Welcome to the Kapasa Makasa University Institutional Repository
Discover, preserve, and access the scholarly works of our KMU community. This repository provides a central platform for storing research outputs, academic resources, and institutional knowledge, ensuring long-term visibility and open access for students, staff, and researchers.
Join the KMU community where innovation and research thrive. Kapasa Makasa University

Communities in DSpace
Select a community to browse its collections.
- Department of Agriculture and Aquatic Sciences addresses complex environmental issues through scientific discovery, creativity and perseverance; teach future leaders to manage the delicate balance between people and the environment on which they depend.
- The department will provide secondary school teacher training and Continuing Professional Development (CPD), with all full-time programmes delivered through distance education, alongside evening classes.
- The department of ICT is responsible for providing teaching, research and innovations that can directly be applied to solve national and societal problems.
- Teaching and learning materials, such as lecture notes, course modules,Study guides,Tutorial materials, Laboratory manuals, Practical manuals, Assignments and exercises, Presentation slides, Research methodology guides, Academic writing guides, Orientation materials,Academic calendars, Programme specifications, Curriculum documents and other educational resources.
Recent Submissions
Item type:Item, Underutilisation of library resources and services among students in selected academic programmes at Kapasa Makasa University, Zambia(African Journal of Empirical Research, 2026-10-23) Oliver Nyowani; Sitali WamundilaThe underutilisation of library resources and Services remains a persistent challenge in higher education institutions, and Kapasa Makasa University is no exemption. Although library resources and Services play a critical role in supporting students’ academic success, their use remains low. This study investigated the underutilisation of library resources and Services among second, third, and fourth-year students from five (5) selected academic programmes at Kapasa Makasa University. Guided by Information Foraging Theory (IFT) and Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), the study sought to establish the factors contributing to underutilisation of library resources and Services, students’ perceptions of these resources and Services, and the challenges students faced in accessing and utilising them. Anchored in an interpretivist research philosophy, the study employed a qualitative exploratory single-case study design to generate in-depth contextual insights. A purposive sample of thirty (30) students and five (5) librarians was selected using heterogeneous and expert sampling techniques. Data were collected using a structured interview guide and analysed manually using thematic analysis. The findings revealed that underutilisation is a multifaceted and systemic phenomenon influenced by interrelated factors including inadequate and outdated subject-specific materials, reliance on alternative information sources, insufficient computers and power sockets, unstable internet connectivity, restrictive policies, environmental discomfort, and interruptions in reader Services. The challenges faced by students included an insufficient and outdated physical library collection, noise and high temperatures, strict library rules and regulations, limited operating hours, poor access to digital platforms, limited information literacy skills, and fear of financial liability. The study concluded that improving library utilisation requires a comprehensive, student-centred, and systematic approach. It recommended strengthening collection development policies, information literacy programmes, collaboration between librarians and lecturers, improving infrastructure, reviewing restrictive policies, extending operating hours, simplifying borrowing procedures, restricting non-library activities in library spaces, and providing alternative offices for non-library staff to promote effective use of library resources and Services.Item type:Item, Innovation in the Provision of Library Services in Universities in Zambia: Prospects and Possibilities(Library, 2026-10-07) Naomy Mtanga; Dr Charles Banda; Virginia Hamwele; Agness Chitambo; Oliver NyowaniThe ease of accessibility of information due to technological innovations has presented challenges to libraries and librarians to look for more proactive ways of serving their users in order to remain relevant. For more than a decade, librarians in the SCECSAL region have devised and implemented innovative library services as evidenced by papers in conference proceedings stretching as far back as 2012. Contributions from libraries in Zambia were visibly absent, which raises a question whether there are no innovations in library services taking place in the country. In the wake of COVID-19, librarians in Zambia shared their innovations in offering library service during this crisis and beyond, which included use of email, tele-conferencing, and social media platforms such as Facebook, and WhatsApp to conduct orientations, register users and for Selective Dissemination of Information, to mention a few. This paper is based on a survey that was conducted to obtain a comprehensive picture of innovative library services that are currently prevalent in university libraries in Zambia. The results revealed that more than 90% of the libraries were offering innovative services, notable of which are: videos for library orientation, online registration of users, electronic book downloads from open source, library blog and plagiarism check. Challenges faced include, inadequate ICT infrastructure and technical know-how, financial constraints, and crippling staffing levels. In conclusion, the paper recommends that Library and Information Association of Zambia and the Zambian Library Consortium spearhead collaboration among public and private universities in skills exchange, and replication of best innovative services in all universities. These survey results are important because they provide a basis for university librarians in Zambia to collaborate for the benefit of their users. It also contributes to the literature on innovation in library services in the SCECSAL regionItem type:Item, Effects of systemic challenges on agricultural development systems: a systematic review of perspectives(Cogent Food and Agriculture (Tylor and Francis), 2025-03-27) Enock Siankwilimba; Jacqueline Hiddlestone-Mumford; Md Enamul Hoque; Bernard Mudenda Hang’ombe; Chisoni Mumba; Oliver J. Hasimuna; Sahya Maulu; Joseph Mphande; Gunawan PrayitnoAchieving measurably reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 as a key sustainabledevelopment goal has often been overshadowed by systemic challenges in the agricultural agribusiness system. Although many studies have examined sustainable agriculture extension services, few have considered the effects of the war in Ukraine, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, climate change, debt burdens, and the ongoing impact of COVID-19. To address this gap, a systematic literature review of literature from 2019 to 2023 was undertaken to analyze the effects of climate change, COVID-19, debt burdens, and the conflict in Ukraine on sustainable agriculture development and extension services. The Russian conflicts have significantly disrupted the global agricultural landscape, impacting food supplies, production, and consumption due to distribution constraints. The loss of agricultural and health workers through COVID-19 has compounded the challenges. Studies also highlight rising inflation rates in many nations, driving communities further into debt, hunger, and poverty, with a noted 5.6% increase in worldwide debt due to COVID-19 alone, and an estimated 9.2% of the world going hungry in 2022. These disruptions have worsened existing agricultural challenges in developing countries such as a decline of 61% in pollinator numbers due to temperature rises caused by climate change, and a loss of 4.1 million hectares of tropical primary forest in 2022, releasing 2.7 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide. In response to these complex challenges, leadership that fosters collaboration among stakeholders through private and public dialogue is crucial. This study examines sustainable agricultural development and resilient extension services amid global systemic challenges.Item type:Item, Perceptions of Fishers and Fisheries Officers of a Fishing Ban in Mpulungu, Lake Tanganyika, Zambia(Wiley, 2025-05-09) Addess Tonga; Chewe Bwalya; Oliver J. Hasimuna; Kelvin N. Mukuka; Joseph MphandeFishing bans are widely used as fisheries management tools, yet their effect on vulnerable fishing communities is poorly understood. We explored perceptions of fishers and Fisheries Officers regarding a first-ever fishing ban on Lake Tanganyika, Zambia. Opinions were collected from 184 fishers and 16 Fisheries Officers using structured and semi-structured questionnaires. Fishers' livelihoods and social well-being were significantly disrupted, with 92.5% reporting income loss, 77.5% facing unemployment, and 68.8% suffering economic hardship. Hunger (37.5%), divorce (37.5%), and theft (25.0%) were also reported. In response, many fishers adopted coping strategies such as farming (45%), trading (40%), and brick-molding (30%). Fisheries Officers identified key implementation challenges, notably illegal fishing (87.5%), resistance from fishers (81.3%), and untimely funding (68.8%), but they also noted opportunities such as promoting sustainable fishing (93.8%) and enhancing platforms for extension services (62.5%). Alternative fishing areas did not significantly influence support for the ban, whereas having alternative income sources reduced the likelihood of support for the ban. Support for the ban was significantly associated with perceived positive opportunities and education level. We conclude that fishing bans can enhance sustainability, but their success depends on providing alternative livelihoods for fishers and timely institutional support. Further research is needed on the effects of fishing bans on other stakeholders, like traders, transporters, and processors.Item type:Item, Evaluation of Soybean Straw, Bean Straw, Maize Stalk, And Banana Leaf As Substrates For The Growth And Yield Of Oyster Mushroom (Pleurotus Ostreatus)(African Scholarly Science Communication Trust, 2026-04-09) Emmanuel Nkweto; Chate P.; Joseph Mphande; Bwalya MutaleAgricultural waste management poses a significant environmental challenge, where crop residues are often underutilized or improperly discarded. Oyster Mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) is particularly valued due to its adaptability to a wide range of lignocellulosic substrates, high productivity potential, and nutritional benefits. They are widely recognized for their potential to combat malnutrition and enhance food security. In developing regions, the use of locally available and cost-effective agricultural residues is essential for promoting sustainable mushroom production and improving food security. This study evaluated the suitability of four locally available agricultural residues and these were: T0 = Soybean straw; T1 = Bean straw; T2 = Maize stalks, and T3= Banana leaves. The residues were used to assess the growth performance and yield of Pleurotus ostreatus (oyster mushroom) in Chinsali district of Muchinga province of Zambia. A completely randomized design with three replications per treatment was employed. Growth parameters assessed included mycelial colonization period, pinhead initiation, yield, and biological efficiency (BE). Drum method was used to pasteurize the substates and inoculated with grain spawn under controlled environmental conditions. Results indicated significant variations in growth and yield performance across the substrates. Data were analyzed using twoway ANOVA at p < 0.05. Soybean straw produced the highest yield (2.92 kg) and biological efficiency (64.9%), followed by banana leaves (2.39 kg; 53.1%), bean straw (1.72 kg; 38.2%), and maize stalks (1.53 kg; 34.0%). Maize stalks exhibited the fastest mycelial colonization (14 days), whereas banana leaves required the longest colonization period (28 days). Substrate type significantly influenced mushroom weight over time, while cap diameter and stipe height showed no significant differences among treatments. The study concludes that while all tested residues are viable, banana leaves serve as an excellent, cost-effective substitute for soybean straw, offering comparable or superior yield performance. It provides practical guidance for smallholder farmers and extension services in Zambia by promoting low-cost substrate options that enhance mushroom production, income generation, and sustainable agricultural waste utilization and management.