Public Servants’ Perception on Discipline Management and Justice in Tanzania Public Service

Abstract

Abstract This paper assesses public servants’ perception on how justice is dispensed by disciplinary authorities in Tanzania’s public service. The attributes assessed were; adherence to legislations and disciplinary procedures, progressive discipline, employees’ involvement in disciplinary proceedings, parity between punishments given to offenses committed and power struggle among disciplinary authorities. Bureaucratic theory informed the study by showing how management prerogative in formulating and enforcing the rules shapes public service discipline management. Attribution theory showed how employees form justice perceptions. Data was collected through survey using questionnaires administered to case study respondents and through interview conducted to the key informants using interview guides. The findings reveal that, defiance of legislations and actors’ incompetence cause irregularities such as unreasoned decision, inappropriate application of formal and informal proceedings and power abuse which hamper justice. The paper calls for competent adherence to the legislations and procedures for justice to prevail in discipline management.