Article section

Article title
Contributor
Abstract
About article
DOI
Citation style
Copyright
Open access
References
Research Article

Sanitation Regulatory Enforcement Roles of the Mandated Institutions: The Peri-Urban Areas Lived Experiences Lusaka, Zambia

Authors

  • James Mwale Department of Development Studies, The University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia https://orcid.org/0009-0009-3554-2153

    jamesmwle@gmail.com

  • Vincent Kanyamuna Department of Development Studies, The University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
  • John Moose Department of Development Studies, The University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
  • Francis Simui Department of Development Studies, The University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7199-2970

Abstract

To understand sanitation regulatory enforcement roles, the study was guided by an objective which explored how regulatory institutions enforce sanitation standards in Lusaka's peri-urban communities. Working from an Interpretive phenomenology perspective, the researcher co-created meanings through interactions with the stakeholders during data collection stage. The researcher analysed data using a manual reflexive thematic analysis. The study revealed that Lusaka City Council play a dual role in on-site sanitation delivery. Lusaka City Council regulates on-site sanitation enforce sanitation standards and service provision. The study further found that the Local stakeholders proved essential in enforcing sanitation laws. This highlight a novel dimension given that sanitation enforcement has always been top-down as opposed to bottom -up enforcement. Moreover, the study disclosed that most residents in peri-urban areas were exposed to faecal with a high risk of disease outbreaks. Furthermore, there is inadequate vaccination coverage for the service providers. Another significant challenge was multiple licensing regime which create bottlenecks of on-site sanitation service provision. The challenge of multiple licensing which increases the cost of operations, emanates from low sanitation emptying services demand forcing the operators to have many operating outlet’s indifferent locations. The researcher applied systems theory which revealed the institutional interdependences among them. Most of the communities depend on each other-when one-part falters, the entire sanitation system suffers. This perspective made it clear that lasting improvements require coordinated efforts across infrastructure development, regulation, household involvement, and community engagement. The study is significant as it informs policy on the need to integrate a single licensing regime as well as formalising the bottom-up sanitation law enforcement.

Keywords:

Pit Emptying Services Regulatory Roles Sanitation Enforcement Single Sanitation Licensing

Article information

Journal

Journal of Arts, Humanities and Social Science

Volume (Issue)

2(3), (2025)

Pages

197-209

Published

11-12-2025

How to Cite

Mwale, J., Kanyamuna, V., Moose, J., & Simui, F. (2025). Sanitation Regulatory Enforcement Roles of the Mandated Institutions: The Peri-Urban Areas Lived Experiences Lusaka, Zambia. Journal of Arts, Humanities and Social Science, 2(3), 197-209. https://doi.org/10.69739/jahss.v2i3.1346

References

Abalo, E. M., Agyemang, S., Atio, S., Ofosu-Bosompem, D., Peprah, P., & Ampomah-Sarpong, R (2017). Environmental sanitation unleashed: Effectiveness and challenges of the National Sanitation Day as a community sanitation participatory approach in Aboabo, Ghana. Cogent Environmental Science, 3(1), 1405888. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311843.2017.1405888

AfDB (2015). Lusaka Sanitation Program-climate Resilient Sustainable Infrastructure-ESMF Summary. AfDB.

Agenda 2063: The Africa we want. (2015). African Union Commission.

Ahmed, S. K. (2024). The pillars of trustworthiness in qualitative research. Journal of Medicine, Surgery, and Public Health, 2, 100051. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.glmedi.2024.100051

Ahmed, S. K., & Ahmed, S. S. (2017, December). Socio-cultural acceptability of urine diverted composting toilets: A review of literature for possible adoption in peri-urban areas as a sustainable sanitation solution. In AIP Conference Proceedings (Vol. 1919, No. 1, p. 020043). AIP Publishing LLC. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5018561

Akhter, S. (2022). Key Informants’ Interviews. In M. R. Islam, N. A. Khan, & R. Baikady (Eds), Principles of Social Research Methodology (pp. 389–403). Springer Nature Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-5441-2_27

Alagidede, P., & Alagidede, A. N. (2016). The public health effects of water and sanitation in selected West African countries. Public Health, 130, 59–63. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2015.07.037

Antwi-Agyei, P., Monney, I., Dwumfour-Asare, B., & Cavill, S. (2019). Toilets for tenants: A cooperative approach to sanitation bye-law enforcement in Ga West, Accra. Environment and Urbanization, 31(1), 293–308. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956247818800654

Arias-Gómez, J., Villasís-Keever, M. Á., & Miranda-Novales, M. G. (2016). El protocolo de investigación III: La población de estudio. Revista Alergia México, 63(2), 201–206. https://doi.org/10.29262/ram.v63i2.181

Bardosh, K. (2015). Achieving “Total Sanitation” in Rural African Geographies: Poverty, Participation and Pit Latrines in Eastern Zambia. Geoforum, 66, 53–63. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoforum.2015.09.004

Brown, J., Albert, J., & Whittington, D. (2019). Community-Led Total Sanitation Moves the Needle on Ending Open Defecation in Zambia. The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 100(4), 767–769. https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.19-0151

Cresswell, J. (2007). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five (2nd ed). Sage.

Dijk. (2012). GTZ Sanitation Project in Koulikoro.

Donacho, D. O., Tucho, G. T., Soboksa, N. E., Faro, M. H., & Hailu, A. B. (2023). Qualitative Analysis of Onsite Sanitation Challenges in an Urban Setting: The Case of Jimma Town, Ethiopia. Environmental Health Insights, 17, 11786302231154421. https://doi.org/10.1177/11786302231154421

Drabble, S., Grisaffi, C., Majuru, B., Magawa, Y., & Gakubia, R. (2025). Active regulating of onsite sanitation can bridge the gap between policy and practice and transform the sector. PLOS Water, 4(9), e0000414. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pwat.0000414

ECA. (2018). Pit-emptying practices in Lusaka: How to encourage households to use safer and more environmentally friendly services. https://www.eca-uk.com/2018/06/21/pit-emptying-practices-in-lusaka-how-to-encourage-households-to-use-safer-and-more-environmentally-friendly-services

Eryilmaz, Ö. (2022). Are Dissertations Trustworthy Enough? The case of Turkish Ph.D. Dissertations on Social Studies Education. Participatory Educational Research, 9(3), 344–361. https://doi.org/10.17275/per.22.70.9.3

Fobil, J. N., Armah, N. A., Hogarh, J. N., & C arboo, D. (2008). The influence of institutions and organizations on urban waste collection systems: an analysis of waste collection system in Accra, Ghana (1985–2000). Journal of environmental management, 86(1), 262-271.

Gerring, J. (2004). What Is a Case Study and What Is It Good for? American Political Science Review, 98(2), 341–354. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0003055404001182

Haruna, S. (2023). A Phonological Study of Consonants and Vowels Phonemic Merger in Hausa. British Journal of Multidisciplinary and Advanced Studies, 4(3), 45–59. https://doi.org/10.37745/bjmas.2022.0196

Howard, G. (2021). The future of water and sanitation: Global challenges and the need for greater ambition. Journal of Water Supply: Research and Technology-Aqua, 70(4), 438–448. https://doi.org/10.2166/aqua.2021.127

Hubbard, S. C., Meltzer, M. I., Kim, S., Malambo, W., Thornton, A. T., Shankar, M. B., Adhikari, B. B., Jeon, S., Bampoe, V. D., Cunningham, L. C., Murphy, J. L., Derado, G., Mintz, E. D., Mwale, F. K., Chizema-Kawesha, E., & Brunkard, J. M. (2020). Household illness and associated water and sanitation factors in peri-urban Lusaka, Zambia, 2016–2017. Npj Clean Water, 3(1), 26. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41545-020-0076-4

Keeves. (1997). Educational research, methodology and measurement: Handbook, an international handbook (2nd ed.). Pergamon.

Kiger, M. E., & Varpio, L. (2020). Thematic analysis of qualitative data: AMEE Guide No. 131. Medical Teacher, 42(8), 846–854. https://doi.org/10.1080/0142159X.2020.1755030

Kivunja, C., & Kuyini, A. B. (2017). Understanding and Applying Research Paradigms in Educational Contexts. International Journal of Higher Education, 6(5), 26. https://doi.org/10.5430/ijhe.v6n5p26

Kosoe, E. A., & Ahmed, A. (2024). Drivers of ineffective environmental sanitation byelaws in Ghana: Implications for environmental governance. Urban Governance, 4(1), 16–24. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ugj.2023.09.004

Kyere, R., Addaney, M., & Ayaribilla Akudugu, J. (2019). Decentralization and Solid Waste Management in Urbanizing Ghana: Moving beyond the Status Quo. In H. El-Din Mostafa Saleh (Ed.), Municipal Solid Waste Management. IntechOpen. https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.81894

Lerebours, A., Scott, R., Sansom, K., & Kayaga, S. (2021). Regulating sanitation services in sub-Saharan africa: An overview of the regulation of emptying and transport of faecal sludge in 20 cities and its implementation. Utilities Policy, 73, 101315. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jup.2021.101315

Lerebours, A., Scott, R., Sansom, K., & Kayaga, S. (2022). Barriers and Enablers to the Regulation of Sanitation Services: A Framework for Emptying and Transport Services in Sub-Saharan African Cities. Frontiers in Environmental Science, 10, 869403. https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2022.869403

Mensah, J., Amoah, J. O., Mattah, P. A. D., & Mensah, A. (2023). Causes and effects of weak enforcement of environmental sanitation laws in Ghana. Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 33(5), 663–684. https://doi.org/10.1080/10911359.2022.2080146

Mensah, J., Mattah, P. A. D., Amoah, J. O., & Mattah, M. M. (2022). Public compliance with environmental sanitation regulations in Ghana. Open Health, 3(1), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1515/openhe-2022-0001

Mubanga, R. O., & Kwarteng, K. (2020). A comparative evaluation of the environmental impact assessment legislation of South Africa and Zambia. Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 83, 106401. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eiar.2020.106401

Muia Mutua, J. K., Agwata, J. F., & Anyango, S. (2017). Effectiveness of sanitation policy instruments in Mavoko Municipality of Machakos County, Kenya. Cogent Environmental Science, 3(1), 1339387. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311843.2017.1339387

Munamati, M., Nhapi, I., & Misi, S. (2016). Exploring the determinants of sanitation success in Sub-Saharan Africa. Water Research, 103, 435–443. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2016.07.030

National Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Program. (2006). National Water Supply and Sanitation Council (NWASCO).

NWASCO. (2018). Urban Onsite sanitation and Faecal sludge Management Framework for Provision and regulation in Zambia. https://www.susana.org/_resources/documents/default/3-3327-7-1530187197.pdf

Obani, P., & Gupta, J. (2014). Legal pluralism in the area of human rights: Water and sanitation. Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability, 11, 63–70. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cosust.2014.09.014

Osborne, N., & Grant-Smith, D. (2021). In-Depth Interviewing. In S. Baum (Ed.), Methods in Urban Analysis (pp. 105–125). Springer Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-1677-8_7

Rajapakse, J., Otoo, M., & Danso, G. (2023). Progress in delivering SDG6: Safe water and sanitation. Cambridge Prisms: Water, 1, e6. https://doi.org/10.1017/wat.2023.5

Robinson, R. S. (2014). Purposive Sampling. In A. C. Michalos (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Quality of Life and Well-Being Research (pp. 5243–5245). Springer Netherlands. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-0753-5_2337

Rochelle, H., James, M. T., & Bernard, T. (2015). A comparative study of faecal sludge management in Malawi and Zambia: Status, challenges and opportunities in pit latrine emptying. African Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 9(11), 783–792. https://doi.org/10.5897/AJEST2015.1971

Sauce, B., & Matzel, L. D. (2017). Inductive Reasoning. In J. Vonk & T. Shackelford (Eds), Encyclopedia of Animal Cognition and Behavior (pp. 1–8). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-47829-6_1045-1

Saunders, M., Lewis, P., & Thornhill, A. (2009). Research methods for business students (5th ed.). Financial Times Prentice Hall.

Scotland, J. (2012). Exploring the Philosophical Underpinnings of Research: Relating Ontology and Epistemology to the Methodology and Methods of the Scientific, Interpretive, and Critical Research Paradigms. English Language Teaching, 5(9), 9. https://doi.org/10.5539/elt.v5n9p9

SNV. (2024). Advancing sanitation governance in Zambia [A snapshot of the strengthened regulations for onsite sanitation and faecal sludge management]. SNV. https://www.snv.org/assets/downloads/f/191310/x/477d30c695/2024-advancing-sanitation-governance-zm-snv.pdf

Suri, H. (2011). Purposeful Sampling in Qualitative Research Synthesis. Qualitative Research Journal, 11(2), 63–75. https://doi.org/10.3316/QRJ1102063

Tomoi, H., Ingumba, B. B., Simiyu, S., Otteng, E., Osewe, J., Majiwa, H., Braun, L., Cumming, O., & Moriyasu, T. (2025). Barriers and enablers for group-based manual emptying services for onsite sanitation facilities in Nairobi, Kenya: A qualitative study. International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health, 267, 114595. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheh.2025.114595

UNGA. (2010). The human right to water and sanitation. [In: 108th Plenary Meeting].

UNICEF and WHO. (2019). PROGRESS on Household Drinking Water, Sanitation and Hygiene 2000–2017: Special Focus on Inequalities; United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF): New York, NY, USA; World Health Organization (WHO): Geneva, Switzerland.

United Nations. (2015). Transforming our world: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. https://sdgs.un.org/2030agenda

Weststrate, J., Gianoli, A., Eshuis, J., Dijkstra, G., Cossa, I. J., & Rusca, M. (2019). The regulation of onsite sanitation in Maputo, Mozambique. Utilities Policy, 61, 100968. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jup.2019.100968

WHO. (2019). Water, sanitation, hygiene and health. https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/330100/WHO-CED-PHE-WSH-19.149-eng.pdf

WHO/UNICEF. (2017). Annual Report WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (JMP).

WSUP. (2025). Referee! Responsibilities, regulations and regulating for urban sanitation. Water & Sanitation for Urban Populations. https://journals.plos.org/water/article?id=10.1371%2Fjournal.pwat.0000414

Downloads

Views

18

Downloads

11