Impacts of Social-Cultural Factors on the Management of Deep Pools of Likangala River, Malawi
Rodgers Makwinja *
Department of Physics and Biochemical Sciences, University of Malawi- the Polytechnic, Private Bag 303, Chichiri, Blantyre 3, Malawi.
Victor Chipofya
Institute of Water and Environmental Sanitation, P.O.Box 32762, Blantyre 3, Malawi.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The study was conducted to analyse the impact of social cultural factors on the management of deep pools in Likangala River during Lake Chilwa recession period. A comprehensive survey which covered 120 households was carried out. Using logit analysis, the study showed that the use of local leaders, indigenous knowledge, initiation ceremony, age of the household heads, culture and traditional beliefs were significant factors affecting the management of the water resource in the pools. The study concluded that the sustainable management of water resource in the pools can be achieved by integration of scientific principles with indigenous knowledge, traditional beliefs and culture of the communities. The study further recommended the involvement of local leaders in policy formulation regarding integrated water resource management in order to achieve sustainable use and management of the water resource in Likangala River.
Keywords: Lake Chilwa, Likangala River, logistic regression, Malawi, social-cultural.