Exploring Appropriate Approaches for Returning Research Findings to Communities in Ndola, Zambia
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Exploring appropriate approaches for returning research findings to communities in Ndola, Zambia A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Water Resource Management The University of Canterbury Christchurch, New Zealand Mando Chitondo The College of Science Waterways Centre for Freshwater Management 28th March 2017 i Abstract Many scientific research projects carried out in developing countries gather data and fail to return any summary of the findings to the community that provided the data. Residents from communities experiencing water issues are often deprived of effective participation in necessary change as they are used only as a source of data and no further involvement regarding access to research findings occurs. Indigenous writers have revealed the injustice of this reality and have suggested that this is typical of colonial research methods. This situation is a major concern because accessing research knowledge encourages communities to examine their water issues and empowers them to formulate solutions. In order to gain an in- depth understanding of residents’ experiences with water research projects from communities experiencing water quality issues, and to develop an appropriate approach for returning research findings to residents, this study was carried out in Ndola, Copperbelt Province, Zambia. Inspired by decolonising methodologies, semi-structured interviews and focus group meetings were conducted in order to understand participants’ experiences with water research projects. This study explores different approaches to returning research findings to participant communities using the results of a recent water research project conducted by Elizabeth Liddle in Ndola in 2013. It was found that the appropriate method for returning research findings to Ndola is face-to-face discussion, as it allows the researcher and individuals from participant communities to engage in dialogue and learn from each other while talking over the research findings from every angle, thus gaining a better understanding of their implications. ii iii Acknowledgements Firstly, I would like to thank my Lord and Saviour Christ Jesus for all the provisions and for giving me the strength to carry out this study. It’s been a wonderful blessing and awesome experience for me. To Elizabeth Liddle, I am very grateful for the encouragement and for allowing me to use your study as the background study for this thesis. This study would have not been possible without your research findings. To the people of Ndola, particularly employees of Seeds of Hope and the Kafubu Water and Sewerage Company and residents of Kabushi, Nkwazi, and Kaniki communities, thank you for taking time of your busy schedules to participate in this research and for making this research possible. I would like to sincerely thank Dr Kelly Dombroski and Julie Clarke for introducing me to social science research. Your guidance and advice through every stage of this research project is highly appreciated. To Mona-Lynn Courteau thank you for proofreading and editing this thesis, you are an excellent and prompt professional. Thank you to my family and friends. To my mother, Florence Mailo Chitondo, thank you for believing in me – you ignited this dream and it is now a reality – and for your encouragement and financial support. To my sisters, brothers, nephews, niece, and friends, thank you for believing in me and putting up with the brunt of my struggles with this thesis. To my fiancé Mubanga Nshimbi, thank you for believing in me and reminding me that I am more than capable of finishing this thesis. I am truly blessed to have you in my life. To my friend and office mate Kevin Keinja, it has been an amazing year, with awesome unforgettable experiences and lots of support and encouragement from you – thank you. I am grateful to New Zealand Aid Programme for the scholarship to study the Master of Water Resource Management and for funding this research project. Thank you to the Waterways Centre for Freshwater Management for the funding to attend the Development Network Conference, where I received insights which have been beneficial to this thesis. This thesis is dedicated to my late father Peter White Chitondo. Daddy, your life was a blessing, your memory is a treasure; you are loved beyond words and missed beyond measure. iv v Table of Contents Abstract ...................................................................................................................................... ii Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................... iv List of Figures and Tables.......................................................................................................... x List of Figures ........................................................................................................................ x List of Tables .......................................................................................................................... x List of Acronyms ...................................................................................................................... xi 1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 1 1.1 Zambia .............................................................................................................................. 2 1.2 Thesis rationale ................................................................................................................ 4 1.2.1 Growing up in Zambia versus now............................................................................ 4 1.2.2 Recent events ............................................................................................................. 5 1.3 Research aim .................................................................................................................... 7 1.4 Thesis outline ................................................................................................................. 10 2. Water resource management in Zambia .............................................................................. 11 2.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 11 2.2 Zambia’s administrative history ..................................................................................... 12 2.3 Water resources in Zambia ............................................................................................. 13 2.4 Uses of water in Zambia................................................................................................. 18 2.5 Water resource management in Zambia ......................................................................... 20 2.5.1 Governance of water resources ................................................................................ 20 2.5.2 Water resource management challenges .................................................................. 21 2.5.3. UN’s Sustainable Development Goals in water resource management ................. 22 2.5.4 NGOs and water resource management .................................................................. 23 2.5.5 Provision of potable water in Zambia...................................................................... 23 2.6 Communities and water resource management .............................................................. 25 2.7 Conclusion ...................................................................................................................... 28 3. Approaches to thinking about inequality ............................................................................. 30 3.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 30 3.2 Oppression in scientific research.................................................................................... 32 3.3 Conflict theory................................................................................................................ 34 3.4 Critical pedagogy ........................................................................................................... 35 3.5 Participatory action research .......................................................................................... 38 vi 3.6 Decolonising research .................................................................................................... 42 3.7 Conclusion ...................................................................................................................... 46 4. Methodology for returning research findings ...................................................................... 48 4.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 48 4.2 Liddle’s study ................................................................................................................. 48 4.2.1 Water quality results: Kabushi Township ............................................................... 51 4.2.2 Water quality results: Nkwazi area .......................................................................... 53 4.2.3 Water quality results: Kaniki area ........................................................................... 54 4.3 Decolonising methodologies .........................................................................................