EANSO East African Nature and Science Organization Journals
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Legal Recognition of AI Invention under the Intellectual Property Regime in Mainland Tanzania
Get PDFThis study examines the legal recognition of Artificial Intelligence (AI) as an inventor within intellectual property (IP) frameworks, focusing on a comparative analysis between South Africa and Tanzania. The increasing use of AI in innovation has sparked global debates over whether AI can qualify as an inventor under existing IP laws. In 2021, South Africa made international headlines by becoming the first country to recognise an AI system, DABUS, as an inventor under its Patents Act No. 57 of 1978, despite the absence of explicit legal provisions on AI. This decision, made by the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC), demonstrated a progressive interpretation of the law. Conversely, Tanzanian IP legal instruments, including the Patents (Registration) Act, Cap. 217 R.E. 2023, the Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Act, Cap. 218 R.E. 2023, and the Trade and Service Marks Act, Cap. 326 R.E. 2023 defines inventors and authors strictly as natural persons, thereby excluding AI-generated outputs. Based on the findings, the study recommends legislative reforms to redefine the term “inventor” in Tanzanian IP statutes, the development of a National AI Strategy, the adoption of comparative legal models from countries like South Africa, and capacity building among key IP institutions such as BRELA and TIP
Reassessing Copyright Protection in the Age of Artificial Intelligence: Legal and Policy Challenges in Tanzania
Get PDFThe rapid advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has transformed the creation, distribution, and use of creative works, raising new legal and ethical questions about copyright protection. In Tanzania, the existing copyright framework anchored in the Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Act remains grounded in the assumption of human authorship, creating uncertainty over the ownership and protection of AI-generated works. This paper examines the adequacy of Tanzania’s copyright laws in addressing challenges posed by AI technologies, including authorship, liability, digital rights management (DRM), and the use of copyrighted materials in AI training datasets. It analyses key statutes such as the Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Act and the Cybercrimes Act, highlighting gaps in enforcement, institutional capacity, and policy direction. Comparative insights from the United Kingdom, European Union, and the United States illustrate best practices in regulating AI-generated content and protecting digital rights. The study concludes that Tanzania’s copyright system must evolve through legislative reform, adoption of a national AI and digital content policy, and capacity-building measures to ensure fair protection of creators while supporting innovation in the digital econom
Reassessing Diplomatic Immunity in the 21st Century: Balancing Functional Necessity with Global Accountability
Get PDFThe principle of diplomatic immunity, codified in the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (1961), was established to ensure diplomats perform their duties free from coercion or interference. However, its absolute interpretation increasingly enables impunity for serious crimes such as murder, human trafficking, and drug smuggling. This article examines the tension between functional necessity and the pursuit of justice, highlighting the abuse of diplomatic immunity in criminal contexts. It critically analyses contemporary challenges, including the use of diplomatic cover for international drug trafficking and sexual exploitation, and evaluates existing remedies such as persona non grata declarations, waivers, and reciprocity. The paper proposes a normative framework centred on conditional immunity and the establishment of an international accountability mechanism for diplomatic crimes. The study concludes that while immunity remains essential for diplomacy, reform is imperative to prevent it from becoming a shield for impunit
Reintegration of Child Offenders in Tanzania: A Critical Examination of Legal and Social Challenges in Mbeya Region
Get PDFThis article critically examines the reintegration of child offenders within Tanzania’s juvenile justice system, focusing on Mbeya Region as a case study. Reintegration, as a core principle of juvenile justice, seeks to transform child offenders into productive and law-abiding citizens through rehabilitation, counselling, education, and community support. Despite Tanzania’s commitment to international and national legal frameworks, such as the Law of the Child Act and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, the process remains weak and fragmented. The study identifies persistent challenges, including social stigmatisation, family instability, limited educational and vocational opportunities, weak institutional coordination, a shortage of trained personnel, inadequate juvenile facilities, and low community awareness. Findings reveal that the gap between law and practice undermines the effectiveness of reintegration efforts. The paper concludes that successful reintegration requires a holistic approach combining institutional reform, family involvement, and community sensitisation to ensure sustainable rehabilitation and social reintegration of child offenders in Tanzani
The Silent Agony: A Comprehensive Analysis of Covert Bullying, Legal Frameworks, and Mental Health Decline in the Modern Workplace
Get PDFThis current analysis uses a dual-method research design that integrates a reflexive personal narrative analysis with a systematic scholarly review to provide an emic, first-person account of the lived experience of covert supervisor victimization as a critical case study, which is triangulated with an integrative review of the contemporary literature in psychology, occupational health, and organizational studies to bridge the gap between clinical understanding and workplace reality to provide a holistic view of impacts that are often not tangible but deeply disabling. Covert workplace bullying, especially when perpetrated by a supervisor, is a form of relational power abuse, and it is more insidious than overt aggression because it is subtle, deniable, and is often carried out by means of gaslighting, malicious exclusion, strategic misinformation, and constant criticism that is disguised as feedback. A convergence of personal accounts and scholarly research confirms a pattern of devastating injury: Cognitive Decline: Witnesses attest to profound memory loss, inattention, and executive dysfunction characterised as brain fog, while scholarly research has established that chronic stress caused by bullying can lead to increased cortisol levels that can impair the hippocampus, the brain region responsible for memory and learning. Emotional Dysregulation: The unpredictability of the hostile environment results in hypervigilance, emotional exhaustion, and inability to respond appropriately, a state that the literature correlates with complex stress reactions and trauma. Clinical Symptomatology: The outcomes of symptoms meeting diagnostic criteria for Generalised Anxiety Disorder (anxiety, worry, rumination) and Major Depressive Disorder (hopelessness, anhedonia, loss of motivation) are also well-documented, as meta-analyses on workplace bullying have shown. This analysis reveals a painful and tragic paradox: the need for psychological intervention becomes painfully obvious, but the ability to seek it is catastrophically impaired. The internalized stigma of being a target, the fear of being seen as weak or incompetent, and the profound sense of hopelessness that the system will not believe or protect the victim act as a powerful deterrent to care, leaving individuals in a mental state where they do not perceive a pathway to relief, a dynamic that is evident in the narrative and is consistent with research on barriers to mental health service use. The Duty of Care Is a Legal and Ethical Vacuum: Beyond ignoring this mental health injury crisis, it is a dereliction of duty in the context of the law and, specifically, the Occupational Health and Safety Act and its equivalents, which require employers to provide a safe workplace. The Help-Seeking Paradox: The critical and painful paradox is that the need for psychological intervention becomes acutely clear, but the ability to seek it is catastrophically impaired by the internalised stigma of being a target, the fear of being seen as incompetent or fragile, and the profound hopelessness that the system will not believe or protect the victim. All of this leaves individuals trapped in a deteriorating mental state with no perceived pathway to relief, a dynamic that is evident in the narrative and is consistent with research on barriers to mental health service use. The systemic rupture of the silence that allows covert workplace bullying is needed to heal from and prevent it. Organisations should move from the superficiality of wellness programs to the rigour of psychologically safe workplaces where psychological harm is named, prohibited, and addressed with procedural rigour: mandated training, clear reporting mechanisms free from reprisal, and leadership accountability. The personal narrative and the scholarly evidence converge to a clear demand: breaking the silence is not disloyalty but integrity, productivity, and human dignity. Ignoring it is complicity; addressing it is building a resilient, truly sustainable organisation
Archaeometallurgical Characterisation of Iron Production at Mukongoro Rock Art Site in Eastern Uganda
Get PDFThis paper reconstructs the nature of iron production technology through the morphological analysis of slag and tuyere remains at the Mukongoro rock art site in Eastern Uganda. The specific objectives included: characterising the technological features of iron production depicted from slag and tuyere remains, reconstructing the iron production process by interpreting attributes such as slag and tuyere morphology, colour and magnetism, and enhancing understanding of iron production traditions in eastern Uganda to position Mukongoro rock art sites and Uganda within regional and global archaeometallurgical debates. Through archaeological surveys and excavations, 2,861 slag and 199 tuyere remains were identified. The attributes analysed included thermal conditions, morphology, surface condition, magnetism, weathering, colour, porosity, and inclusions. Morphological analysis indicates that the slag is predominantly flow slag, characterised by a dome-shaped morphology. The slag exhibited medium magnetism, a dark brown colour, low porosity, and most inclusions were infused in a very rough surface, implying the use of low temperatures, skill, and a deliberate choice by the people at the time. While the tuyeres were 35mm in diameter, they showed no evidence of slag coating or clogging, and some were primarily composed of completely vitrified body parts, suggesting the use of small furnaces. Therefore, iron production technology at Mukongoro is characterised by a non-tapping bloomery, as evidenced by its dome shape. The rough surface and black and grey colours reflect the skill of the smelters, who likely used low temperatures and insufficient airflow. The inclusions of reeds, grass and a leaf indicated the use of plants at the various stages of iron production.
Gender, Governance, and Peace: Policy Implications of Women's Political Representation in Post-Conflict South Sudan (2018-2025)
Get PDFThis comprehensive study examines the policy implications and effectiveness of women's political representation in post-conflict South Sudan between 2018 and 2025. Focusing on the evolution from a 25% to a 35% gender quota established by the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict (R-ARCSS), the research evaluates whether increased numerical representation translates into substantive governance outcomes. Utilising qualitative research. Theoretical frameworks underpinning the research include Hanna Pitkin’s descriptive versus substantive representation, Feminist Institutionalism, Principal-Agent Theory, and intersectionality. These models provide insights into the gap between numerical inclusion and meaningful influence, highlighting the importance of institutional capacity, social norms, and accountability mechanisms. Empirical reviews of cross-national studies focusing on gender quotas’ impact on policy outcomes, peacebuilding, and political stability underscore that quotas alone are insufficient without supportive political, cultural, and institutional reforms. The methodology employs feminist participatory research, including interviews, focus groups, and document analysis, to capture women lived experiences and intersectional identities. Findings reveal that by 2024, women occupied approximately 32.4% of parliamentary seats, yet their representation at the executive level remains limited at 14%, with underrepresentation in key leadership roles. Despite these disparities, women have significantly contributed to policy developments, notably the Anti-Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Bill and the South Sudan Women’s Charter, which aim to address gender inequalities and promote constitutional reforms. The study highlights regional comparisons, illustrating how countries like Rwanda and Uganda have achieved higher representation through constitutional quotas and sustained political commitment, contrasting with Liberia and Sierra Leone, where voluntary guidelines proved insufficient. Persistent barriers such as security challenges, cultural norms, educational deficits, and economic constraints continue to impede women’s full participation. The analysis emphasises that structural and informal institutional factors, such as patriarchal norms and resistance from political parties, undermine formal policies. Findings indicate that, although constitutional mandates have increased women’s visibility, transformative change remains elusive due to deep-rooted patriarchal norms, ongoing conflict, and weak governance structures. The study concludes that quotas are a necessary but insufficient tool; sustainable gender equality requires holistic strategies addressing cultural barriers, strengthening institutions, and fostering political commitment. Policy recommendations advocate for immediate legislative reforms, institutional capacity-building, cultural engagement, and infrastructural investments, emphasising a comprehensive approach to advance women’s substantive participation and influence. Ultimately, this research offers valuable lessons for post-conflict settings, illustrating that genuine gender equality in governance hinges on addressing systemic barriers beyond numerical representation
The Paradox of Rising Tourism Receipts amidst an Underdeveloped Sector in Uganda: An Empirical Investigation
Get PDFWe empirically investigate the paradox of rising tourism receipts amidst an underdeveloped sector in Uganda. Using monthly time-series data from the World Bank covering the period 2001-2023, we apply the Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) modelling framework to analyse and forecast international tourism receipts (% of total exports). Model specification incorporates both autoregressive (AR) and moving average (MA) components. Estimation through Generalised Least Squares (GLS) reveals a statistically significant AR (1) coefficient (0.940443), suggesting that approximately 94% of current tourism receipts are explained by their immediate past values, and a negative MA (1) coefficient (-0.617687), indicating that about 62% of shocks are corrected in the subsequent period. Diagnostic tests confirm the robustness of the model, demonstrating covariance stationarity, invertibility, and the absence of serial correlation. Forecasts project a steady rise in international tourism receipts, from 38.3% in 2024 to 87.3% by 2050. Nevertheless, the tourism sector remains constrained by poor infrastructure, weak marketing and promotion, inadequate skilled personnel, poaching, wildlife management challenges, and persistent negative perceptions of stability and safety. Our findings validate the paradox of high and rising receipts amidst structural underdevelopment. The study recommends targeted investment in infrastructure, enhanced destination marketing, human capital development, and strengthened governance of natural resources to unlock Uganda’s full tourism potentia
Social Media Marketing Platforms and Performance. An Empirical Evidence from Tour Operating Companies in Kenya
Get PDFSocial media marketing plays an integral part in an organizational performance; it is a digital trend that presents tour operating companies with an opportunity to thrive amidst stiff competition in the market space. Social media provides informative content, customer engagement, interactivity and expert opinion. The main objective of the study was to establish the effect of social media marketing platforms and the performance of tour operating companies in Kenya. The study was anchored on the Diffusion of Innovation theory. Cross-sectional and correlational research designs were utilised. The study used a target population of 212 general managers of tour operating companies using a census approach. An online questionnaire was used to collect primary data. The supervisors and experts were used to examine the validity of the instrument, while Cronbach’s Alpha was adopted to test reliability, where a threshold of 0.7 and above was deemed reliable. Descriptive statistics consisting of means and standard deviations were used to summarise data, while inferential statistics were used to establish the relationship between the variables investigated. The results indicated that, social media platform had a statistically significant effect on the performance of tour operating companies (β2=0.414, P=0.000<0.05). Social media enabled customers to share experiences, promotions and relevant information about the tour destination. The study concluded that social media platforms had a statistically significant effect on of tour operating companies. The study recommended that tour operating companies should create appealing content, good promotional messages, engaging images, and videos that attract traveller
Vichocheo Vinavyowafanya Wahudumu wa Bodaboda na Abiria Kuzingatia au Kukiuka Upole Katika Mawasiliano
Get PDFUpole ni muhimu katika kufanikisha mawasiliano. Husaidia katika kukabiliana na matendo ya kutishia uso. Utafiti huu ulilenga kuchunguza kuhusu sababu zinazowachochea wahudumu wa bodaboda na abiria kuzingatia au kukiuka matumizi ya mikakati ya upole katika mawasiliano yao. Nadharia ya upole ndiyo iliyotumika kuelekeza utafiti huu. Utafiti ulifanyika katika kaunti ndogo ya Mbooni iliyo katika kaunti ya Makueni, nchini Kenya. Walengwa walikuwa ni wahudumu wa bodaboda na abiria walioteuliwa kimakusudi hadi pale ambapo kiwango kifu kilifikiwa. Utafiti huu wa kithamano, ulitumia mbinu ya uchunzaji na mahojiano katika kukusanya data. Uchanganuzi wa kimaudhui ulitumika ili kuhakiki majibu ya mahojiano kwa kuelekezwa na mihimili ya nadharia. Matokeo ya utafiti yalionyesha kuwa kuna sababu kadhaa zinazochochea hali ya kuzingatia au kukiuka matumizi ya mikakati ya upole katika mawasiliano. Sababu hizo ni kama vile: faida tarajiwa, tofauti za mahusiano, haja ya kutaka kuonyesha heshima kwa sababu ya tofauti za kimamlaka na hali ya kutaka kukabiliana na uzito wa tendo la kutishia uso. Faida au matokeo tarajiwa yalichochea uzingatiaji wa mikakati ya upole sana. Sababu hii ilijitokeza kwa wingi kwani mawasiliano yalitokea katika muktadha wa uchukuzi ambapo mantiki huzingatiwa sana ili kufikia malengo ya kibiashara. Hivyo, wahudumu wa bodaboda na abiria walizingatia zaidi mafanikio ya mawasiliano kuliko vipengele vya kijamii. Matokeo ya utafiti huu yanaiarifu nadharia kwani yanaonyesha kuwa mbali na vigezo vya kijamii vinavyosisitizwa na nadharia, faida tarajiwa huchochea matumizi ya mikakati ya upole katika muktadha wa uchukuzi. Utafiti huu una umuhimu kwa taaluma ya mawasiliano hasa kwa kurahisisha maingiliano baina ya watu katika jamii. Isitoshe utakuwa wenzo muhimu kwa watafiti wa baadaye watakaojihusisha na uga wa pragmatik