Eastern African Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences

Transforming local governance in the digital age: A review of Tanzania’s Institutional and Legislative Frameworks with Evidence from Shinyanga Municipality and Nzega District Council

2026-01-15T10:59:15+00:00

The study reviewed Tanzania’s Institutional and Legislative Frameworks with Evidence from Shinyanga Municipality and Nzega District Council. Specifically, the analysis focused on the mandates given, implementation of the mandates in relation to good governance, and the extent to which the legal system accommodates digital technologies. The analysis is informed by the Constitution, Local Government Authorities (LGAs) Acts, amendments, national Information Communication Technology legal instruments, revised Information Communication Technology Policy, the selected councils’ bylaws, strategic plans, digital governance implementation reports, council minutes, internal circulars, service delivery guidelines, and local development plans, as well as, the national new digital legislatives. The study employed a qualitative approach. Data were collected through documentary review then thematic data analysis was applied. Generally, the findings show that there is a comprehensive institutional set-up grounded in the constitution and key legislative instruments, but still put Local Government Authorities within command-and-control frameworks where substantial authority remains centralised, limiting the innovative capacity of LGAs in governance. Further revealed that the provisions promote the core tenets of good governance, yet the level of implementation remains uneven. Lastly, the available legal provisions have minimal enforcement mechanisms of digital compliance, leading to inconsistent digital transformation and underutilisation of digital technology. The study recommends reviewing and updating the constitution, Local Government Acts, and regulations to explicitly incorporate digital technology as a formal component of modern governance demands; the government must invest in digital infrastructure to strengthen institutional capacity, improve resource allocation, and provide continuous training. But also, the need for a specific legal framework and practical strategies that encourage digital governance across all government levels.

Conservation or development? Scenario-driven forecasts of land-use and land-cover change in Kazimzumbwi Forest Reserve (2024–2054)

2026-01-15T11:01:57+00:00

Land-use and land-cover (LULC) changes pose significant threats to peri-urban forest reserves in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in Tanzania's Kazimzumbwi Forest Reserve (KFR). This study employs a scenario-based modelling approach to project LULC dynamics from 2024 to 2054, analysing three scenarios: Business-as-Usual (BAU), Conservation-Oriented Scenario (COS), and Development-Intensive Scenario (DIS). Descriptive analyses indicate stark differences in landscape trajectories; under BAU, closed forest cover is projected to decline by approximately 39% by 2054, primarily due to conversions to grassland and shrubland. The DIS scenario predicts even more severe outcomes, with forest losses exceeding 45% in certain areas, driven by urban expansion. In contrast, the COS scenario suggests a more stable landscape, with forest persistence probabilities above 0.70 and evidence of regeneration from shrubland and grassland back to forest. Inferential statistics reinforce these findings, with chi-square tests revealing significant deviations in forest persistence under BAU and DIS (p < 0.01). Likelihood-ratio tests confirm that transition probabilities under COS differ markedly from BAU and DIS (p < 0.001), particularly regarding forest persistence and regeneration. Comparisons between DIS and BAU show significantly higher conversion probabilities under development-intensive conditions (p < 0.001) and weak regeneration pathways. Overall, the study reveals that LULC outcomes in KFR depend significantly on policy decisions. Conservation strategies can stabilise forest cover, whereas development-focused approaches risk increased deforestation. The findings provide quantitative support for sustainable land-use planning and forest governance in Tanzania's peri-urban areas.

Beyond the blame: Understanding community agency in the conservation and restoration of mangroves in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

2026-02-22T00:11:06+00:00

Local communities across the World have been held responsible for the degradation of mangrove forests. However, little attention has been paid to the vital role local communities play in mangrove conservation and restoration. This study explored community agency in the preservation and restoration of mangroves in Kigamboni, Tanzania. A qualitative approach was employed using a case study of a mangrove conservation group. Data collection was conducted using interviews, focus group discussions, and observation. A total of fourteen (14) interviews and two focus groups were conducted. Findings indicate that knowledge of mangrove benefits to the environment and community motivated the group to engage in mangrove restoration and conservation through a beekeeping project. Further results show that the group achieved mangrove restoration and conservation. Additionally, the well-being of the group members improved through the beekeeping project. This study calls for the government to recognise and support local communities' initiatives to conserve and restore mangrove forests. This would encourage other communities to take action to protect and restore mangroves.

Motherhood and higher education: Coping strategies of distance learning student-mothers at the University for Development Studies, Sawla Study Centre, Ghana

2026-02-22T00:14:12+00:00

Student-mothers in distance education programmes in Ghana have to combine traditional domestic roles with their academic pursuits. This study sought to find out the coping strategies adopted by student-mothers in balancing motherhood and higher education at the Institute of Distance and Continuous Learning (ICDL) of the University for Development Studies (UDS). The study employed a quantitative research approach with a descriptive survey design. A questionnaire was used to collect data from all 51 student-mothers at the Sawla Study Centre. Descriptive statistics of frequencies, percentages, mean and standard deviations were used to analyse the data collected. The findings revealed that student-mothers widely adopted multiple coping strategies. The most frequently used strategies included periodically stepping out of lectures to breastfeed (M = 3.94, SD = 1.03), breastfeeding during lectures (M = 3.54, SD = 1.17), employing paid domestic workers (M = 3.22, SD = 1.20), and relying on spousal or family support (M = 3.21, SD = 1.21). Despite these strategies, respondents reported substantial challenges in coping, particularly unreliable family or spousal support during face-to-face sessions (M = 3.37, SD = 0.69) and societal expectations of motherhood conflicting with academic engagement (M = 3.25, SD = 0.72). The study concludes that although student-mothers employ various adaptive coping strategies, sustainable academic success requires structured institutional support systems to reduce stress and enhance their participation and overall well-being. The study recommends the establishment of daycare facilities at the study centre to enable student-mothers to leave their children in safe care during lectures.

The nexus between climate change awareness, impacts, and adaptation strategies in coastal communities of Tanga region, Tanzania

2026-02-22T00:16:36+00:00

Climate change poses a challenge to coastal communities in sub-Saharan Africa, yet there is limited understanding of community awareness, its impacts, and the adaptation strategies employed by smallholder farmers to respond to it. This study examines the nexus among climate change awareness, perceived impacts, and adaptation strategies among coastal communities in the Tanga Region of Tanzania. It was guided by two hypotheses: H1, that coastal communities possess significant awareness of climate change, reflected in perceived changes in temperature and rainfall associated with adverse impacts on coastal ecosystems and livelihoods; and H2, that coastal communities employ diverse adaptation strategies whose perceived effectiveness varies significantly. A cross-sectional study design was used, comprising 388 households selected via simple random sampling for the quantitative component and 15 key informants purposively selected for the qualitative component, for a total of 403 respondents. Quantitative data were collected using structured questionnaires and analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics, including one-sample t-tests, one-way ANOVA, and Chi-square tests, whereas qualitative data were analysed using thematic analysis. Findings reveal that higher awareness was associated with increased temperature and lower rainfall, the most prominent indicators across communities. Inferential analysis revealed a statistically significant association between climate change and perceived environmental impacts, including fish habitat destruction, species decline, reduced fishing activities, and declining agricultural productivity, supporting H1. There is a need to enhance educational interventions, strengthen institutional capacity, and establish context-specific adaptation strategies that integrate local knowledge and scientific approaches to enhance coastal resilience.