DEVELOPING AN ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAMME TO ADDRESS FACTORS ...

228 Pages·2015·1.77 MB·English

DEVELOPING AN ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION
PROGRAMME TO ADDRESS FACTORS BEHIND BICYCLE
ACCIDENTS OF CHIPATA DISTRICT, ZAMBIA

FRED NG’ANDU MULENGA

A Thesis Submitted to the University of Zambia in
Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of
Philosophy in Environmental Education

The University of Zambia
Lusaka
2015.
DECLARATION
I, Fred Ng’andu Mulenga, hereby solemnly declare that this thesis represents my own work
and has not been previously submitted for a degree at the University of Zambia or any other
University and that it does not incorporate any published work or material from another University.

Name: Fred Ng’andu Mulenga.

Signed ________________________________________

Date __________________________________________

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COPYRIGHT
All rights reserved. No part of this thesis may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system,
transmitted in any form or by any means-electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or
otherwise-without prior written permission of the author or the University of Zambia.

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APPROVAL
This thesis by Fred Ng’andu Mulenga is approved as fulfilling the requirements for the award of
the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Education by the University of Zambia.

Examiners’ signatures

1. ___________________________________________Date __________________________

2. ___________________________________________Date __________________________

3. ___________________________________________Date___________________________

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ABSTRACT
This study investigated how Environmental Education might be utilised to complement law
enforcement and other regulatory strategies in addressing factors responsible for bicycle accidents
in Chipata District of Zambia. Chipata District has had a high incidence of bicycle accidents which
were primarily addressed through law enforcement but with little improvement. Within this set up,
the purpose of the study was to establish how Environmental Education could be utilised to
complement law enforcement and other existing regulatory strategies in addressing factors
responsible for bicycle accidents in Chipata District. In order to address the purpose of the study,
the following specific objectives were addressed: to identify factors which contribute to bicycle
accidents in Chipata District, to determine the type of traffic regulations enforced among cyclists
in Chipata District, to determine environmental advantages of using bicycles in Chipata District
and to propose an Environmental Education Programme to complement other existing
measures in addressing bicycle accidents of Chipata District.
The study was guided by Pender’s Health Promotion Model (Pender 1982; as revised, 1996) and
the Integrated Support Theory (Kregael et al, 1998). These two theories complemented each other
when coming up with factors associated with bicycle accidents in Chipata District and to propose
an Environmental Education Programme for addressing them. The study utilised cross sectional
descriptive research design and employed both quantitative and qualitative research methods. The
sample size for quantitative data was 240 cyclists derived from a population of 500. Qualitative
data arose from Focus Group Discussion (FGD) involving twenty five (25) respondents.
Quantitative data was collected by questionnaires administered to 240 respondents and was
analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 17, while thematic
analysis was utilised for qualitative data.
The findings of quantitative data showed that bicycle accidents in Chipata District were estimated
at 67.5%. Most of the respondents (67.9%) involved in bicycle accidents were males, falling in the
age group of 18 to 24 years. Main factors associated with bicycle accidents were: bicycle defects,
lack of formal bicycle training, age (especially adolescents and young adults), alcohol and drug
abuse as well as inadequate law enforcement. Qualitative research findings corroborated with
findings noted above. Traffic regulations were found to be not enforceable in the study area.
Beliefs, values and attitudes were also found to be associated with bicycle accidents. The study
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established the environmental advantages of using bicycles among cyclists, such as being a source
of income. The study brought out a lack of cycle tracks, inadequate law enforcement among
cyclists, cyclists not using bicycle safety measures like helmets, cycle lights and reflectors were
factors found to be associated with bicycle accidents. Arising from the findings, the study proposes
an Environmental Education Programme for addressing factors associated with bicycle accidents
which includes the following themes: factors causing bicycle accidents, traffic regulations
enforceable in the study area, beliefs, values and attitudes associated with bicycle accidents,
environmental advantages of using bicycles, disadvantages of bicycle accidents as well as
promoting safety among cyclists to enhance their wellbeing.

In conclusion, the study found that bicycle accidents in Chipata District were a serious problem
attributed to various factors which require a concerted effort among law enforcement officers,
educational and other measures to address them. Based on the findings, the following
recommendations are proposed for consideration:
(a) Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) to introduce compulsory use of bicycle helmets,
cycle lights and reflectors for cyclists.
(b) Road Development Agency (RDA) to introduce mandatory cycle tracks for all public roads.
(c) Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) to conduct capacity building among
RTSA and Police officers on Environmental Education in line with the National Policy on
Environment(GRZ,2009).
(d) Traffic Police and RTSA officers to scale up Law Enforcement among Chipata cyclists.
(e) RTSA to conduct awareness campaigns among cyclists on causes of bicycle accidents.
(f) RTSA to introduce bicycle certifying training institutions, bicycle fitness tests, number plates
and a data base for easy bicycle tracking.
(g) Police training schools in Zambia to include Environmental Education in their curriculum as
a complementary strategy in addressing bicycle accidents.
(h) The Zambian Government to establish a unit within the Zambia Police Service and RTSA to
offer Environmental Education in line with the National Policy on Environment (GRZ,2007).
(i) RTSA to translate the Traffic Highway Code into Local Languages such as Chewa and Ngoni.

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DEDICATION
I wholeheartedly dedicate this thesis to my dear beloved late Mother, Fostina Kapampa Mutale
who was called by the Lord after battling with cancer of the scalp on 4th October, 2013 around
04:30 hrs and was put to rest on 7th October, 2013 at Memorial Park in Lusaka. I tried within my
means and powers to serve her life but only God knows what else I needed to do for her to be
healed. She was a woman who strongly believed in education despite her humble background. I
will always remember her for the sacrifice she made especially when we caught caterpillars
together to raise funds for my first year entry at the University of Zambia. I am comforted that I
had a privilege of providing care and support to her when she was still alive, through her sickness
and in death. I only hope that the burial we gave her was befitting. I wish she was around to witness
the results of her inspiration out of me. I will forever miss her, especially when I look at many
women older than her who are privileged to live longer, M.H.S.R.I.P.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Firstly, I wish to give thanks to the Almighty God for sustaining my life and preserving me
throughout the study period for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Education.
Secondly, my humble, special and sincere gratitude goes to my research supervisor Professor C.M.
Namafe for his parental guidance, encouragement, statistical verification and unwavering
professional supervision, without which this work would have been a nightmare. I wish to express
my sincere gratitude to the University of Zambia (UNZA) staff for their guidance and expert
contributions to my study. I also acknowledge other individuals, organizations and departments
that made it possible for me to fulfil the requirements of this doctoral thesis.

Thirdly, I wish to acknowledge my beloved wife Catherine K. Mulenga (Mother of two sets of
twins and two daughters) who is also a University graduate of Guidance and Counselling, for
encouraging me to go on and finish my PhD work. My dearest children Edith, Kapampa, Joshua,
Japheth, Fred Junior and Cathy for the time I spent on studies which should have been used on
family matters. Iam also thankful to my dear father Mr Michael Mulenga popularly known as
‘N’gandu one’ and my beloved late mother Fostina Kapampa Mutale for being my good mentors.

Lastly, I wish to remember the former Inspector General of Police, Dr Martin Malama, for his
selfless and constant encouragement rendered to me throughout my study. I acknowledge him for
the exposure to high level Police leadership and identifying me as a potential commander, an asset
for Police Service, the country and indeed the world at large. In addition, Iam greatly indebted to
the research team for its coordinated effort during critical and sensitive data collection. My
profound appreciation is extended to Mr K. Simukonda, a lecturer at UNZA, for helping me with
editing of this document. Furthermore, the cyclists and representatives of institutions with interest
in bicycle accidents of Chipata District are hereby acknowledged for their willingness to
participate in this research and for cooperating with the research team during the process of data
collection.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Declaration………………………………………………………………………………..ii
Copyright………………………………………………………………………………....iii
Approval………………………………………………………………………………….iv
Abstract…………………………………………………………………………………....v
Dedication………………………………………………………………………………..vii
Acknowledgements……………………………………………………………………...viii
List of figures……………………………………………………………………………xiii
List of tables……………………………………………………………………………..xiv
List of pictures……………………………………………………………………………xv
List of appendices ………………..………………………………………………….…..xvi
List of acronyms and abbreviations...……………………………………………….….xvi
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION…………………………………………………..1
1.1 Overview……………………………………………………………………………1
1.2 Background to the study……………………… ……………………………………3
1.3 Statement of the Problem………………….……………………………………….12
1.4 Dimensions of the Research Problem…….………………………………………..13
1.4.1 Overview…….……………………………………………………………………..13
1.4.2 Factors contributing to Bicycle Accidents ................................................................ 13
1.5 Purpose of the Study………………………………………………………………..14
1.5.1 Specific Research Objectives .................................................................................... 14
1.6 Main Research Question……………………………………………………………15
1.6.1 Specific Research Questions ..................................................................................... 15
1.7 Significance of the Study…………………………………………………………...15
1.8 Conceptual Framework……………………………………………………………..16
1.8.1 Community–Police Links ......................................................................................... 18
1.8.2 Cyclists in the Community....................................................................................... 19
1.8.3 Role of Environmental Education in Improving Peoples’ Lives through Cycling ... 20
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1.8.4 Relevance of Bicycles to Environmental Education ................................................. 23
1.9 Theoretical framework …………………………………………………………… ..29
1.10 Organization of the Thesis ........................................................................................ 32
1.11 Summary……………………………………………………………………………34
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW…………………………………………..35
2.1 Overview……………………………………………………………………………35
2.2 Road Traffic Accidents in General…………………………………………………35
2.3 Road Traffic Accidents and Sudden Deaths in Zambia…………………………….47
2.3.1 Interpretation of Sudden Death in Zambia ............................................................... 48
2.3.2 Accident Black Spots as Haunted Places .............................................................. ....52
2.4. Bicycles as an Environmental Issue…………………………………………….....55
2.4.1 Air Pollution ............................................................................................................. 55
2.4.2 Non-renewable Fuels Burned ................................................................................... 55
2.4.3 Appropriateness of bicycles for Short Trips ............................................................. 56
2.4.4 Reducing the Parking Problem ................................................................................. 56
2.5 Factors behind Bicycle Accidents…………………………………………………..56
2.6 Measures to Address Bicycle Accidents……………………………………………60
2.7 Summary……………………………………………………………………………75
CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY……………………………..76
3.1 Overview……………………………………………………………………………76
3.2 Research Design……………………………………………………………………76
3.2.1 Justification for Research Design ............................................................................. 78
3.3 Location of Study…………………………………………………………………...81
3.4 List of Variables…………………………………………………………………….81
3.4.1 Dependent Variable ................................................................................................... 82
3.4.2 Independent Variables ............................................................................................... 82
3.5 Study Population and Sample Size…………………………………………………86
3.6 Sampling Techniques……………………………………………………………….87
3.6.1 Simple Random Sampling (SRS).............................................................................. 87
3.6.2 Purposive Sampling (PS) .......................................................................................... 87
3.7 Research Instruments……………………………………………………………….88
3.7.1 Instrument for Quantitative Data .............................................................................. 88
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