Tanzanian Government Research Articles

Utilisation of E-Government Services during the Covid-19 Pandemic: Exploring Efforts by the Government of Tanzania

This article attempts to examine the Tanzanian Government’s utilisation of e-government services during the Covid-19 pandemic. The methodological approach of the article is online content review due to the phenomenological nature of the unfolding pandemic. The review is based on the researcher’s observations and analysis of the e-government platforms leveraged in Covid-19 pandemic. The results indicate that e-government has been embraced significantly through the efforts done by the government to make citizens more informed about the pandemic and to promote use of e-services. E-government is presented as among the key tools for managing the spread of the pandemic. The article also paints government digital transformation as a huge opportunity provided by e-government during the pandemic and beyond. The article contributes to literature by presenting the significance of e-government to developing countries during crises including: government-wide online presence, quality information provision, G2C and G2G e-services, online engagement and social media presence. The review shows that collaboration and coordination among government entities are strategic techniques for an integrated and efficient digital government. Rightly so, the policy makers are recommended to strengthen inter-governmental collaboration and coordination in planning, developing, implementing and maintaining e-government services.

Why Did “the Bulldozer” Want to Run Over the Women? Contextualization of Anti-Women Rhetoric in Tanzanian Politics under John Magufuli

This article examines the transformation of political discourse on women’s rights and women-oriented NGOs in Tanzania, focusing on successive state administrations within the same political party, led by John Pombe Magufuli and Jakaya Kikwete. The analysis unfolds through three key phases: first, characterizing the habitus of Tanzanian women’s NGOs; second, examining the evolving narratives in government-NGO relations; and third, briefly exploring the political discourse during the Kikwete and Magufuli presidencies. The research methodology is based on extensive desk research and two field studies conducted in Tanzania. Rather than adhering to a preconceived theory, our research approach is guided by theorems and selected frameworks. Pierre Bourdieu’s theoretical concepts, particularly ‘habitus’ and the ‘exchangeability of different forms of capital,’ underpin our argument and interpretation of the data. The study shows that while elements of anti-feminism are evident in Magufuli’s political discourse, accusations of promoting toxic masculinity are mainly unfounded. At the same time, it argues that the critique of women’s empowerment and women-focused NGOs can be attributed to Magufuli’s unique mode of accumulating political and economic capital, leading to heightened distrust in the relationship between these NGOs and the Tanzanian government.

Assessment on Influence of the Controller and Audit General Reports on Financial Accountability in Tanzania: A Case Study of Mwanza City Council

The responsibilities of public sectors undertakings in providing the basic transparent to society requires strong financial management. The efficient and effective utilization of available resources in Local Government Authorities (LGA) has been a topic of high interest worldwide including Tanzania. The study assessed the influence of the Controller Audit General (CAG) audit report on financial accountability in Mwanza City Council (MCC). The study has been motivated by the efforts exerted by public sector stakeholders worldwide to properly utilize public resources in local governments. To achieve this objective, the study employed both primary and secondary data. The secondary data were mainly compiled from the CAG general reports of Tanzanian local government, while primary data were collected by using structured questionnaire distributed to MCC accountants, internal auditors, procurements, planning officers, council director and ward councilors that made a total of eighty (80) respondents The study employed statistical techniques to address the subject matter of the research problem. Among other things the study found that quality of financial reporting is very significant in enhancing financial reporting and financial accountability of MCC. Also it was found that the adoptions of IPSASs accrual basis of accounting of MCC will improve decision making, transparency, and accountability. The MCC management is urged to continue improving the proper utilization of CAG finance auditing report to ensure financial accountability and enhancing quality provision of social services to the citizen.

Rethinking the Role of Institutions in Water Resource Governance in Tanzania: What is Still Missing?

The question of how the government would ensure water supply for its people while protecting the environment remains a challenging endeavour. Emerging water resource management challenges have driven governments to reform governance policies. This includes the introduction of formal institutions of water management. Additionally, the Tanzanian government adopted Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) frameworks. However, evidence indicates that establishing formal institutions (which replaced the informal ones) has achieved little in improving water supply and ensuring sustainable water management. This study asks what is still needed to achieve sustainable water management in Tanzania. Using a systematic literature review, the study examined the experience of water resources management in Tanzania, particularly the formal institutions. The study found that formal institutions have been unable to ensure sustainable water resources management; they have weakened the informal institutions and attracted water conflicts. The study calls for considering and integrating the informal institutions (that have been serving communities for generations) in water resources management initiatives.

Assessment of Viability of Coal Mines in Tanzania for Extraction of Rare Earth Elements

This study aimed at determining the concentrations of rare earth elements (REEs) in coal and coal fly ash (CFA) from three coal mines in Tanzania: Kiwira, Ngaka and Rukwa. The goal was to assess if these resources could be commercially viable for extracting REEs. Coal and CFA samples were analysed using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry and laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). The total concentrations of REEs in the coal samples ranged from 89.48 parts per million (ppm) to 196.30 ppm, while in CFA samples, ranged from 362.55 ppm to 475.77 ppm. Computed percentage of critical REEs (REYdef, rel%) and outlook coefficient (Coutl) values ranged from 27.41% to 50.74% and 0.62 to 2.00, respectively. Based on the evaluation criteria proposed for assessing coal and coal ash as sources of REEs, the results suggest that the studied coal and CFA samples have the potential to be used as sources of REEs for economic development. These findings have important implications for the Tanzanian government and other relevant authorities, as they provide valuable insights into the feasibility of investing in the coal and coal ash as promising sources of REEs. This is particularly significant considering the high global demands for REEs.

Land-Use Conflicts and an Alternative Wildlife Management Option for the Loliondo Game-controlled Area, Tanzania: Insights from a Community Survey

Summary This tourism case study pays attention to natural resource management conflicts surrounding the Loliondo Game-controlled Area which encompasses 4000 km 2 adjacent to Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Conservation Area in Tanzania. Maasai, the largest nomadic pastoralist ethnic group in Tanzania, accounts for the overwhelming majority of the population residing in the Loliondo Game-controlled Area. The Loliondo Game-controlled Area has suffered from land-use and property-right conflicts among stakeholders despite establishing a series of wildlife management policies concerning the area. Trophy-hunting tourism has been operated in the Loliondo Game-controlled Area by a transnational private corporation with the Tanzanian government’s exclusive permission. Trophy hunting conflicts with other land uses in the Loliondo Game-controlled Area, including non-consumptive tourism, pastoral livelihoods, and crop farming. Although the Village Land Act 1999 recognizes customary rights vested with local villages to wildlife management in the Game-controlled Areas, the Maasai communities in the Loliondo Game-controlled Area have yet to reap benefits from trophy hunting or photography tourism. To identify an alternative wildlife management option preferred by the Maasai communities, a community survey was conducted in 2018. A sample of 330 households was surveyed, with 55 in each of the six selected villages in the Loliondo Game-controlled Area. The survey confirmed that the Maasai communities were not involved in the decision-making process for wildlife management. This study has found that the Maasai communities strongly support establishing a Joint Venture Wildlife Management Area of 1500 km 2 within the Loliondo Game-controlled Area, with the remaining 2500 km 2 being allocated to grazing, farming, and human settlements. Under the Joint Venture Wildlife Management Area scheme, local villages would jointly manage wildlife and be entitled to rights to manage and use wildlife and other natural resources in the region. The overwhelming majority of the participants in the community survey were optimistic that the co-management scheme would help enhance natural resource management efficiency and social equity. Information © The Authors 2023

Intersexuality: What Primary and Specialized Healthcare Providers Should Know and Do to End Cosmetic and Harmful Medical Practices on Infants and Children Born with Intersex Variations in Tanzania

The Public Statement by the African Intersex Movement, 2017 extends demands to end discrimination against persons born with intersex variations in Africa through legislative and other means. Comestic, irreversible and harmful medical and clinical procedures infants and children born with intersex variations have been subject to include unconsented and medically unnecessary surgeries, mutilation and sterilization that cause irreversible physical and psychological harm. I demonstrate, Tanzania a signatory to The Human Rights Charter is mandated to follow the same route to ensure persons born with intersex variations live and enjoy the right to quality and equitable health and healthcare available without discrimination. To date, however, it is unclear what measures Tanzanian government has taken to prohibit medically unnecessary surgeries and procedures on infants and children born with intersex variations. Similarly, no enacted law banning harmful medical and clinical variations on infants and children born with intersex variations in this country; suggesting violation of intersex rights is ongoing. Data presented in this paper come from desk research I conducted on intersexuality in Tanzania and beyond. I conclude awareness of intersex conditions is increasing among researchers, persons born with intersex variations, parents/guardians, activists and the media. This increase would come with increasing horror, which may stimulate legal reform. I recommend primary and specialized care providers, and the Tanzania government in particular, ought not to wait for this dishonor to surface — rather should act now to end cosmetic and harmful surgeries and protect vulnerable infants and children born with intersex variations in this country.

Asset transfers and anti-poverty programs: Experimental evidence from Tanzania

We use a set of randomized experiments to examine the impact of a group business development program implemented by the Tanzanian government, along with a set of complementary training and cash transfer interventions targeted to vulnerable households in rural areas. In contrast with much of the recent literature, we find little effect of the business development program. While most enterprises remain operative three years after formation, even our highest estimates of effective wage rates suggest returns roughly equivalent to the opportunity cost of time for these households. Unconditional and unanticipated lump-sum cash transfers to randomly selected members of these groups induce all members to invest more in the enterprise, with seemingly little to no return on these marginal investments. Our results emphasize the importance of profitability as the key motivation for asset transfer-based social protection programs.

The First Female President in Tanzania: Analyzing Samia Suluhu Hassan's Electoral Success

The inauguration of Samia Suluhu Hassan as Tanzania's first female president in March 2021 caught the world's attention. Since the highest political positions are typically dominated by men, the career life of a new female president could be instructional for achieving gender parity in political participation. Previous Academic literature has studied women in power from different perspectives, including the upbring environment, personal characteristics, and special social context. In this article, I examine Samia's electoral success in the 2010 election, which was a major milestone on her path to becoming president, as it brought her to key positions in the Tanzanian government and the ruling party. I argue that Samia Suluhu's electoral success is largely due to her personal charisma and attributes, the encouraging international and domestic social context for women, as well as local politics and civil unrest in Zanzibar, which instigated a social consensus for the need for a new leadership style that Samia offered.

Assessing Pre-primary Teachers’ Involvement in Decision Making in Tanzanian Public Pre-primary Schools: A Look of Implementation of Structured Play Activities in Longido and Monduli Districts

This study examines the extent to which school administrators involve pre-primary teachers in decision making related to implementation of structured play activities in Tanzanian government pre-primary schools where Longido and Monduli were used as study cases. Collegial Models of educational leadership and management developed by Tony Bush guided the study. The study adopted Convergent design of mixed methods approach. Sample of the study included 268 respondents where 34 were head teachers, 34 were academic teachers, 136 were internal school quality assurance team members, and 64 were pre-primary teachers who were obtained through stratification, purposive, and simple randomly respectively. Data were collected through structured questionnaire and semi-structured interview. Quantitative data were analysed descriptively and through inferential statistics while qualitative data were analysed thematically. Findings show that teachers’ involvement in school administrative decision making related to structured play activities is very low. Hypothesis testing shows existence of significant relationship between low level of teachers’ involvement in school administrative decision making and those teachers’ inadequate implementation of structured play activities in pre-primary classes. The study concludes that low level of implementing structured play activities by the pre-primary teachers is associated with low level of teachers’ involvement in school administrative decision making. The study recommends that administrators should involve pre-primary teachers in decision making so as to improve implementation of structured play activities.

Exploring Administrators’ Use of Instructional Advisory Approaches in Enhancing Implementation of Structured Play Activities in Tanzanian Government Pre-primary Schools in Longido and Monduli Districts

This study examines the extent to which school administrators use instructional supervisory approaches in enhancing implementation of structured play activities in government pre-primary schools in Longido and Monduli Districts, in Arusha Region in Tanzania. The study was guided by Clinical Supervision Model developed by Goldhammar (1969,1993). Convergent research design was used because it allowed the researcher to collect quantitative and qualitative data so as to understand the problem in detail and triangulate the collected information. The sample consisted of 268 participants who were obtained through stratified, purposive and simple random sampling techniques. Data were collected through questionnaires, interviews, document analysis, and lesson observation. These tools were validated using triangulation and experts in the fields of research, administration and early childhood education. Reliability was ensured using. Cronbach alpha and triangulation techniques. Quantitative data were analyzed descriptively while qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings indicate the school administrators’ supervisory role on the implementation of structured play activities in pre-primary classes to be very low. Findings also show that school administrators used several approaches in supervising teaching and learning in pre-primary classes. These includes checking pre-primary teachers’ schemes of work and lesson plans, classroom observation, monitoring of pre-primary pupils’ progress and checking pre-primary pupils’ works. However, the approaches were moderately used by the school administrators. Structured play activities were also sparingly used. The study recommends that school administrators have to use instructional supervisory approaches to enhance application of the implementation of structured play activities in teaching and learning.

Development of Railway Information System to Improve Railway Data Aggregation and Analysis in Tanzania

For more than three decades, railway transportation in Tanzania has been in an on-and-off state even though a railway network exists. This is due to damaged tracks, a lack of proper management, and railway operational information. Recently, the Tanzanian government made efforts to revive railway transportation by reopening a few train routes and constructing a new and improved railway network. Even with revived operations, the digitalization process of railway data is still at a low pace as most data is populated in excel sheets for analysis; the major source of data being paper-based. With the use of a mixed research method, this paper provides an information system in the form of mobile and web applications, which provide a platform for populating railway data through the web application accessible to the railway corporation and disseminating railway information to the public through the mobile application. With these platforms, data aggregation and analysis have been made easier and more understandable than the use of excel sheets alone. The results show great possibilities for increased use of digital techniques such as web mapping, which contribute to higher data accuracy and better visualization of railway information that can be disseminated to the public.

THE ROLE OF UNICEF IN ADDRESSING THE HIV/AIDS EPIDEMIC IN TANZANIA FROM 2019-2022

The transmission of the HIV/AIDS virus in Tanzania to mothers, babies, and children has become a global problem that has attracted world attention. These threats must be a primary focus to ensure the well-being and security of the next generation. This study uses literature studies with the theory of securitization and international organizations in answering research questions about the phenomena studied. As a securitization actor, UNICEF made a statement through the Children and AIDS program to tackle the spread of HIV/AIDS in Tanzania. Seeing that the Tanzanian government was unable to overcome the spread of this virus, the government chose to work with UNICEF in the hope that the collaborative program created would be able to overcome the spread of HIV and AIDS. The results of the study show that the implementation of the program indicates progress toward public awareness in Tanzania, especially among those living with HIV/AIDS themselves. Not only that, UNICEF has aided in every field and aspect of Tanzania. But of course, there are challenges in implementing a program in a country, one of which is discrimination which can hinder the planned program.
 

Between Rhetoric and Reality: Recurrent Resource Nationalism and the Practice of Resource Governance in Tanzania

Tanzania has gone through two waves of resource nationalism since independence, with both having significant implications for the country’s evolving approach to governing its resources. This article focuses on the second wave, which began during President Kikwete’s administration (from 2005 to 2015) and was further strengthened under that of President Magufuli (from 2015 to 2021). This article draws on the case of negotiations between the government and Barrick Gold Corporation following mining sector reforms in 2017, which had a negative impact on Acacia Mining Plc, a Tanzania-based subsidiary of Barrick. In drawing on this case, this article analyses the political and economic dynamics associated with resource nationalism and argues that they produce outcomes which contradict the government’s stated intentions as provided for in the 2017 legislation. Whereas the 2017 reforms introduced several progressive provisions relating to the fiscal framework, local content, state participation, resource sovereignty and contract transparency, the agreed framework between Barrick and the Tanzanian government effectively diluted and undermined many of these provisions. In effect, the Barrick case shows greater continuity between resource nationalist reforms under Presidents Kikwete and Magufuli, particularly in the challenges they faced in practice, even though the most recent legislative interventions were seemingly more aggressive, strategic and far-reaching.

Chakachua Pharmaceuticals and Fugitive Science.

Chakachua Pharmaceuticals and Fugitive Science.

Whom are you speaking for? Obstacles to participation encountered by special-seat councillors in Tanzanian Local Councils

With the implementation of the special-seats programme at the local level of the Tanzanian government, special-seat representatives experience obstacles similar to those experienced by their counterparts in the Tanzanian parliament – the national level. It was established that because of these obstacles, the participation of these women councillors – defined as the attempts they make to affect decisions – is rather low compared to elected male and female councillors. This article focuses on the context in which special-seat councillors have to do their work and how this could partly explain the low participation. It addresses how the special-seat councillors function in practice, and how this compares to the functioning of councillors elected from the wards. The insights into their functioning are derived from data collected from four councils, observation of the meetings, and interviews with councillors between 2012 and 2014. The authors conclude that an improvement of accountability mechanisms would be important for increasing the participation of the special-seat councillors and propose three changes in the organization of the special-seats programme to bring this about.

Open Innovation in E-government: Exploring its Practices in Tanzania

Open innovation (OI) in e-government is evolving as an important research agenda, which takes advantage of new collaborations and emerging technologies in provision of public services. The objectives of the article are (1) to examine the understanding of OI in e-government in Tanzania and the practices adopted in selected public institutions, (2) to identify the challenges of OI in e-government, and (3) to identify strategies for addressing the OI challenges. The article adopts a qualitative research method to investigate OI in e-government in Tanzanian context. The article concludes that (1) OI in e-government is still a new but significant research and practical agenda, (2) for Tanzania, OI is expected to accelerate innovation and to strengthen an OI ecosystem, (3) success of OI in e-government depends on how the government creates an enabling environment. This article makes theoretical and practical contributions in exploring OI practices in the Tanzanian public sector. Theoretical framework of OI in e-government is still emerging; thus, this article is timely. The practical recommendations of adoption of OI in e-government for the Tanzanian government add to the key contributions of this article.

Technological, Organizational and Supporting Factors Influencing Geospatial Information Technology Systems in Tanzania

The study sought to examine the technological, organizational and supporting factors influencing Geospatial Information Technology Systems in Ilala and Kinondoni Councils. This study used quantitative approach and case study design was used as research design. Simple random sampling method was used in this research to guarantee fair representation and widespread results for the general population. Primary data for this research was collected using a questionnaire involving taxpayers. Data analysis was done using inferential statistics for the statistical data with the aid of SPSS version 26. Data was analyzed and presented in tables and figures. The study revealed that, technological factors, organizational factors, and support factors, have a positive relationship with GITS Performance. The model constructed in this study showed that Technological Factors, Organizational Factors, and Support Factors, (TOS) account for 94.6% of the GITS Performance. Therefore, TOS (Technological Factors, Organizational Factors, and Support Factors) might be employed to make better use of the GITSs that have been put in place to increase revenue collection in Tanzanian local government authorities. Future studies should take into account all other kinds of own sources of revenue that are gathered utilizing the GITS as this research only looked at the business license as the primary OSR to analyze factors affecting the GITS performance. In order to facilitate effective data collection, storage, and sharing, regular data updates, and system integration among LGA systems and other stakeholders, the study advises LGAs to develop, introduce, operationalize, and update policies, rules, and procedures that govern GITS's applications in revenue collection.

Activists in international courts: Backlash, funding, and strategy in international legal mobilization

Activists in international courts: Backlash, funding, and strategy in international legal mobilization

The Influence of IMPACT Approach in Financial Resource Mobilization to Improve Availability of Essential Health Commodities in Sikonge DC

The Tanzanian government, through the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with President’s Office, Regional Administration and Local Government (PORALG) and various stakeholders, has developed several robust electronic health systems such as e-LMIS, GoTHOMIS, FFARS and DHIS2 to streamline health supply chain management processes and improve data visibility. However, the use of this data for informed decision making at all levels of the supply chain was found to be very low, which led to the introduction of IMPACT (Information Mobilized for Performance Analysis and Continuous Transformation) to increase the use of data to improve the supply chain in the country, including Sikonge District Council. Following the implementation of the approach, the IMPACT team in Sikonge discovered low performance in the availability of health commodities among other monitored indicators major reason being inadequate financial resources to procure health commodities. This prompted the team to look for other innovative ways of fundraising to rescue the situation in the council. The objective of this study was therefore to assess the influence of the IMPACT approach methods employed in mobilizing financial resources to improve the availability of health commodities in Sikonge DC. Some of the methods employed by Sikonge team for such a purpose were; conducting a preliminary data-driven analysis and assessment to identify issues related to i-CHF and NHIF services, developing strategies to increase i-CHF enrolment, retention, and disbursements, working on the most common anomalies in the NHIF forms to reduce the number of rejected claims and finally clearing the MSD debt of health facilities to relieve them of the financial burden. These strategies resulted in an increase in i-CHF funds reimbursement from Tsh1.4 million in September 2020 to Tsh8 million in December 2021. NHIF funds reimbursement increased from Tsh696,170 in September 2020 to Tsh12 million in December 2021. The overall percentage of health facilities submitting NHIF claims increased from 17% to 77% over the same period. Thus, the concept of IMPACT and the employed data driven strategies, played a major role in the results achieved in Sikonge and in order to meet the alarming demand for health commodities at service delivery points, council teams should show strong commitment in using real-time data for problem identification and resolution through IMPACT team approach as a tool for continuous improvement.