Editorial Policy

UNZA JABS Editorial Policy

The Editorial Board of the University of Zambia Journal of Agricultural and Biomedical Sciences (JABS) is responsible for determining which submitted articles are accepted for publication. In making these decisions, the Board is guided by the journal’s Editorial Policy, as well as legal obligations concerning libel, copyright infringement, and plagiarism.

1. Editorial Responsibility and Decision-Making

  • The Editorial Board reserves the right to decline publication of manuscripts that do not meet the required standards in terms of scientific content, methodological rigor, or formal presentation.
  • Authors will be informed of the editorial decision—acceptance, revision, or rejection—within three (3) months from the date of submission.
  • All editorial decisions are based solely on the academic merit of the submission and its relevance to the journal’s scope.

2. Conflict of Interest

  • Members of the Editorial Board must declare any potential conflicts of interest in handling a manuscript.
  • If a conflict exists or is perceived, the affected editor must recuse themselves, and the responsibility for managing the manuscript will be transferred to another editor or member of the Board without such conflict.

3. Impartiality and Fairness

  • Manuscripts are evaluated objectively and without bias related to the authors’ race, gender, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, ethnic origin, citizenship, or political philosophy.
  • The journal promotes equity and fairness throughout the editorial process.

4. Confidentiality

  • The Editors and Editorial Staff will treat all submitted manuscripts as confidential documents.
  • Unpublished material disclosed in a manuscript must not be used by editors or staff for personal gain or in any form without the explicit written consent of the author(s).
  • Editors and reviewers are required to maintain confidentiality concerning the content and outcomes of the peer review process.

5. Double-Blind Peer Review

  • UNZA JABS employs a double-blind peer review system to ensure objectivity:
    • Authors’ identities are concealed from reviewers.
    • Reviewers’ identities are also concealed from authors throughout the review process.
  • The Editorial Board ensures that appropriate reviewers are selected based on subject expertise, and that the review process is fair, rigorous, and timely.