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The Effect of Manufacturing Capability on Firm Performance: Empirical Evidence from Small and Medium Manufacturing Companies in Kigali-Rwanda
No full textThis research paper examined the effect of the attributes of manufacturing capability on the performance of small and medium manufacturing companies in Kigali-Rwanda. Data were collected from a final sample of 111 small and medium-sized manufacturing firms. To analyze the collected data, a two-step approach to Covariance-Based Structural Equation Modelling (CB- SEM) was applied using the Analysis of Moment Structures (AMOS) statistic software version 25.00. Data were inspected for the presence of outliers, multivariate normalit y, and multi- collinearity, while the reliability of the construct was assessed by Cronbach's Alpha, convergent and discriminant validity. The findings revealed that all the attributes of manufacturing capability namely quality, cost efficiency, delivery, and flexibility have a positive and significant effect on the performance of small and medium manufacturing firms. It has been concluded that manufacturing capability contributed positively and significantly to inter-firm performance validating than the resource-based view applicability  to SMEs. This study  contributed to the existing strategic management literature on how manufacturing capability can enhance firm performance. Therefore, the study recommended that a firm should develop a complete approach of implementing the four dimensions as they should not be considered in isolation rather integrated and combined to leverage and sustain the performance over time.  Keywords: Manufacturing Capability, Performance, Rwanda, Manufacturing secto
Institutional Quality and Macroeconomic Determinants of Diaspora Remittances Inflow in Nigeria
Get PDFThe study examined the institutional quality and macroeconomic determinants of diaspora remittances inflow in Nigeria, via autoregressive distributed lag model (ARDL) from 1981-2017. The ARDL bound cointegration test showed that a long-run relationship exists among institutional quality and macroeconomic determinants of remittance inflows in Nigeria. That is, there is a long-run implication of GDP, exchange rate, inflation rate, interest rate, unemployment, and net migration on the remittances inflows in Nigeria. Besides, the findings demonstrated that both in the short and long-run institutional quality and macroeconomic determinants of remittances have a significant relationship with the remittance's inflows in Nigeria. While GDP per capita, inflation rate, and interest rate exert a negative effect, exchange rate and net migration exhibit a positive significant link with remittances inflows. It is suggested and concluded that to pull in more remittances, policymakers should think progressively about actualizing steady and master development strategies. It is, consequently, prescribed to devise procedures planned for accomplishing a higher and continued pace of financial development, improved institutions in form of regulatory quality, control of corruption, political stability, and stability of macroeconomic variables in Nigeria
Environmental Degradation in Niger Delta Nigeria: Implications on the Well-Being of the Host Communities
Get PDFDecades of oil exploitation, exploration, and production activities in the Niger Delta have led to severe environmental degradation that has created complex problems in the region. As such, environmental exploitation has been a major point of contention between the Nigerian government and multinational oil corporations. The study adopted an Ex-Post facto research design and a multi stage sampling technique which comprised of purposive, stratified and proportional sampling technique. Purposive sampling procedure was used to select six communities in Rivers State, Nigeria. One hypothesis was tested at 0.05 level of significance. Results showed that environmental degradation, education and occupation significantly impacts on the well being of host communities in Rivers State Nigeria. Thus, it recommended that, The Federal Government must streamline the activities of the multinational oil corporations which have so far operated without environmental regulations to guide their activities in the region, in an attempt to limit the long-term impact of environmental degradation
Adaptation to Climate Variability and Change in Semi-Arid Areas of Tanzania: A Case of Igunga and Kishapu Districts in Tanzania
Get PDFAssessment of Soil Physico-Chemical Properties in Selected Natural Habitats of The Wild Rice (Oryza Longistaminata) and their Effects on the Species Morphological Characters
No full textThe aim of this study was to assess variation in some soil physical and chemical properties among four selected natural habitats of the wild rice species (Oryza longistaminata) in Tanzania, and their effects on the species morphological characters. Oryza longistaminata is a perennial wild rice species with agronomically important genes, including genes for tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses that can be used in rice breeding. In Tanzania O. longistaminata grows sympatrically with the cultivated rice (Oryza sativa) in most rice cultivating areas. The selected natural habitats assessed were located in four districts, namely Bagamoyo, Kibaha, Kilombero and Mbarali. Soil samples were collected at the depth of 0 - 20 cm from the four districts and analysed in the laboratory for soil physico-chemical properties using standard protocols. The species morphological characters were assessed based on the morphological descriptors for wild and cultivated rice species developed by Bioversity International and International Rice Research Institute. One way ANOVA was used to determine the extent of variation in soil physico-chemical properties (parameters) among the four natural habitats of O. longistaminata. Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) was used to determine the effects of assessed soil parameters on the morphological characters of O. longistaminata in the study areas. The study revealed variation in soil physico-chemical properties among the districts. Statistically there were significant differences among the habitats (districts) for most of soil physico-chemical properties investigated. In addition, the assessed soil physico-chemical properties were found to influence variation in morphological characters among O. longistaminata populations from different habitats. Keywords: Natural habitat, Oryza longistaminata, Soil physico-chemical properties, Morphological characters, Wild rice
Variation of Proximate Contents in Selected Marine Fish from Tanzanian Coast due to Seasonality and Processing Methods
No full textThe effect of seasonality (wet and dry seasons) and processing treatments (frying and boiling) on proximate composition of selected fish species (Alectis ciliaris, Lethrinus harak, Rastrelliger kanagurta and Siganus canaliculatus) from Tanzania marine waters were assessed. The proximate composition of fish was proved to be altered by the fish feeds, salinity, geographical location, seasons and processing methods. Therefore, the fish samples were purposively collected from four selected locations (Tanga, Bagamoyo, Dar es Salaam and Mtwara) and treated as appropriately. Proximate parameters were determined using AOAC standard methods. The proximate contents varied with changing seasons in all the fish species. Crude protein and lipid contents increased in wet season while moisture and ash contents increased in dry season. The effect of changing seasons in proximate contents was significant (p < 0.05) except in ash. Frying process had a significant effect (p < 0.05) on proximate contents in the fish species than boiling process except in ash. The derived model accurately predicted the extent of variation of proximate contents with both dry and wet seasons and processing treatment in particular frying. However, it failed to predict the extent of variation of lipid, crude protein and moisture with boiling treatment. Further research is needed to establish the extent of variations of proximate contents due to other processing methods such as steaming and microwaving. Keywords: Alectis ciliaris, processing methods, proximate contents, dry season, marine wate
New Realism, Social Criticism and Prostitution Motif in Shadreck Chikoti’s Free Africa Flee!
Get PDFThe post-Banda Malawian poetry, like its precursor, has largely been marked by commitment to social and political issues. In taking on these subjects, the poets in Malawi tend to adopt critical stance reminiscent of the role of the traditional bard, who excoriates social misconducts and political malfeasances on the part of the common people and the elite. A contemporary Malawian poet, Shadreck Chikoti’s debut collection, Free Africa Flee!, falls in this category. Despite its topicality and other strengths, the collection has suffered critical neglect. Against this backdrop, this article closely examines selected poems in the collection, and argues that Chikoti makes social criticism out of his poetry, using a singular motif across dissimilar issues, a feature that is quite unusual in a debut collection. The poet’s criticism is located in the context of new realism, a writing convention which privileges ‘hyperextreme sincerity’ and pluralism in its representation of realities. The article concludes that the poet’s thematic renderings preserve a strong link with Abiola Irele’s notion of new realism in the post-independence sub-Saharan African novel
Prisoner to Lawyer, Wayward to Welder: Tanzanian Prison Education through the Lens of ‘Perspective Transformation.
Get PDFThis qualitative case study discusses the contribution of prison education on prisoners’ rehabilitation through a change of frames of references. The study addresses one key research question: Does prison education in Tanzania contribute to prisoners’ perspective transformation? In this study, one lens through which I view prison education is that of perspective transformation, which enables individuals to critically reflect upon and change their previous frames of references for the better. This article draws ideas from Mezirow’s ‘perspective transformation’ and discusses the connections between prison education and rehabilitation of prisoners. A snowball technique helped to locate two ex-prisoners who attended prison education, and they were individually interviewed. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. This study indicates that the two ex-prisoners had undergone a perspective transformation. Hence, it could be argued that prison education can transform prisoners. From this perspective, the study calls for prisons to expand educational access to prisoners. 
Role of Research on Effective Teaching And Learning in ODL Institutions: The Case Study of The Open University of Tanzania
Get PDFThis study analyzed the role of research on effective teaching and learning in the open and distance learning (ODL) institutions specifically at the Open University of Tanzania. The paper examined the key variables to be considered for ODL research at the Open University of Tanzania. The study reveals that the studies done to assess the role of research at OUT are inadequate and lack coverage in ODL variables and methodology. The study recommends that more studies should be conducted to assess the perception of instructors and students on the ODL mode of teaching and learning at OUT and other higher learning ODL institution
Assessment of Wildlife Poaching in Ugalla Game Reserve, Western Tanzania: Preferred Animal Species and Products
Get PDFIllegal hunting of wildlife for subsistence (poaching) is a significant threat to conservation areas in Africa. As law enforcement is the main method used to deter poaching within protected areas, an understanding of the items confiscated from poachers upon arrest can provide an insight into the pressure suffered by different wildlife species, and improve law enforcement efforts accordingly. In this paper, long-term ranger-collected data was used to determine hunting gear and wildlife products seized from poachers in the Ugalla Game Reserve of western Tanzania. Overall, 27 wildlife species were established as having been killed by poachers, with common duiker (Sylvicapra grimmia), hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius), African elephant (Loxodonta africana), and impala (Aepyceros melampus) found to be the most commonly poached species. Over 70% of the species were hunted for bushmeat. Some of these species seemed to be more preferred and more abundant. Other confiscated wildlife products included animal teeth, tails, skins, skulls, and horns; suggesting that uses of wildlife in Ugalla are more diverse. Three hundred and twenty-four poachers were arrested, with more than 18 arrests recorded in 7 out of the 11 years for which there was data. The majority of the arrested poachers used muzzleloader rifles. This paper presents possible implications of these findings for wildlife conservation in Ugalla