University of Dodoma Journals
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Analysing Price and Non-Price Drivers of Chickpea Production Dynamics in Tanzania: Insights into Global Market Influence.
Full text linkThis study examines the supply response of smallholder chickpea production in Tanzania in the context of rising global demand. Using annual time-series data from 1997 to 2022 and applying an Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) modelling approach, the analysis assesses the influence of global chickpea prices, export performance (as a proxy for global market demand), and rainfall on chickpea area harvested. The results reveal that rainfall plays a critical role in shaping production decisions, exerting a negative effect in the short run—likely reflecting waterlogging risks during planting—and a positive and significant effect in the long run, underscoring the importance of stable moisture conditions for sustained production. Global prices and export performance exhibit positive and significant effects in the short run, indicating that farmers respond to recent market signals, but their long-run effects are statistically insignificant, suggesting weak price transmission and limited integration of smallholders into global markets. Additionally, policy and institutional shifts captured through dummy variables indicate a positive structural break in 2011, coinciding with the first official release of improved chickpea varieties and intensified dissemination efforts, while adverse climatic conditions likely explain the negative effect observed in 2015. Based on these findings, the study highlights the importance of climate-resilient production strategies and improved market infrastructure as key policy priorities for strengthening chickpea production in Tanzania, while noting the need for future research to explicitly examine the roles of labour, technology, and institutional factors
Enhancing Teacher Training: A SWOT Perspective on Practicum Experiences in Tanzanian Higher Education
Full text linkThe teaching practicum spans two semesters in the first and second years of teacher training, during which trainees apply academic knowledge in real-world settings. Prior research highlights the need to observe classroom activities to assess career development trajectories. This study addresses this gap using a descriptive phenomenological design, employing observations, document analysis, and interviews. Snowball sampling recruited 12 teacher trainees from Science and Arts fields during their practicum in Tanzanian secondary schools. Thematic analysis revealed SWOT elements: strengths (progress in the teaching profession), weaknesses (self-doubting tendencies), opportunities (soft skills development), and threats (perceiving teaching as routine business). Findings offer practical insights for improving teacher preparation programs, benefiting educators, students, researchers, and policymakers in enhancing practicum planning and executio
Hotuba za Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere: Mwangwi wa Semi za Kiswahili
Full text linkMakala hii inahusu namna hotuba za Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere (kuanzia hapa na kuendelea, atatajwa kama Mwalimu) zinavyoakisi semi za Kiswahili. Mwalimu ni Rais wa Kwanza wa Jamhuri ya Tanganyika, na baadaye Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania. Hotuba zake zinahusu mambo aliyoyapa umuhimu kama vile uwajibikaji, uhuru, umoja, bidii katika kazi, uhusiano wa kimataifa, siasa ya ujamaa na kujitegemea, elimu, pamoja na malezi. Data zilizotumiwa katika makala hii zilikusanywa kutoka katika matini mbalimbali, zikiwamo hotuba, vitabu na kamusi za semi. Data hizo zilichambuliwa kwa njia ya uchambuzi matini. Kupitia hotuba hizo, imeonekana jinsi fasihi inavyoweza kuathiri namna ya mtu kufikiri, kunena, kutenda pamoja na kutazama hali ya maisha. Katika hotuba zake, semi za Kiswahili zimeakisiwa kwa namna mbili: ya moja kwa moja, ambapo anatumia semi kusisitiza jambo, na isiyo ya moja kwa moja, ambapo maudhui yake yanaoana moja kwa moja na semi za Kiswahili. Kwa jumla, kupitia namna zote mbili, imedhihirika kuwa kuna uhusiano kati ya fikra za Mwalimu na semi za Kiswahili. Hali hii inadhihirisha kuwa fasihi ni taaluma ambayo inagusa nyanja tofauti za maisha. Kwa hiyo, ni vema fasihi ifundishwe na kutafitiwa kwa kuhusianishwa na nyuga zingine zinazogusa maisha
Family firm culture’s influence on socioemotional wealth and financial performance in single-family-owned food processing firms
Full text linkWhile family business studies on socioemotional wealth and family-owned firms’ financial performance are growing globally, most have focused on European, Asian and American family firms, where economic and cultural changes have altered traditional family structures. These prior studies have predominantly examined private family-owned firms with diverse ownership structures, with limited attention paid to single-family-owned firms. Therefore, to address the identified research gap, this study analysed 267 Tanzanian single-family-owned food processing firms to assess the influence of family firm culture on socioemotional wealth and firms’ financial performance using generalised structural equation modelling. The study’s findings indicate that family firm culture significantly influenced the socioemotional wealth dimensions of family continuity, family prominence and family enrichment, positively affecting firms’ financial performance. This study recommends that family business owners prioritise family firm culture in their socioemotional wealth and financial performance strategies. The study suggests that future research should develop qualitative instruments for measuring socioemotional wealth dimensions
Mandatory Reinsurance Cessions in Tanzania: Relevancy and Unprecedented Development of Legal Framework
Full text linkIt is alleged that, immediately after independence, inadequate local reinsurance capacity has had an effect of fuelling the drains of foreign currency through payment of reinsurance premiums to foreign firms. In solving this problem, the government of Tanzania banned operations of foreign reinsurance brokers in 1974. However, this move was considered unsuitable, hence did not last longer. As such, in 1996, the insurance business was liberalised from state monopoly to allow participation of private insurance and reinsurance companies. As a result, the Tanzania National Reinsurance Corporation (Establishment) Order, 2001 was issued, which, among other things, established the Tanzania Reinsurance Corporation (TAN-RE), and for the first time, introduced mandatory reinsurance cessions. Nevertheless, the introduction of mandatory reinsurance cession was not well received by Tanzania insurers, for it was hotly challenged before the courts. Accordingly, the government opted to settle the matter amicably and issued an Amendment Order (GN No 396 of 2005), which provided for the gradual phasing out of mandatory reinsurance cessions come the year 2014. Unfortunately, ten years after the anticipated phasing-out, the mandatory reinsurance cessions still reign and bite the Tanzania insurers. It is thus, the objective of this paper to establish whether or not phasing out of mandatory reinsurance cessions were a legal oversight that necessitated a swift turn around by the government without taking the Tanzania insurers on board; and whether or not this unprecedented and bizarre legal journey has had an adverse impact in building local reinsurance capacity
The Effect of Sectoral Employment Composition on Tax Revenue in Tanzania.
Full text linkThis study examined the effect of sectoral employment composition on tax revenue in Tanzania. This study is motivated by structural transformation, which has altered the employment composition across the main sectors of the economy. Time series data were used from a period of 1970 to 2018. Estimation was performed using the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) technique. The results revealed that, in the long run, only a share of employment in the industry sector has a positive effect on tax revenue in Tanzania. In the short run, employment in the industry sector has a negative effect, whereas employment in the service sector and trade openness have a positive effect. Conversely, the employment share in the agriculture sector and GDP per capita exhibit negligible effects. The study adds to the present literature by examining both short-term and long-term impacts, using employment composition in each main economic sector as an independent variable instead of relying solely on aggregate employment. Furthermore, theoretically, a study contributes by explaining how the transformation of sectoral employment composition affects tax revenue. Therefore, policymakers and the Tax Revenue Authority are advised to encourage the transformation of sectoral employment composition to enhance tax revenue collection
The Mediating Role of Soft Skills in the Link Between Innovative Training Approaches and Graduate Employability: A Structural Equation Model from Tanzania
Full text linkThis study investigates the mediating role of soft skills in the relationship between innovative training approaches (ITA) and graduate employability (GE) in Tanzanian higher learning institutions (HLIs). Using survey data from 366 graduates, the study employed structural equation modeling (SmartPLS) to test a mediation framework linking ITA, soft skills, and GE. The findings reveal that ITA significantly enhance the development of soft skills, which in turn improve employability outcomes. Moreover, soft skills were found to play a critical mediating role, as ITA did not directly influence graduate employability unless their impact was transmitted through the development of soft skills. The direct effect of soft skills on employability was substantial (β = 0.42, Q² = 0.32), suggesting that graduates with stronger soft skills are more likely to be employable. This study contributes to the literature by highlighting the importance of integrating innovative training approaches and by empirically examining the mediating role of soft skills within the Tanzanian context
The Challenges of Inclusion of the Refugees in Development Plans and National Policy in Kenya: A Case of Urban Refugees in Nairobi
Full text linkThere is increasing global interest in promoting either stable or permanent solutions to the refugee problem in the host countries. While the Government of Kenya with the support of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has implemented inclusive initiatives targeting both the refugees and the local host communities since 2021, questions have emerged whether these initiatives are bearing fruits and whether refugees’ access to crucial government services such as health, education and economic opportunities has increased. This study examines the extent of refugee integration and explores the opportunities and challenges of the inclusion of refugees into the host country’s development processes. The study adopted an explorative research design and applied a qualitative research methodology within Nairobi city to study the inclusion of urban Sudanese refugees. From a list of 200 Sudanese refugee households residing in Nairobi, a systematic sample of 20 households was selected and interviewed using a semi-structured interview schedule. The qualitative data was processed and analysed thematically. This article reveals that, while there are some opportunities towards inclusion, urban refugees have not been fully integrated with development plans. Its findings call for long-term multi-stakeholder partnerships at various levels of governance to empower actors to contribute to the integration process
Entrepreneurship education and financial performance of graduate-owned SMEs in Tanzania
Full text linkSmall and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) rely on innovation and technology driven by entrepreneurship. Being entrepreneurial enables SME owners to transform business ideas into innovative and profitable goods or services and be flexible in response to business environmental changes. Although entrepreneurship education programs at universities are intended to develop the entrepreneurial competences necessary for successful graduate entrepreneurs, many graduate-owned SMEs are failing, resulting in high exit rates. This study assesses the contribution of university entrepreneurship education programs in producing successful entrepreneurs through the performance of graduate-owned SMEs. A cross-sectional survey design was utilized to collect data from 228 graduate entrepreneurs in Tanzania using online structured questionnaires. Partial least squares structural equation modelling was employed to clarify the causal-effect relationships among the constructs of the study. Findings reveal that, all components of entrepreneurship education, that is, entrepreneurship content, entrepreneurship pedagogy and entrepreneurship development support positively and significantly influence financial performance of graduate-owned SMEs. Based on the results, it is suggested that universities should prioritize comprehensive entrepreneurship curricula that include theory, practical applications, and real-world experiences. Additionally, fostering an entrepreneurial ecosystem with support, mentorship, and networking opportunities is crucial for empowering aspiring entrepreneurs, a critical aspect for economic advancement
Community Participation in Corporate Social Responsibility Practices of North Mara Gold Mine in Tanzania
Full text linkCorporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects that do not engage local communities around the areas of their operation are often unsuccessful or rejected by their intended beneficiaries. In Tanzania, some communities ignore or reject CSR projects, raising doubts about whether they were initially involved in such projects. Drawing from North Mara Gold Mine CSR initiatives, this paper argues that community acceptance or rejection of CSR projects relates to the extent to which the mining company engages with the community. The paper utilises survey data drawn from a systematic sample of 358 households. In addition, it uses data from interviews, documentary review and focus group discussions. The study applies descriptive and content analysis to make sense of the data. The results show inadequate involvement of communities around the goldmine in all the stages of the CSR project cycle. Consequently, the North Mara Gold Mine’s CSR initiatives have not served as an effective tool to harmonise community relations and mitigate conflicts