Examining Stakeholder Management Process in Project Management: A Case Study of the Mungwi District Phase 1 of Road Construction Project

Author(s): Carol Makama and Dr. Kelvin Chibomba

Abstract:

Road construction is essential for infrastructure development, economic growth, and community connectivity, and its success largely depends on effective stakeholder management. In Zambia, major initiatives such as the Link Zambia 8000 which targets the construction of 8,000 kilometers of roads demonstrate the importance of strong stakeholder coordination for project sustainability. This study examined stakeholder management in Phase 1 of road construction projects in Mungwi District, focusing on the types, effectiveness, and influence of stakeholder practices on project success, as well as limitations affecting their implementation. A quantitative case study was conducted with 70 targeted participants, of whom 63 stakeholders responded using semi-structured questionnaires that enabled flexible and detailed perspectives. Findings revealed that participants were predominantly male, mostly aged 36–45, with stakeholders being highly educated, as 80% held tertiary qualifications, while many community members (36%) worked in informal employment. Long-term residency among community members (54.5%) strengthened engagement in road projects. Stakeholder participation was primarily led by engineers (40%) and contractors (30%), while local government officials (15%), councilors (10%), and community members (5%) provided oversight, advocacy, and feedback to ensure alignment with community needs. However, decision-making was dominated by contractors (80%) and engineers (81.8%), resulting in low community involvement, with 58.2% rarely participating. Radio announcements (43.6%) emerged as the main communication method. Stakeholder management practices were moderately effective, with 23.6% of respondents rating meetings effective and 22% viewing updates as accessible, although 45.5% perceived minimal impact on project outcomes. Statistical analysis demonstrated strong positive relationships between stakeholder engagement and project performance, particularly involving local government, community leaders, engineers, and community participation. Challenges included political interference, inadequate communication, insufficient funding, delayed approvals, and limited local leadership capacity, all of which constrained effective engagement. Overall, the study underscores that transparent, inclusive stakeholder management is essential for improving rural road project outcomes, recommending enhanced communication, greater participation, reduced political interference, and stronger leadership capacity to support sustainable infrastructure development.

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Pages: 39-49     |    2 View     |    0 Download