paper-based register data and exhibited similar seasonality patterns across all study clusters. Overall, mean relative differences in the SMS reports and reference register data were more consistent with each other for DP than for absolute numbers of RDT-detected infections, presumably because this indicator is robust to variations in patient reporting rates by location, weather, season and calendar event because these are included in both the nominator and denominator. Discussion/Conclusion The SMS reports captured malaria transmission trends with adequate accuracy and could be used for population-wide, continuous, longitudinal monitoring of malaria transmission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper uses a choice experiment with 661 respondents in two large cities in Zambia to evaluate urban consumers' preferences for nutrient‐fortified wheat cookies. Our results indicate that both nutrient fortification and marketing messaging tied to taste, health and energy are important attributes for discretionary food selection among urban consumers in Zambia. Using a latent class model, we identify two types of consumers: price sensitive consumers strongly interested in nutrient fortification, who respond to different types of marketing messages and are unlikely to select the opt out option; and a smaller (24%) proportion of consumers who would rather not buy cookies at all, but exhibit strong demand for nutrient fortification, and are to some extent influenced by marketing messages that highlight the taste characteristics of the product. This suggests that while demand for fortified discretionary items is high among a significant proportion of the population promoting such foods on their health or energy characteristics might be counterproductive to some consumers, potentially due to health fortification stigma previously identified in the field. Taste messaging is identified as the most effective marketing appeal across our participants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The discovery of a lot of natural resources such as petroleum, natural gas, and minerals has become the source of poverty, deprivation, and inequality in some countries. The failure to properly use those resources has been associated with the "resource curse" or "paradox of plenty" concept. This happens when the resource-rich countries fail to benefit fully from their natural resources' wealth, something that leads to the failure of the governments of the relevant countries to respond effectively and efficiently to public welfare requirements. In recent years, Tanzania has discovered a lot of oil and gas resources which are expected to contribute more to the sustainable development of the country. However, the question here is whether Tanzania will not face the challenge of resource curse as it has been observed in other developing countries that are rich in natural resources. Thus, this paper is intended to analyze the relationship between the resource curse, natural resources, and economy. It examines the resource curse in some contracting countries such as Zambia, Nigeria, and Gabon. It furthermore pinpoints on how Tanzania can avoid the resource curse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many countries in the developing world use public stockholding programs to stabilize prices for both farmers and consumers. Governments directly purchase and store staple grains, and then sell them to processors or consumers, often at heavily subsidized prices. Despite the substantial costs of these stockholding programs, little is known about their effectiveness in mitigating retail price swings. This paper estimates the effects of purchase and sales activities of the Zambian Food Reserve Agency (FRA) on monthly maize market prices across more than thirty markets in Zambia from 2003 to 2008. To deal with the endogeneity in purchases and sales, we use predicted FRA purchase and sales targets as instrumental variables. Controlling for other policies, we find evidence that FRA activities stabilize retail prices in major district markets within the cropping year. Results show that FRA purchases raise local prices for surplus maize producers about 5 % on average at the time of harvest, and that FRA sales help lower the prices to consumers during the lean season up to 7 %. However, we find limited evidence that the FRA is able to reduce price volatility between years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analyses of the flow of trade are based on three traditional trends, each of which focuses on one component of movement: commodity, infrastructures and actors. Based on these three models' limitations and the use of qualitative economic geography and ethnography, this paper enriches our understanding of the flows of cross‐border trade, crossing of bodies of literature and theories. It offers a description of commercial traffic in the Central African Copperbelt and calls for a better comprehension of the specific conditions for executing commercial movements, where infrastructures, commodities and actors influence each other to allow the movement of things. Analysing commercial movements in the Zambian Copperbelt proves difficult with the existing theoretical framework. This paper provides an ethnographic study of cross‐border commercial circulations in order to enrich our understanding of commercial flows in space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the relationship between copper prices, the exchange rate and consumer price inflation in Zambia using a structural vector autoregression with quarterly data for 1995–2014 and a combination of sign and zero restrictions to identify relevant global and domestic shocks. The paper makes two contributions. First, it provides new measures of exchange rate pass through (ERPT), based on less restrictive assumptions than previous estimates, to show how changes in the value of the kwacha are reflected in changes in consumer prices (distinguishing food and non‐food inflation). Second, the ERPT is disaggregated to demonstrate that measured ERPT depends on the nature of the shock, with implications for policy responses. Although the price of copper is the most important driver of the exchange rate, the fluctuations it caused are associated with a low pass‐through of about 7% (consistent with a period of relatively low inflation). Exchange rate fluctuations caused by monetary shocks, in contrast, come with a pass‐through of up to 25% (and even more for food prices). A fast response by monetary authorities can mitigate the adverse effects of exchange rate shocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A review of reports about the impact of a recent mining boom in Zambia reveals a surprising number to be inaccurate and misleading, some even defamatory. The authors were mainly non-government organisations (NGOs) but academics, consultants and journalists were also guilty of misreporting. A single inaccuracy may not be significant, but added up they constitute a widespread practice that amounts to 'fake news'. This must be challenged, not least because it diverts attention from the real nature of mining related problems. This paper describes the issues, analyses possible reasons for them and suggests some solutions. It challenges all investigators to lift their game. Some of the methodological issues raised are complex and present quandaries that need to be addressed by the various players. The paper recognises that serious problems have been caused by some mining companies and accurately reported, and that some NGOs have done good work with communities. This story refers to the opposite side of that coin, a subject that may not have been comprehensively reported before. Though Zambia is the focus below, many of the matters raised are likely to be relevant in other countries in the southern African region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study employs an explorative case study methodology, which utilises interviews, historical analysis and observations to identify and analyse the local powers and politics that influence large-scale mining development in developing societies. It uses the Trident Mine Project in Kalumbila in rural North-Western Zambia as a case study. The Trident Project comprises an existing copper mining/processing operation at Sentinel Mine and a nickel mining development project at Enterprise Mine. It is owned by Kalumbila Minerals Ltd, a subsidiary of the Canadian-listed metal and mining company First Quantum Minerals Ltd. Situated on land previously managed under customary tenure, the Trident Project presents a useful case study to explore the tensions and contradictions that arose in this large-scale mining development. The findings reveal how several local actors influence large-scale mining and the nature and direction of the mining-induced socio-economic benefits. This implies that the state is not limited to a duality (civil and customary powers) of the type identified by Mahmood Mamdani. Instead, the paper explores several public and 'private' power poles that often function as a fractured state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)–prevalence countries in Southern and Eastern Africa continue to receive substantial external assistance (EA) for HIV programming, yet countries are at risk of transitioning out of HIV aid without achieving epidemic control. We sought to address two questions: (1) to what extent has HIV EA in the region been programmed and delivered in a way that supports long-term sustainability and (2) how should development agencies change operational approaches to support long-term, sustainable HIV control? We conducted 20 semi-structured key informant interviews with global and country-level respondents coupled with an analysis of Global Fund budget data for Malawi, Uganda, and Zambia (from 2017 until the present). We assessed EA practice along six dimensions of sustainability, namely financial, epidemiological, programmatic, rights-based, structural and political sustainability. Our respondents described HIV systems' vulnerability to donor departure, as well as how development partner priorities and practices have created challenges to promoting long-term HIV control. The challenges exacerbated by EA patterns include an emphasis on treatment over prevention, limiting effects on new infection rates; resistance to service integration driven in part by 'winners' under current EA patterns and challenges in ensuring coverage for marginalized populations; persistent structural barriers to effectively serving key populations and limited capacity among organizations best positioned to respond to community needs; and the need for advocacy given the erosion of political commitment by the long-term and substantive nature of HIV EA. Our recommendations include developing a robust investment case for primary prevention, providing operational support for integration processes, investing in local organizations and addressing issues of political will. While strategies must be locally crafted, our paper provides initial suggestions for how EA partners could change operational approaches to support long-term HIV control and the achievement of universal health coverage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the short-term impact of the Coronavirus pandemic on firms in a developing country i.e. Zambia. This is motivated by the characteristics of the Labour market in developing countries where informality dominates, and female workers form a larger proportion of the informal workforce. The Zambian version of the World Bank Enterprise Survey conducted just before the pandemic (September 2019 to March 2020) and during the pandemic (June 6 to 17 July 2020) is used to explore the experience of firms in terms of changes in the number of employees and firm survival. Results suggest that informal workers are more likely to lose their jobs while firms that are at least partly owned/managed by females are also less likely to survive. It is argued that policy actions that protect informal workers are salient especially since future pandemics cannot be ruled out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pharmaceutical sector corruption undermines patient access to medicines by diverting public funds for private gain and exacerbating health inequities. This paper presents an analysis of UN Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) compliance in seven countries and examines how full UNCAC adoption may reduce corruption risks within four key pharmaceutical decision-making points: product approval, formulary selection, procurement, and dispensing. Countries were selected based on their participation in the Medicines Transparency Alliance and the WHO Good Governance for Medicines Programme. Each country’s domestic anti-corruption laws and policies were catalogued and analysed to evaluate their implementation of select UNCAC Articles relevant to the pharmaceutical sector. Countries displayed high compliance with UNCAC provisions on procurement and the recognition of most public sector corruption offences. However, several countries do not penalise private sector bribery or provide statutory protection to whistleblowers or witnesses in corruption proceedings, suggesting that private sector pharmaceutical dispensing may be a decision-making point particularly vulnerable to corruption. Fully implementing the UNCAC is a meaningful first step that countries can take reduce pharmaceutical sector corruption. However, without broader commitment to cultures of transparency and institutional integrity, corruption legislation alone is likely insufficient to ensure long-term, sustainable pharmaceutical sector good governance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The late Tom Lodge's magisterial Red Road to Freedom will surely become the standard text on communism in South Africa, definitively re-assessing the sociological development and historiographically-contested political arc of the Communist Party of South Africa (CPSA). The book, nevertheless, is squarely focused on the South African public realm, eliding the important private experiences of individual CPSA members and significant transnational interchanges with the broader Southern and Central African region. Early CPSA leaders were often strikingly restrictive about the kinds of relationships available to members; had a complicated, often hostile, relationship with immigrant workers; and were opposed to organising across colonial borders. For marginalised groups, these examples prompt difficult questions about what 'freedom' meant to communists and where the early CPSA's Red Road was ultimately headed to. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Design charts provide one of the preliminary ways used to determine slope stability by aiding the complex limit equilibrium analysis through provision of supporting data towards achieving a solution. The previously developed charts for slide-head toppling were mostly developed based on the toppling rather than the sliding of the blocks on the slope. Furthermore, the previously developed charts were based on the assumption that the base and inter-block friction are equal ( ϕ p = ϕ d ). However, this may not usually be the case since there exists a possibility for the failure plane to counter-tilt within the slope owing to geological disparities (discontinuity characteristics). It is therefore possible for the frictional resistances to vary within the rockmass. This paper presents 2D and 3D charts based on the sliding equation to aid in the limit equilibrium analysis for slide-head toppling based on the variation of friction concerning the basal plane and the inter-block resistance ( ϕ p ≠ ϕ d ). A case study in Zambia has been presented for the prescribed situation to illustrate application of the developed charts. The results of the case study indicate that the charts can be applied on both the initial and counter-tilted weak planes. Furthermore, positive values for zeta (ζ ) have been observed for weak plane ( ψ p ) angles that are less than the base friction and vice-versa for values of ψ p greater than base friction. Apart from aiding in the determination of slide-head toppling, the developed charts also illustrate the relationship that exists between base friction and inter-block friction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With limited inclusion of Black traveler experiences in tourism scholarship and given that gender and racialization occur across geographies, this article explores the ways in which positionality and embodiment influence a Black diasporic woman researcher's experience in the cross-cultural context of Livingstone, Zambia. It further explores key player and researcher-participant relationships within the research context, where an autoethnographic approach and the creative analytic practice (CAP) of poetry are used as reflexive practices and to demonstrate the impact of researcher social identities (e.g. race, gender, nationality) on the research process. Aligning with the creative (re)turn in geography scholarship, the use of CAP demonstrates how similar methodologies can provide a more well-rounded view of participant voices, specifically that of Black people informing the production of knowledge. More importantly, the Blackness of diasporic researchers is valued, especially when coupled with mindful intentionality in the approach and assumptions of the research process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal 3.7.1 addresses the importance of family planning. The objective of this paper is to provide information on family planning to policymakers to help increase access to contraceptive methods to women in sub‐Saharan Africa. Methods: We analyzed data from the Population‐based HIV Impact Assessment studies conducted in 11 sub‐Saharan African countries from 2015 to 2018 to assess the relationship between HIV services and family planning. Analyses were restricted to women aged 15–49 years who reported being sexually active within the past 12 months and had data on contraceptive use. Results: Approximately 46.4% of participants reported using any form of contraception; 93.6% of whom used modern contraceptives. Women with a positive HIV status were more likely to use contraceptives (P < 0.0001) than HIV‐negative women. Unmet need was higher among women who were confirmed to be HIV‐negative in Namibia, Uganda, and Zambia than confirmed to be positive. Women aged 15–19 years used contraception less than 40% of the time. Conclusion: This analysis highlights crucial gaps in progress among HIV‐negative and young women (aged 15–19 years). To provide access to modern contraception for all women, programs and governments need to focus on women who desire but do not have access to these family planning resources. Synopsis: Women who were HIV‐negative and were aged 15–19 years were less likely to use and had a higher unmet need for contraceptives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change is increasingly affecting vulnerable groups and resulting in dire social and economic consequences, especially for those in the Global South. Managing current and emerging climate-related risks will require increasing individual's and communities' resilience, including enhancing absorptive, adaptive, and transformative capacities. Policymakers are now considering the role that social protection policies and programmes can play in building climate resilience by contributing to these capacities. However, there is a limited understanding of the extent to which social protection instruments can influence these three resilience-related capacities. Lack of assessment tools or frameworks might contribute to limited evidence of social protection's ability to increase climate resilience. In particular, there appear to be no frameworks or tools that help assess the role of social cash transfers (SCT) in building adaptive capacity. Based on a multi-staged literature review, we develop an adaptive capacity outcomes framework (ACOF) that can help assess SCT's contribution to building adaptive capacity, and, consequently, resilience. The framework is then tested using impact evaluation and assessment reports from SCT programmes in Indonesia, Zambia, Ethiopia, Bangladesh, and Tanzania. The exercise finds that SCTs alone have a limited contribution to adaptive capacity outcomes, but interventions that combine cash transfers with other components such as nutrition or livelihood training show positive impacts. We find that the ACOF can support assessments of SCT's contribution towards adaptive capacity. It can help build evidence, evaluate impacts, and through further research, can facilitate learning on SCTs' role in increasing climate resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban populations globally are expected to increase by approximately 2.5 billion by 2050. Much of this growth is taking place in African cities, where about 40% of Africans live in urban areas with populations of less than 250,000. In many of these cities, rapid urban growth has outpaced economic and social development, resulting in high levels of urban poverty and widespread food insecurity. As one response strategy, urban households may leverage their linkages with rural areas and other towns or cities to supplement their food consumption, for example through food remittances or food purchases from remote retailers. While this strategy has been found to occur among inhabitants of large cities where existing research on urban food systems and urban food linkages with other areas has focused, the dynamics in smaller cities are likely different. In this paper, we draw on data from 837 surveys collected in 2021 to investigate household food sourcing strategies across 14 urban areas in Zambia with populations less than 100,000. We find that rural-urban food linkages are dominated by grains while urban-urban food linkages are predominantly composed of higher value foods. Our data further suggest that urban area characteristics explain more of the variability in food sourcing behaviors than household level characteristics, and that urban food purchasing preferences in secondary urban areas are sensitive to the food retail landscape available to households. These relationships highlight the disparate role that rural and urban linkages play across cities of different sizes. They suggest a need for food-related policies to consider diverse urban food systems among smaller cities. Highlights: • Households in African secondary urban areas have food linkages with rural areas and other urban areas • Rural-urban food linkages are dominated by grains, while urban-urban food linkages comprise more higher value foods • City-level characteristics explain more of the variability in food sourcing behaviors than household-level characteristics [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Africa, like any other society, embodies particular moral responsibilities that govern the way society is to be ruled. These morals, which are embedded in people's belief systems and worldviews, are transmitted from generation to generation. The gendered nature of these morals can be reflected in the way women and girls are protected and respected in their communities. Since the holistic mothering roles of women are viewed as the highest order of society, heinous crimes like violating a woman are seen as taboo in that society. Among the Tonga people of Zambia, where this study is located, raping or beating a woman is considered inhuman, and those men who are involved in such acts are brought before the chiefs to receive punishment from their fellow men. In some cases, such perpetrators not only receive physical disciplining, but also are meant to pay the family of the girl a prescribed number of cows as compensation for their crimes. Later, they also need to participate in a ritual of cleansing to purify the community. Therefore, the concept of "protecting women" is perceived as a form of moral responsibility by the community. This paper aims to reflect on how the weakening of this glorious cultural tradition has left many women and girls exposed to all forms of abuse. The paper will use the narrative approach as its methodology, while feminist cultural hermeneutics and the community's moral responsibilities will be used as the two theoretical frameworks of the research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presidential or executive power of pardoning convicted offenders is, generally speaking, beyond ordinary checks and balances. It could arguably be one of the most controversial of executive powers prone to abuse by the political elite. To the extent that the power sanctions the circumvention of the justice system by undoing, sidestepping, and interfering with some judicial outcomes, its appropriateness has been questioned as being possibly a serious indictment on the separation of powers and the rule of law. This contribution focuses on the use of the presidential power of clemency in Zambia as a reflective case study. It addresses some of the legitimate questions that arise from a legal and constitutional standpoint in the use of this power. The paper argues that the danger that is posed to the independence of the judiciary by the power of pardon does not derive from the mere existence of the prerogative of mercy powers, but rather from collateral factors such as the apparent failure to understand the extent to which pardoned convicts lose their rights, rather than gain them; the apparent failure to appreciate the justice protective function of the power of pardon itself; and the absence of inbuilt trigger mechanisms in the law to monitor possible abuse of the power. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Recent research demonstrates that economic interventions may positively effect HIV risk among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in sub-Saharan Africa. Some evidence reveals potential associations between financial decision-making and bargaining power in sexual relationships. However, this evidence is mixed, nuanced, and limited. This paper explores how AGYW in Zambia understand financial agency and its effect on intimate relationships. Methods: In-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with 30 females aged 15–24 years residing in Kalingalinga, a low income, high-density residential area in Lusaka. Data were analysed using thematic content analysis. Results: Participants spoke of the ability to earn and spend money as reality for some and aspirational for many others, intrinsic to cultural and religious caveats influencing perceptions of agency for women. The transfer of financial independence to sexual agency within relationships was viewed as a mechanism for HIV risk reduction; however, male sexual privilege was an obstacle irrespective of financial decision-making. Conclusions: Programmes aiming to enhance financial agency for AGYW have the potential to reduce HIV sexual risk. Yet, to be most effective, integration with gender-transformative programmes is needed to address norms of male dominance that keep AGYW in positions of vulnerability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High levels of adolescent pregnancy and child marriage rates in low- and middle-income countries is an issue of concern to many stakeholders, including in Zambia where almost one-third of women give birth before age 18. The aim of this paper is to explore and analyse social norms concerning adolescents' sexual behaviour within the context of an intervention trial in rural communities in southern Zambia. It is based on a qualitative study applying individual interviews, focus group discussions and participatory research methods. We apply the distinction between injunctive and descriptive norms to demonstrate that adolescent girls are caught between conflicting norms. Injunctive norms express that premarital sex, contraceptive use, and discussions about sex between adults and youths are socially condemned. At the same time poor girls are reported to feel pressure towards having sexual relations for the economic benefits such relations can bring, and this practice is considered so common that it amounts to a descriptive norm. Norms and structural conditions combine to create a disabling and disempowering environment for adolescent sexual and reproductive health, which limits girls' agency and exposes them to unwanted pregnancies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The association between school and home is fundamental to sustainable education: parents' understanding of the school's priorities and teachers' understanding of their pupils' home environment are both vital for children to remain in school and succeed academically. The relationship between parents and teachers is closest in preschool settings, providing a valuable opportunity to build bridges between home and school. In this protocol paper, we outline our planned methods for identifying beneficial home and school behaviors. Objective: Our project aims to identify culture-specific structures and behaviors in home and school settings, which influence the quantity and quality of child-directed speech and identify positive experiences that can help improve children's linguistic development and nutrition. Methods: Using a mixed methods approach and focusing on early language learning, nutrition, and responsive caregiving, we will video-record and analyze mealtime language and eating behaviors at home and in school, targeting 80 preschool children and their families in rural Kenya and Zambia. In addition, we will assess children's language skills through audio recordings and use questionnaire-based interviews to collect extensive sociodemographic and dietary data. Results: Between the start of our project in January 2020 and the end of December 2021, we had collected complete sets of sociodemographic, observational, and food recall data for 40 children in Kenya and 16 children in Zambia. By the end of May 2022, we had started data collection for an additional 24 children in Zambia and transcribed and coded approximately 85% of the data. By the end of September, 2022, we plan to complete data collection, transcription, and coding for the entire sample of 80 children across both countries. From September 2022 onwards, we will focus on analyzing our language data, and we hope to have results ready for publication in early 2023. By relating children's language outcomes and nutritional intake to the observed mealtime behaviors, we hope to identify practices that increase the quantity and quality of child-directed speech and improve children's nutritional intake. Conclusions: Good nutrition and the promotion of language learning are key issues in early childhood development. By using a cross-cultural approach, combining a variety of methods, and working closely with stakeholders and policy makers throughout the project, we hope to find and share best practices for improving children's linguistic outcomes and nutrition and lay the foundation for the development of practitioner networks and parent outreach programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Fathers are often perceived to be mainly responsible for the provision of the family's economic needs. However, past studies have demonstrated that fathers' involvement in parenting has great significance for the child's holistic growth and development. Few studies have investigated fathers' roles in the nurturing care of young children, particularly responsive care and stimulation, in sub-Saharan Africa. The study reported here was carried out as part of a larger study that sought to evaluate the effectiveness of the Moments That Matter (MTM) program in improving the nurturing care of young children in rural communities in Zambia and Kenya. The MTM program uses a parenting empowerment approach to promote bonding and interactions between caregivers and their children within the home, focusing on responsive care, early learning, and security and safety so that children reach their full developmental potential. Trained volunteers facilitated monthly primary caregiver support and learning groups and ECD home visits. Fathers were encouraged to participate in the home visits and to attend some of the group meetings on specific topics. The study reported in this paper aimed to establish the impact of the parenting empowerment program in promoting more gender-equal attitudes and practices on parenting among fathers (who were not the primary caregivers). Methods: Qualitative data were collected at three time points (pre-intervention before the implementation began; mid-intervention after 6 months of implementation; and post-intervention, after 24 months). We conducted focused group discussions with primary caregivers (n = 72) and fathers (n = 24) with children below 3 years. In-depth interviews were conducted with ECD Promoters (n = 43) and faith leaders (= 20). We also conducted key informant interviews with the MTM program implementers (n = 8) and government officials (n = 5) involved in the program implementation. We employed thematic analysis to analyse the qualitative data. Results: The findings showed that the MTM program resulted in improved gender-equal parenting attitudes and practices among mothers/other primary caregivers and fathers. Study participants reported that most fathers spent more time playing and interacting with their children and were more involved in household chores due to their participation in the MTM program. Conclusion: The study findings provide evidence for policy formulation and a guide for implementation of policies that can influence changes in perceived gender roles in parenting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary aim of this paper was to identifying the geographical origin of tobacco leaves based on stable isotopic and mineral elemental fingerprint. We collected eighty-one tobacco leaf samples from Argentina, Brazil, Zimbabwe, the U.S., Zambia, and China. And nine mineral element contents and four strontium and lead isotope ratios of the tobacco leaves were determined by thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). After variance and stepwise discriminant analysis, the discriminant functions of the tobacco leaf's geographical origin were established. The results indicate that: (1) the contents of six mineral elements including Cu, Zn, Cr, Ni, Cd, and Pb, together with four strontium and lead isotope ratios containing 87Sr/86Sr, 208Pb/204Pb, 207Pb/204Pb, and 206Pb/204Pb, were significantly different among six countries. (2) Different countries presented some characteristic mineral elemental and isotopic fingerprint. The even contents of mineral elements from Zambian tobacco leaf were much lower than the other countries, among which four elements consisting of Zn, Cr, As, and Cd were not detected. The three average lead isotope ratios including 208Pb/204Pb, 207Pb/204Pb, and 206Pb/204Pb from Zimbabwe tobacco leaves were far higher than the other countries, and the range of which was unoverlapped. (3) The effective identification of the geographical origin of tobacco leaf was accomplished by Fisher stepwise discriminant analysis and the characteristic tracing elements consisted of Cu, Zn, Cr, Ni, Cd, Pb, 87Sr/86Sr, 207Pb/204Pb, and 206Pb/204Pb. Based on the established discriminant functions, the original and cross-validation accuracy towards different geographical origins of tobacco leaves were 98.8% and 95.1%, respectively. The study shows that the strontium and lead isotopic with mineral elemental fingerprints is a potential effective method to identify the geographical origin of tobacco leaves from different countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digitising how financial services are accessed in the microfinance industry is considered a magical pathway to increasing financial inclusion. This paper argues that beyond the numerous advantages digitisation is supposed to bring, it may also hinder financial inclusion if it completely replaces the loan officer-client relationship that has been a hallmark of microfinance. Based on questionnaires and on 21 semi-structured interviews with managers and loan officers of four microfinance institutions in Zambia, our research highlights the trade-offs that need to be considered when digitising the lending process. The study argues for a blended approach between digital technologies and flexibility through human touch if microfinance institutions are to retain the competitive advantage, as well as enhance the production and quality of soft information for financial inclusion in less mature markets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on reports on selected parliamentary by-elections from 2009 to 2015 and two presidential elections in 2011 and 2015 in Zambia, this paper examines the political rhetoric to determine the presence and nature of clientelism in Zambian electoral campaigns. Zambia’s three leading newspapers,The Post,Times of ZambiaandZambia Daily Mail, were searched for reports of electoral campaigns. In total, 605 issues of each of the three newspapers spanning a period of 20 months were used. The paper concludes that a blend of vote buying and turnout buying were more evident in the campaign rhetoric in parliamentary by-elections than the presidential elections. Further, the ruling parties extended their clientelistic rhetoric to include perverse accountability. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background: Health information systems are central to strong health systems. They assist with patient and program management, quality improvement, disease surveillance, and strategic use of information. Many donors have worked to improve health information systems, particularly by supporting the introduction of electronic health information systems (EHIS), which are considered more responsive and more efficient than older, paper-based systems. As many donor-driven programs are increasing their focus on country ownership, sustainability of these investments is a key concern. This analysis explores the potential sustainability of EHIS investments in Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe, originally supported by the United States President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).Methods: Using a framework based on sustainability theories from the health systems literature, this analysis employs a qualitative case study methodology to highlight factors that may increase the likelihood that donor-supported initiatives will continue after the original support is modified or ends.Results: Findings highlight commonalities around possible determinants of sustainability. The study found that there is great optimism about the potential for EHIS, but the perceived risks may result in hesitancy to transition completely and parallel use of paper-based systems. Full stakeholder engagement is likely to be crucial for sustainability, as well as integration with other activities within the health system and those funded by development partners. The literature suggests that a sustainable system has clearly-defined goals around which stakeholders can rally, but this has not been achieved in the systems studied. The study also found that technical resource constraints - affecting system usage, maintenance, upgrades and repairs - may limit EHIS sustainability even if these other pillars were addressed.Conclusions: The sustainability of EHIS faces many challenges, which could be addressed through systems' technical design, stakeholder coordination, and the building of organizational capacity to maintain and enhance such systems. All of this requires time and attention, but is likely to enhance long-term outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the validity of the purchasing power parity (PPP) hypothesis for two Southern African countries, namely: Lesotho and Zambia.Design/methodology/approach The authors utilized four econometric tests to examine the existence of the PPP hypothesis in Lesotho and Zambia. These tests include two unit root tests without structural breaks – the Dickey-Fuller generalized least squares (DF-GLS) test and the Ng-Perron test; and two unit root tests with structural breaks – the Perron test and the Zivot-Andrews test. The authors’ empirical analysis is based on an annual data set with varying time periods. The sample period spanned 1960-2010 and 1955-2010, for Lesotho and Zambia, respectively.Findings The authors found that the PPP hypothesis was supported in the case of Lesotho, but rejected in the case of Zambia.Originality/value This paper is the first to simultaneously explore the exchange rate policies, trends, and the PPP for these two countries. The implication of this finding is that Lesotho is unlikely to profit immensely from trade and investment arbitrages; whereas Zambia is more likely to profit immensely from trade and investment arbitrage by trading with the USA. Moreover, the authors’ findings indicate that the PPP doctrine may be a useful guide for the exchange rate and other macroeconomic adjustment policies in Lesotho but not in Zambia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose There have been various forms of regulatory intervention by the central banks of countries to streamline microfinance activities and ensure effective corporate governance of microfinance institutions (MFIs). Considering the limited amount of research in this area and the need to ensure regulatory effectiveness, the purpose of this paper is to evaluate the impact of regulatory provisions on the attainment of effective corporate governance in MFIs in Nigeria and Zambia.Design/methodology/approach Interviews were conducted with regulators at the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Bank of Zambia, directors and executive management officers of MFIs and executives of apex associations of MFIs in both countries.Findings The paper presents five significant findings which are that the regulations have enabled negative outcomes in areas such as board composition, the ownership requirements in the regulations have resulted in differing governance implications, the certification requirements for board members are problematic in practice, supervision by regulators is ineffective and has impacts on risk management and the principle of consultation with stakeholders is inadequate in both countries.Practical implications Regulatory provisions must be robust and fit for purpose to ensure the microfinance initiative in emerging economies achieves the objectives of enhancing financial inclusion and economic development of the society.Originality/value The paper addresses an area of limited research and provides empirical findings in relation to regulation and corporate governance in developing economies, which would help to ensure regulatory effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While public endorsement of presidential candidates is a relatively new phenomenon in Zambian politics, political defections have existed for a longer period. However, both of these political manoeuvres have increasingly become ubiquitous since Zambia's return to multiparty democracy in the 1990s. Often, defectors prey on the perceived popularity of a presidential candidate to secure lucrative government positions for themselves and their kin. Defections demonstrate that Zambian politicians, at all levels, have weak ties of loyalty or ideological commitment to political parties. These weak ties result in vertical mobility of defectors from a perceived weak party to one considered to have higher prospects of forming government and 'eating'. Based on a critical case study of the January 2015 presidential by-election, this paper uses the well-tested concept of patronage to explain political endorsements and defections in Zambia's Third Republic. The paper concludes that recurrent cross-party endorsements and defections undermine the consolidation of political parties and maybe even democracy itself. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aims to understand the foremost challenges in the transition to online teaching and learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study adopts the PRISMA approach to screening the selection of journal articles and review papers according to the research aims and the inclusion criteria. The journal articles and review papers were extracted and stored in Microsoft Excel and Google Scholar, Academic. Microsoft, Semantic Scholar, Elsevier, and Emerald Insight databases searched relevant documents using formulated keywords. A statistical technique was applied using the M.S. Excel analysis tool (PivotTable and an independent t-Test) to analyze data and determine the differences between teachers and students. The review revealed the evidence that the majority of the studies were primarily focused on the individual developing countries and results from other developing countries were not considered. In addition, the foremost challenges in the transition to online teaching and learning during the COVID-19 pandemic were inadequate skills and training, inadequate Internet/Infrastructure, lack of supporting resources and lack of online student engagement and feedback. Finally, the independent t-test reveals there is no statistically significant difference in challenges in the transition to online teaching and learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Both teachers and students encounter similar challenges. The systematic review raised concerns that higher learning needs to effectively implement long term strategies and support teachers and students in getting into online teaching and learning.

Rural livelihood diversification can improve food security at the household level. However, a large majority of the research has focused on male-headed households, thus overlooking experiences of female-headed households that constitute a significant portion of households in low-income and middle-income countries. This paper explores how on-farm livelihood diversification affects female-headed households' food security experiences. Using interviews and focus group discussions, the paper finds that on-farm diversification improves female-headed households' food security. The paper also finds that on-farm diversification was more effective in improving the food security experiences of female-headed households compared with off-farm diversification. Further, the additional income from diversification creates additional benefits, including empowering women and allowing them to further diversify their livelihoods. • Female-headed households are neglected in rural livelihood diversification research. • On-farm diversification can improve female-headed households' food security. • On-farm diversification can improve women's empowerment. • On-farm activities support off-farm diversification in female-headed households. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), there is a substantial gap in the treatment of mental and behavioral health problems, which is particularly detrimental to adolescents and young adults (AYA). The Common Elements Treatment Approach (CETA) is an evidence-based, flexible, transdiagnostic intervention delivered by lay counselors to address comorbid mental and behavioral health conditions, though its effectiveness has not yet been tested among AYA. This paper describes the protocol for a randomized controlled trial that will test the effectiveness of traditional in-person delivered CETA and a telehealth-adapted version of CETA (T-CETA) in reducing mental and behavioral health problems among AYA in Zambia. Non-inferiority of T-CETA will also be assessed.Methods: This study is a hybrid type 1 three-arm randomized trial to be conducted in Lusaka, Zambia. Following an apprenticeship model, experienced non-professional counselors in Zambia will be trained as CETA trainers using a remote, technology-delivered training method. The new CETA trainers will subsequently facilitate technology-delivered trainings for a new cohort of counselors recruited from community-based partner organizations throughout Lusaka. AYA with mental and behavioral health problems seeking services at these same organizations will then be identified and randomized to (1) in-person CETA delivery, (2) telehealth-delivered CETA (T-CETA), or (3) treatment as usual (TAU). In the superiority design, CETA and T-CETA will be compared to TAU, and using a non-inferiority design, T-CETA will be compared to CETA, which is already evidence-based in other populations. At baseline, post-treatment (approximately 3-4 months post-baseline), and 6 months post-treatment (approximately 9 months post-baseline), we will assess the primary outcomes such as client trauma symptoms, internalizing symptoms, and externalizing behaviors and secondary outcomes such as client substance use, aggression, violence, and health utility. CETA trainer and counselor competency and cost-effectiveness will also be measured as secondary outcomes. Mixed methods interviews will be conducted with trainers, counselors, and AYA participants to explore the feasibility, acceptability, and sustainability of technology-delivered training and T-CETA provision in the Zambian context.Discussion: Adolescents and young adults in LMIC are a priority population for the treatment of mental and behavioral health problems. Technology-delivered approaches to training and intervention delivery can expand the reach of evidence-based interventions. If found effective, CETA and T-CETA would help address a major barrier to the scale-up and sustainability of mental and behavioral treatments among AYA in LMIC.Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03458039 . Prospectively registered on May 10, 2021. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to explore the local conceptualisation of gender and framings of men and masculinities at the local level, which may be applied to improve gender mainstreaming in smallholder farming. Design/methodology/approach: Qualitative data were collected from a total of 70 key informants and community members knowledgeable about climate change and smallholder agriculture, disaster risks, gender and broader community issues in Malawi and Zambia. The thematic analysis was used to identify the themes emerging from the qualitative data. Findings: Practitioners apply western framings of gender while communities consider their realities and contexts and emphasise that gender means men and women need to work together. Although institutional provisions are in place for gender mainstreaming, practitioners have cautioned against the influence of the global north in gender mainstreaming, which ignores local realities. Applying a masculinities lens at a local level established the existence of subordinate and marginalised men often excluded from interventions and how hierarchical relationships among men limited women's participation. Research limitations/implications: Future research, practice and policy initiatives in disaster risk reduction and resilience-building need to engage with positive masculinities in gender mainstreaming. This work stimulates a broader framing of gender that builds on the core values and perspectives of communities. Practical implications: Contemporary gender mainstreaming approaches need to consider local contextualisation of gender, emphasising the critical aspect of cooperation between women and men in overcoming climate-related hazards and risk reduction. Originality/value: This work contributes to the nascent discourse on local gender perspectives and masculinities in disaster risk reduction and resilience in Southern Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Central African Stone Age is very poorly known when compared to the higher-resolution records of East and Southern Africa. Early Stone Age (ESA) archaeology is effectively absent from the rainforest zone, with the early Middle Stone Age (MSA) Lupemban industry representing the earliest sustained archaeological signature. Uranium-series dates of approximately 265 ka BP for the Lupemban at Twin Rivers (Zambia), although queried, suggest a precocious late Middle Pleistocene dispersal of early Homo sapiens into the equatorial rainforest belt. Lupemban palaeohabitat interactions and attendant behavioural and technological repertoires are key to its evolutionary significance, but investigation is hampered by the widespread vertical disturbance of stratigraphic profiles and the formation of 'stone-lines'. The Lupemban takes in a range of implement types and technologies, including core-axes, prepared core technology (PCT) points, blades and backed blades. But it is the elongated bifacial lanceolate point—some exquisitely made and many exceeding 30 cm in length—that defines the industry. Remarkably, unequivocal examples of these iconic artefacts have never been the focus of detailed techno-typological scrutiny. In this paper, I advance understanding of the Lupemban by initiating a re-consideration of lanceolate points at Kalambo Falls, Zambia, and discuss their implications for the Lupemban's evolutionary significance. This article is part of the theme issue 'Tropical forests in the deep human past'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural resource dependent economies are totted of being in a cycle of economic boom and slump, the natural resource curse. This paper looks at natural resource management and compares the relations between prices of copper and macroeconomic performance in Chile and Zambia, two copper-rich countries with contrasting fortunes. It explores the fiscal policies and mining taxes regimes, and non-fiscal benefits of mining. Eleven indicators are used to compare the macroeconomic performance of the two countries and domestic and external macroeconomic volatility and its possible source in the countries. Using the indicators, it was found that the Zambian economy is relatively more affected by fluctuations in copper prices than the Chilean economy. That both domestic and external macroeconomic uncertainty is more rampant in Zambia than in Chile shows evidence of the detrimental effect of Zambia's indiscreet populism-driven policy inconsistencies on the economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION High income jurisdictions are banning menthol/flavored cigarettes and other tobacco products because they attract young people and create dependence. This study explores the importance of menthol and other flavored tobacco products for tobacco markets in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), identifies countries where the menthol/flavor share is particularly high or rapidly growing, and identifies strategies tobacco companies are using to develop menthol/flavor markets. METHODS Research involved analysis of menthol/flavor market data from 2005 to 2019, a systematic review of academic literature, and a scoping exercise with our advocate contacts in LMICs. RESULTS The median menthol/capsule market share of the cigarette market grew significantly (p<0.05) between 2005 and 2019, both in lower and upper middleincome countries [lower: 2.5% (IQR: 0.5-4.0) to 6.5% (IQR: 3.6-15.9); and upper: 4.0% (IQR: 0.8-9.8) to 12.3% (IQR: 3.5-24.3)]. Countries with both high market share and high market share growth were Russia, Guatemala, Peru and Nigeria. No market data were available on low-income countries, but the academic literature suggested high prevalence of menthol use in Zambia. Tobacco industry strategies underpinning growth of menthol/flavored tobacco use in LMICs included in-store marketing and display, colorful packs and non-conventional flavor names. CONCLUSIONS Menthol/flavor tobacco products are a growing problem in LMICs. In addition to menthol/flavor bans, we recommend marketing bans, point of sale display bans and standardized packaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]