Sweet but Toxic: Organophosphate Pesticide Residues in Nigerian Honey as an Emerging Threat to Food Safety and Agriculture

Honey, despite its nutritional and therapeutic properties, can pose significant risks to environmental health and food safety due to the presence of contaminants. This study investigated the occurrence of organophosphate pesticide residues in honey samples collected from hard-to-reach apiaries in Nigeria and examined the relationship between these residues, honey purity, and nutritional composition. Multiple organophosphate residues were detected using Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry, with dimethoate and merphor being the most prevalent. Although all detected concentrations were below the maximum residue limits (MRLs) set by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), some values, particularly dimethoate from Imosan, approached the regulatory thresholds. Nutritional analysis revealed that the protein, moisture, ash, and sugar contents of the honey samples generally fell within international quality standards. Statistical correlations indicated strong associations between honey purity and pesticide residues, as well as with moisture and dry matter content. This study underscores the need for continuous monitoring of pesticide residues in apicultural products and highlights potential implications for food safety and public health

Editorial: Interdisciplinary Approaches to Public Health and Sustainable Development

Sustainable development and public health are inherently complex challenges that require interdisciplinary collaboration. This editorial highlights four recent studies that exemplify the critical role of interdisciplinary research. These studies address key issues in malaria control, aquaculture management, veterinary education, and zoonotic diseases. They provide valuable insights into how integrated approaches can advance both economic and public health objectives

A Comparative Study of Pharmaceutical and Bio-Equivalence Characteristics of Different Brands of Extended-Release Diclofenac Sodium Marketed in Zambia Using the Mongoloid Dog Model

Diclofenac sodium is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory compound (NSAID) that is used to treat inflammation and manage pain caused by various conditions. In Zambia, numerous generic brands of diclofenac are available on the market, providing prescribers and patients with a wide range of options. This Study compared pharmaceutical and bioequivalence characteristics of three (3) different brands of extended-release diclofenac sodium 100mg tablets marketed in Zambia. An analytical technique was employed to examine physicochemical parameters. The dissolution analysis was conducted using the paddle technique. A randomised, single-dose, two-way crossover design was performed on six Mongoloid female dogs that were fasted. After receiving 100 mg diclofenac sodium tablets orally, the levels of diclofenac in the plasma were determined using UV-Vis spectrophotometry. Pharmacokinetic parameters, including the time taken for maximum drug concentration (T-max), maximum drug concentration in plasma after dosing (C-max), area under the curve from 0 to 10 (AUC 0-10), and area under the curve infinity (AUC ∞), were determined through a non-compartmental procedure. The physicochemical characteristics were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA), while Bioequivalence was assessed using the linear-log trapezoidal rule method. The non-aqueous titration showed that the purity of diclofenac ranged from 95.41% to 102.8% w/w. All brands were well absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract, and the parameters were within the acceptable range set by the FDA for Bioequivalence. The 100 mg diclofenac sodium extended-release tablets from three brands had good physical and chemical properties and met the criteria for drug release. However, there were noticeable differences in the AUC0-10hrs between brand A and brands B and C, suggesting that while the brands are chemically similar, they are not equal in terms of biological equivalence

Assembling a National Colonial Archive: Considering the Influence and Historical Legacy of the Kaunda Era on Zambia’s Archives

Drawing mainly from original archival research, this paper aims to explore the contribution and impact of the Kaunda administration in establishing an independent national archive and archiving system in Zambia, between 1964 to 1969. The attainment of independence in Zambia, under Kenneth Kaunda’s leadership and the United National Independence Party (UNIP), served as a transformative catalyst, paving the way for the establishment of an autonomous national archive and an archiving system preserved within Zambia rather than abroad in Zimbabwe. From the mid-1940s, Zambia’s public archives material was kept and preserved in Zimbabwe (formerly Southern Rhodesia) due to the absence of a mature archiving and records management system in Zambia (then Northern Rhodesia). Negotiations between Southern Rhodesia, Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland led to the establishment of a shared archival service, resulting in Northern Rhodesia’s archives being centralised at the Central African Archives in Salisbury (Harare) until the 1960s, coinciding with the advent of Kaunda's administration. This article argues that, the Kaunda administration was instrumental in reclaiming Zambia’s colonial archives from the custody of Southern Rhodesia Archives in Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia. This move played a crucial role in the establishment of an independent national archive, which now serves as an essential resource for Zambia’s national history. By scrutinising the repatriation of archives material from Zimbabwe to Zambia and the establishment of the archiving system as well as the development of archival legislation from colonial era standards to contemporary frameworks influenced by the political context of independence and burgeoning nationalism, this paper endeavours to explain the critical role of Kaunda’s administration initiatives in preserving Zambia’s national history

Sources of Official Poverty Data: Reflections on Sixty Years of the Production of Statistics on Poverty in Zambia, 1964-2024

This article explores the evolution of official statistics on poverty in Zambia during the first sixty years of independence. Using various government reports and oral sources, it analyses the sources of data on poverty and how they shaped the understanding of the phenomenon. It demonstrates that up to the late 1980s, the sources of poverty-related data were household budget surveys whose emphasis was on data required for computing national income indices. Therefore, data on poverty from these sources were incomprehensive. However, with the economic decline and the negative effects of Structural Adjustment, the collection of data on poverty increased significantly from the 1990s. More regular and comprehensive multidimensional surveys were undertaken, which emphasised the living conditions of the people rather than income indices. This resulted in more comprehensive data on living conditions and a better understanding of the poverty situation. The data informed the efforts made by government and other stakeholders to combat poverty in Zambia

Comparative Study of Growth and Survival of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and Three Spotted Tilapia (Oreochromis andersonii) Overwintered in Concrete Ponds in Zambia.

This study aims to provide information on the growth of tilapia in winter nurseries. This will help alleviate the adverse effects of the cold season on aquaculture in Zambia. In this study, Oreochromis niloticus (T1) and Oreochromis andersonii (T2), with initial mean weights of 2.12 ± 1.03 and 2.20 ± 1.03g respectively were used. The fingerlings were stocked in six concrete ponds (7 × 5 m) at 6 fish/m2 (180 fish/pond), in three replications, which resulted in a total of 1080experimental fish. After 12 weeks of culture, the average weight gain (AWG) was 24.37 ±3.67 g for O. niloticus and 20.49 for ± 1.50for O. andersonii. There were no significant differences (P > 0.05) in the final weights (FW), average weight gain (AWG), specific growth rate (SGR), and survival rates of the two species. However, the food conversion ratio (FCR) for O. niloticus of 1.07 ± 0.11was significantly better (P < 0.05) than for O.andersonii of 1.62 ± 0.10. The findings showed that O. andersonii can exhibit similar attributes as O. niloticus in terms of growth and survival in semi-intensive culture and by the end of the cold season, both species were overwintered to weights suitable for grow-out culture. Overwintering of late spawn tilapia may help provide ready-to-stock fingerlings at the onset of the fish growing season in Zambi

Editorial Comment

The six articles in this volume are almost evenly spread between language (linguistics) and literature, with one article focused on onomastics. The literature articles include: “Some Novels are Novels while Others are not: Carnivalesque and Spontaneity in Dambudzo Marechera’s House of Hunger” (Gankhanani Moffat Moyo and Stewart Crehan). This article investigates the concept of novelness in the context of Marechera’s House of Hunger. Shadreck Kondala’s “Contradictions of a Society in Transition: A Look at Henry Musenge’s Novel Changing Shadows”. The paper highlights the contradictions that characterise a society undergoing cultural transition. Mukundwe Siame and Parnwell Munatamba contributed “’Our Hell is the Other’: ‘The Other’ in Albert Camus’s The Stranger” which examines Camus’ existentialist view of hell

Evaluating the Effects of Garlic (Allium sativum) as a Feed Additive on the Growth Performance and Immune Response in Broiler Chickens

In a quest to find affordable, antibiotics free and readily available means of increasing broiler meat productivity, a number of natural feed additives have been tested and suggested. Garlic (Allium sativum) has emerged as a preferable alternative to synthetic feed additives. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of garlic as a feed additive on feed intake, weight gain, feed conversion ratio, and immune response. 300-day-old chicks were acclimatized for 2 weeks and then randomly assigned to 5 treatments (0.00%, 0.25%, 0.50%, 0.75%, and 1.00% garlic inclusion levels) with replicates. Mean weekly feed intake, weight gain, feed conversion ratio, and differential leucocyte counts (lymphocytes, heterophils, basophils, eosinophils, and monocytes) were analyzed for treatment effects. There were significant differences among the means across all treatments for all dependent variables except mean weekly body weight gain at 2 weeks. Garlic supplementation significantly influenced body weight from three to six weeks of age, with the control group (0.00%) consistently exhibiting the lowest body weight. At six weeks, body weight was highest at 0.75%, followed by 1.00%, 0.50%, and 0.25% garlic inclusion levels, demonstrating the positive impact of dietary garlic on growth performance. It was also observed that garlic supplementation led to increases in the basophil and monocyte counts, suggesting a bolstered immune system

Response of the United Church of Zambia to the Conflict Generated by the Barotseland Agreement and the Associated 2010-2011 Shooting Incidents Involving the Linyungandambo Activists

This article investigates the role of the United Church of Zambia (UCZ) in fostering national reconciliation amidst the conflicts arising from the Barotseland Agreement between 2010 and 2011. The purpose of this study was to enhance understanding of the UCZ's impact on helping to prevent socio-economic and political conflicts from escalating into violence. Employing a qualitative methodology, the research involved individual and group interviews with diverse respondents including members of the Barotseland Agreement activists among whom were also members of the UCZ; current leaders of the UCZ; some political leaders and scholars who were also members of the UCZ during the conflict as well as leaders of the Church Mother Bodies. Data was analyzed through simultaneous coding, content analysis, and thematic analysis. The findings revealed that the UCZ largely failed to engage meaningfully in the reconciliation process, exhibiting partiality and a lack of strategic planning, which resulted in its perceived role as a silent bystander during the conflict induced by the Barotseland Agreement. The study identified inefficiencies in the church's prophetic voice, suggesting that it did not adequately fulfill its moral obligation to promote peace and justice as authorized by its own Constitution. Ultimately, this work aims to contribute to a more nuanced understanding of the UCZ's potential in peacebuilding and its capacity to influence national peace and reconciliation issues in Zambia. The study ends by making several recommendations including: the need for UCZ to adopt a policy of neutrality during national conflicts, develop a strategic plan for national reconciliation, and develop a platform for national dialogue with the government

Exploring Reasons Against Naming Children after Deceased Members of the Lineage in Pentecostal Churches of Lusaka

The act of naming both living and non-living things is as old as humankind. Biblically, it started in the time of Adam.. Therefore, the main objective of the study is to explore the logic behind naming Children after deceased members of the lineage in Zambian Cultures from a Pentecostal perspective. The study used a case study design that involved the use of qualitative methods. The target population for the study was 20 selected Pentecostal Churches. The eligible respondents included 20 pastors, 10 parents, 10 Church Leaders (Deacons & Elders) as well as 8 focus group participants (comprising parents, deacons & elders) bringing the total number to 48 respondents; all of them ranging from 35 years and above. The participants were selected using purposive and snowballing methods and the data were collected using in-depth interviews and a Focus Group Discussion guide. The data collected were analyzed thematically. The study revealed that in the Zambian cultures naming Children after deceased members of the lineage is fundamentally meant to keep the tradition. The findings show that the Pentecostals' perspective on naming children after deceased family members is the same as the traditionalist perspective. Yet, Pentecostals oppose the naming of their children after the deceased members of the lineage. I, therefore, recommend that the Pentecostal Churches should find a mid-way of incorporating Zambian naming culture into its theology or doctrines. In this manner, the cultural heritage of the Zambian Pentecostals would be upheld and valued