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Clients’ Demographics and Strategies Influence on Loan Repayment during Covid-19 Pandemic: Evidence from Tanzanian Savings and Credits Cooperative Societies (SACCOS)
Get PDFThe study assessed the influence of the clients’ demographics and strategies on loan repayment during the Corona Outbreak (COVID-19) in Tanzania. The study used Morogoro and Mvomero Teachers SACCOS (MMTS) as its case. The cross-sectional and explanatory designs, survey strategy and random sampling were applied to selected 98 SACCOS borrowers for the study. IBM SPSS software was used to enter the data and analysis was executed using descriptive and Ordinary Least Square (OLS) techniques. The study unveiled that COVID-19 deteriorated the loan portfolio during the pandemic. The findings further uncovered that the business owners were mostly affected by the pandemic and the majority of the borrowers repaid their loans using alternative sources of income. The regression analysis revealed that the amount of loan borrowed positively and significantly influenced the loan repayment while age, level of education and economic activity negatively and significantly influenced the loan repayment. The study concluded that during the COVID-19 pandemic, the repayment of loans for Tanzanian SACCOS was not conducive because of poor repayment strategies and the influence of clients’ demographic factors. The study recommended policymakers to design policies that would enhance the repayment of loans for SACCOS borrowers during pandemics. The study contributed to the contingency theory by recommending borrowers’ diverse loan repayment strategies during contingency situations
Implication of Using Electronic Fiscal Devices on Audit Effectiveness among Small Business Owners of Arusha – Tanzania
Get PDFThis study evaluated the use of Electronic Fiscal Devices among small business owners based in Arusha City Council – Tanzania. The focus was on the impact of the rate of using Electronic Fiscal Devices on the perceived effectiveness of the audit process. In addition, the study evaluated the impact of demographic variables, that is, the age of respondents, gender, level of education and business experience on the rate of using Electronic Fiscal Devices. Given the constant advocacy of the Tanzania Revenue Authority on the benefits of EFD uses in auditing, it was necessary to validate their assumptions based on the perception of users. In its approach, the study used mixed methods. The sample had 279 respondents. Data analysis was through descriptive and inferential statistics such as ordinal regression and the One-Way ANOVA. Results showed that the age, gender and business experience were not good determinants of the rate of EFD use. The level of education was a good determinant, but, with a reversal impact. Also, the rate of EFD uses among small business owners did not showed its perceived impact on the audit effectiveness. The study concludes that the observed reversal impact of education is a sign that people with a good level of education, may be using their knowledge to facilitate tax evasion. In addition, it concludes that factors other than the rate of EFD use are important to enhance the perception of small business owners on audit effectiveness. The study recommends the increase of EFD use advocacy by the revenue authority. Also, it recommends further studies to factors other than the rate of EFD uses, so as to determine the perception of taxpayers on audit effectiveness
Effect of Subjective Norm on Consumers' Purchase Intention Towards Counterfeit Apparel Products: Does Level of Formal Education Matter?
Get PDFThis study investigated the moderating effect of the level of formal education on the subjective norm and purchase intention of consumers towards counterfeit apparel products in Tanzania. The study utilized a survey strategy during data collection and involved 315 respondents as a sample size. The researcher employed Structural Equation modeling technique using AMOS software for data analysis. The results indicated that subjective norm had a positive and significant effect on purchase intention of counterfeit apparel. The results showed no statistical differences between subjective norm and purchase intention of counterfeit apparel products in less and high levels of formal education consumers. The study concluded that subjective norm is the key predictor of consumers’ purchase intention of counterfeit apparel products. The study also concluded that the level of formal education had no moderating effect on the relationship between subjective norm and purchase intention counterfeit apparel. Thus, the study recommends that future researchers to consider other predictors and moderating variables to investigate consumers purchase intention of counterfeit apparel products in different settings
Designing PostGIS Database System with Fuzzy Theory to Support Accessibility Tools for Urban Pedestrians
Get PDFThe combination of fuzzy logic and crowdsourcing can be a powerful tool for generating geospatial data for pedestrians with mobility challenges in urban areas. Although potentially useful, information about the accessibility of paths that is generated through crowdsourcing is susceptible to a high degree of imprecision. Spatial data management is required for such systems, which supports the management of uncertain data. Fuzzy theory allows us to model ambiguous information. To fill this gap, an improved method based on a fuzzy relational PostGIS database (FPostGIS) is proposed. The method includes extensions to represent imprecise data within an entity-relationship (ER) data model specifically tailored for path accessibility, and a set of steps for the derivation of FPostGIS from this extended ER model. According to the case study, this methodology has been applied in the design and development of decision support application within the Maps for Easy Paths (MEP) project. This application stores and retrieves accessibility information about a particular path and allows performing spatial operations and analysis inside the database
Assessment of the needs in Communication Skills' Courses in Tanzanian Universities
Get PDFThe study sought to analyse the needs of university students in Tanzania in Communication Skills Courses. The study involved a total of 315 students from two public and two private universities who were randomly chosen, whereas the respondents were selected via convenience sampling. The sole tool used for collecting data was a questionnaire that consisted of items inquiring whether the respondents would opt for communication skills if it were an optional course. The second part sought their perceived needs of different aspects of language skills areas. The participants were first asked for their consent before filling in the questionnaire. The responses were posted to SPSS software for computation of frequencies of occurrences per each thematic area, and the resulting data were organized into themes and summarized in tables and figures. The findings show that the respondents were divided in their opting for the course, were it optional. The analysis shows that 122 out of 315 (similar to 38.7%) would still opt for the course, while 104 (33%) would not opt for the course; and 89 (28.3%) were not sure. In the area of reading, eye-mapping was rated as highly needed by the majority of students in all universities, while in writing skills referencing and footnote and end-note writing were noted as highly needed mainly by students from public universities. On the whole, there were notable differences between public and private university students in their communication skills needs
ICT-Based Assistive Technology for Empowering Persons with Visual Impairment
Get PDFThe study employed comprehensive assistive technology (CAT) model to investigate use of ICT-based assistive technology (ICT-Based AT) for empowering persons with visual impairment. The objectives of the study wasto explore the strategies employed by people with visual impairments to learn ICT skills and the impact of using ICT-based AT for VIPs. Twenty-five (25) people with visual impairment graduate from the ICT skills training sessions at the Open University of Tanzania were interviewed using semi-structured interview guide. Findings indicated that ICT-Based AT training strategies for people with visual impairment require developing competences on keyboard and the use of screen reader. Furthermore, the use of ICT-Based AT has a significant positive impact on individuals with visual impairment in terms of enhancing their chances in accessing online learning, sense of empowerment and social inclusion. The present study makes a theoretical contribution to the field by enhancing the existing literature on the activity attributes of the CAT model. The study also calls for the government and stakeholders to enhance the use of ICT-Based AT for empowering persons with disabilities
Empirical Analysis on the Impact of Management Efficiency and Watch Loans on the Bankruptcy Rate of Community Banks in Tanzania: A Random Effect Model Approach
Get PDFThis paper analyses the impact of management efficiency and watch loans on the bankruptcy rate of community banks in Tanzania, for the period ranging from 2006 to 2021. In Tanzania, for the period starting from 2017 to 2019, seven community banks were closed by the Regulator while others were being merged to increase their operational efficiency and going concern. The failure of these banks raised a lot of concerns among banks’ stakeholders including private sector, the government and the general public. The study used archival reviews as one of the tools for secondary data collection in quantitative research where panel data were collected from community banks and the Bank of Tanzania publications. The employed sample size was 11 community banks, with a total of 176 observations. The panel data analysis has been conducted using statistical software (Stata) with the random effect model being used to generate regression results as one of the statistical models for panel data analysis. The research findings indicated significant negative correlations between the explanatory variables, namely, management efficiency and watch loan ratios with bankruptcy rates as computed using the Altman’s model approach specific for developing countries. This paper contributes to the contagion theory by arguing that not only bank runs that causes bank failure, but also there are other factors such as; management inefficiency and high level of watch loans as justified by the theory of market structure and asymmetric information theory. Further, for the purpose of diminishing bankruptcy rate of community banks, the study recommends adequate credit management policy in terms of proper credit appraisal systems and strong corporate governance policy, which reduce level of watch loans and operational costs
Exploring the Causal Links of Public Spending on Bank-Based Financial Development in African Economies
Get PDFThis work examined the causal impact of types of government spending on bank-based financial development. It tests the influences of both government productive and non-productive spending on bank-based financial development. Selected 37 African economies between 1980-2018 were sampled. Both the short –run and long –run effects were assessed using either Feasible Generalized Least Squares (FGLS), Mean Group (MG), Pooled Mean Group (PMG) and Dynamic Common Correlated Effects Mean Group (DCCEMG) estimators. Evidences support the hypotheses that both types of spending contribute positively to bank-based financial development. Bank-based financial development is more responsive to non-productive spending than it is to productive spending. Also, confirm the supportive roles of trade openness and GDP per capita, and the detriment of inflation to bank-based financial development. This study comprehensively unearths the impact of government spending on bank-based financial development in Africa by isolating spending into productive and non-productive types. Governments need to promote dual policies that address spending and financial development. They should avoid detrimental spending and promote enhancing spending within each type above. Spending that attract private agents, investments, saving, and liquidity in the financial sector, trade openness, and economic output should be promoted since these enhances bank-based financial development
Financial Development: The Role of GDP per Capita Dynamics in Low- & Middle-Income Economies
Get PDFThis study delves into the complex role of economic growth on financial development within low- and middle-income economies (LMIE). It analyzes a dataset spanning 85 countries from 1980 to 2020, collapsed into 9 periods, yielding 765 observations. Employing General Method of Moments (GMM), including two-step system GMM and forward-orthogonal deviations IV/GMM methods, the research uncovers intriguing dynamics. Positive shifts in GDP per capita are found to correspond with heightened financial development, whereas negative changes exhibit an adverse relationship. Government consumption yields mixed results, and inflation negatively impacts financial development, while trade openness and favorable terms of trade exhibit positive associations. These findings underscore the significance of economic development, price stability, trade openness, and financial sector stability in nurturing financial development in LMIE. Therefore, policymakers are encouraged to prioritize strategies aimed at fostering economic growth, income augmentation, and economic resilience, particularly in times of economic turmoil. This research offers a unique contribution by dissecting economic growth into positive and negative changes, providing insights into their distinct impacts on financial development using GMM estimation. It empowers policymakers to leverage economic growth shifts and trade reforms for inclusive financial development
Anaemia among schoolchildren; A narrative review
Get PDFAnaemia is a significant problem in the developing world, such as Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), with the greatest burden of disease experienced in children. Although extensive research on anaemia has been done among the pre-schoolers, less is documented about schoolchildren. Thus, the current review intends to summarise recent data on the prevalence and risk factors of anaemia among schoolchildren aged 5-18 years across SSA for planning mitigating interventions. A review was conducted on published English articles in Sub-Saharan countries providing estimates on anaemia prevalence and risk factors using databases from PubMed and Google Scholar from January 2010 to April 2021. A total of 41 articles were identified for review. Based on eligibility criteria, 18 articles were included in the current review. The review showed that the prevalence of anaemia among schoolchildren ranged from 11% (Ethiopia) to 83% (Nigeria). Generally, infection (56%), eating less protein and vegetables (33%), age (22%) and sex (16%) of the child were the significant risk factors for anaemia among schoolchildren. The current review established that anaemia is directly associated with infection, less consumption of protein and vegetables, age and sex of the child. Effective public health strategies such as biofortification of food are needed to improve micronutrient intake among older children