HURIA JOURNAL OF THE OPEN UNIVERSITY OF TANZANIA

Integrating Cultural Aspects of the Target Audience in Literary Translation: A Case Study of Barua Ndefu kama Hii

2026-01-28T12:21:47+00:00

Teachers’ and Parents’ Perceptions of the Effectiveness and Sustainability of School Feeding Programmes in Tanzanian Primary Schools: A Qualitative Inquiry

2026-01-28T12:26:18+00:00

Despite the widespread implementation of School Feeding Programmes (SFPs) in Tanzania, research offers limited insight into how teachers and parents interpret SFPs and sustain them in everyday school life. This study explored stakeholder perceptions of SFPs' contribution to children's learning, well-being and participation in the Mara Region, and how motivational and ecological factors shape engagement. Guided by Hoover-Dempsey and Sandler's parental involvement model and Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory, we used a qualitative, interpretive phenomenological design. Data comprised 40 individual teacher interviews and 20 parent focus group discussions (n=200) across 20 public primary schools; analysis treated each school and focus group as the comparative unit and triangulated accounts using thematic analysis. Teachers associated SFPs with improved attendance and punctuality, stronger concentration and participation, calmer classroom behaviour and reduced stigma, with steadier gains in urban-proximate schools and more seasonal patterns in agrarian and lakeshore communities. Parents framed SFPs as a lifeline in food-insecure settings and as a motivational and social-cohesion mechanism where households had more reliable food access, and reported perceived health and emotional benefits alongside strong norms of collective responsibility. Sustainability was described as precarious due to poverty, climate variability, rising costs, infrastructure gaps (fuel, water, storage/utensils) and weak institutional support, yet communities reported adaptive collective strategies. Sustainable SFPs require resilient financing, basic infrastructure investment, and policy recognition of local agency and trust as foundations for educational equity.

Local Government Revenue Collection in Tanzania under the Outsourced Model: A Case of Kilosa District Council

2026-01-28T18:49:41+00:00

This study assessed local government revenue collection in Tanzania under an outsourced model, using the Kilosa District Council as a case study. A mixed-methods approach was adopted, combining quantitative and qualitative data. Quantitative data were collected through a survey method assisted by a questionnaire, and qualitative data were collected through an interview method with the aid of an interview guide. Primary data were obtained from revenue collection supervisors, council officials, and taxpayers, while secondary data were drawn from official documents. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics, and qualitative data were analysed through thematic analysis. The results indicated that the adequacy of human resources affected revenue collection efficacy. Similarly, the application of modern tools enhances both the efficiency and accuracy of revenue collection, while low operational costs are also associated with improved collection efficacy. Likewise, findings identified challenges, including taxpayers’ negative perceptions, resistance to paying taxes, and inadequate assessment of the resource base. The study concludes that, compared to non-outsourced models, outsourcing revenue collection in Kilosa District Council offers considerable potential for enhancing revenue generation. However, addressing operational challenges and establishing robust support mechanisms are essential to sustaining its effectiveness. The study recommends strengthening capacity-building initiatives, improving technological infrastructure, and fostering partnerships between local government and contracted agents. Thus, this study provides insights for policymakers and other local authorities in Tanzania and similar contexts, considering outsourcing as a revenue collection strategy.

Examining Service Quality Dimensions and Customer Satisfaction Interplay in the Retail Banking Sector: An Emerging Economy Perspective

2026-01-28T18:56:28+00:00

This study assesses the relationship between service quality dimensions and customer satisfaction. Specifically, the study aimed to determine the influence of reliability, tangibility, responsiveness, service assurance, and empathy on customer satisfaction with retail banking services. A cross-sectional research design was adopted. Questionnaires were used to collect data from 289 respondents, and the data were analysed using ordinal logistic regression. Findings indicate that customers are satisfied with the overall quality of services rendered by the retail banking sector. Findings further reveal that reliability, tangibility, assurance, responsiveness and empathy positively influence customer satisfaction. The findings highlight the importance of service quality dimensions in shaping customer perceptions and satisfaction in the banking sector, and identify areas for development to improve overall service delivery and the customer experience. The study's findings are particularly relevant in emerging economies, where competition is intensifying, and customer expectations are evolving. Findings suggest that Banks that prioritise these dimensions can foster stronger customer loyalty, quality service delivery, greater financial performance and sustainable growth. This study contributes to the body of knowledge by addressing a critical research gap in the Tanzanian retail banking sector, particularly regarding the relationship between service quality dimensions and customer satisfaction. Unlike previous studies that examined conventional banking services, this study emphasises the unique dynamics of retail banking, catering to a large unbanked population in the country. By providing insights into specific service quality factors, the study equips Tanzanian banks with actionable strategies to enhance customer experiences and drive financial inclusion in an evolving economic landscape.

Effects of Climate Change on Land Use Patterns among Farmers and Pastoralists in Mvomero District, Tanzania

2026-01-28T19:04:22+00:00

Drivers of Enrolment Intention towards Social Health Insurance among Informal Sector Workers in Tanzania: Moderating Role of Health Literacy

2026-01-29T08:04:43+00:00

The focus of the study is to examine the moderating role of health literacy on the determinants of enrolment intention towards social health insurance among informal sector workers in Tanzania. The study employed a positivist research philosophy, a deductive approach, and an explanatory research design. Using stratified and systematic random sampling techniques, a sample of 350 vendors from local markets across Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, was selected. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire and analysed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). The findings reveal that attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control significantly, and positively affect enrolment intention in social health insurance. Nonetheless, health literacy significantly moderates only the relationship between perceived behavioural control and enrolment intention. This study contributes to the literature by integrating the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) with health literacy to assess enrolment intention in the context of social health insurance among informal sector workers in Tanzania. It is among the first studies in the region to explore the moderating role of health literacy in the effects of attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control on enrolment intention. The findings offer theoretical insights and practical implications for designing health insurance policies and literacy interventions targeted at underserved populations.

Understanding Pupils’ Engagement in Extracurricular Programmes and Contextual Influences in Mbulu Town Council Primary Schools

2026-01-29T08:12:12+00:00

This study examines patterns of preference and factors influencing primary school pupils’ participation in extracurricular activities in Mbulu town council, Tanzania. Guided by Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory, a mixed-methods approach was employed, involving 68 pupils from four primary schools selected through stratified sampling. Quantitative data were collected using a structured 5-point Likert scale questionnaire, while qualitative insights were obtained through open-ended questions. Descriptive statistics and thematic analysis were used to analyse quantitative and qualitative data, respectively. Findings indicate that pupils participate more in activities that are formally scheduled in the school timetable, well-structured, and supervised. Participation is further shaped by contextual factors, including school facilities, parental support, peer interactions, and the degree of school support for engagement. The study recommends improving infrastructure, ensuring adequate supervision, and integrating extracurricular support into school policies to create motivating, accessible, and inclusive environments that enhance pupils’ holistic development.

From Brand Awareness to Performance in Tanzanian Telecommunication Companies: The Mediating Role of Brand Attitude and Moderating Effect of Customer Satisfaction

2026-01-29T08:59:52+00:00

Telecommunication companies in Tanzania face intense competition, and despite substantial investments in brand visibility, many firms struggle to translate brand awareness into tangible performance outcomes. This study addresses this gap by examining how brand awareness, brand attitude, and customer satisfaction influence brand performance within the Tanzanian telecommunication sector. Guided by the Resource-Based View (RBV) and Expectancy Disconfirmation Theory (EDT), the study employed a positivist philosophy with a deductive approach and an explanatory research design. Data were collected from 314 employees across four major telecommunication companies in Dar es Salaam using a structured questionnaire. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) was applied to test the hypothesised relationships. The findings reveal that brand awareness significantly and positively influences both brand performance and brand attitude, while brand attitude also has a positive effect on brand performance. Furthermore, brand attitude mediates the relationship between brand awareness and performance. Customer satisfaction was found to selectively moderate these relationships, strengthening the effect of brand attitude on performance but not significantly affecting the brand awareness–performance link. The study contributes theoretically by integrating RBV and EDT, demonstrating that intangible brand resources drive performance but their effectiveness depends on customer experiences. Practically, the findings underscore the need for telecommunication firms to combine awareness-building initiatives with strategies that foster favourable brand attitudes and ensure high levels of customer satisfaction.

Solidarity Beyond Borders: Understanding Local Rationales for Hosting Burundian Immigrants in Karagwe, Tanzania

2026-01-29T09:05:07+00:00

This paper examines the motivations influencing residents of Karagwe District, Tanzania, to host Burundian immigrants, often through informal arrangements that contrast with national immigration policies. The study addresses the following question, highlighting a gap in the existing literature: How do economic, cultural, and personal factors influence the decision of residents in Karagwe District to host Burundian immigrants despite restrictive national immigration policies? This question responds to the scarcity of integrated studies that holistically examine the interplay of motivations behind informal hosting within border communities. Using a convergent mixed-methods approach, the study combines statistical analysis of 371 survey responses with thematic interpretation of qualitative data from interviews with 24 participants. The findings indicate that hosting decisions arise from a complex interplay of economic pragmatism, shared cultural heritage, and deeply rooted personal and moral convictions. Local hosts benefit from the labour and economic participation of immigrants and view hosting as an extension of traditional values and historical kinship across borders. These motivations are conceptualised through Social Capital Theory, which emphasises the role of trust, networks, and collective identity in fostering inclusive behaviour. The study concludes by recommending policy reforms that harmonise legal frameworks with the lived realities of border communities, recognising that effective governance must integrate both formal institutions and informal solidarities.

Dunia ya Ughaibuni: Usawiri wa Mfalme Sulemani katika Fantasia ya Adili na Nduguze ya Shaaban Robert

2026-01-29T09:10:48+00:00

Shaaban Robert amepewa sifa na hata kukosolewa juu ya utunzi wa baadhi ya riwaya zake za utanzu wa kifantasia kuwa zina mwelekeo wa kukwepa ukweli na kutia chumvi, zinasifa za kukiuka uhalisia na huwaaminisha wasomaji katika mambo yasiyo ya kawaida. Moja ya kazi hiyo ni Adili na Nduguze inayoelezewa kuwa imechanganya ‘jusura na fantasia’. Ni riwaya inayochukuliwa kuwa inakiuka kaida au mviringo wa maisha ya ulimwengu halisi. Hata hivyo sifa za riwaya kama hizo, kupitia mkabala wa uhalisiafifi (surrealism) wa Andre Breton, ni kazi zinazochukuliwa kuwa zina uthubutu, zinazompa mwandishi uhuru wa kujieleza bila kujali mipaka ya tajriba zilizozoeleka katika jamii yake. Hivyo, makala hii inachunguza usawiri wa Mfalme Suleimani katika fantasia ya Adili na Nduguze. Lengo la makala hii ni kubainisha fikra za ughaibu katika jamii ya Waswahili kupitia kisa cha Mfalme Suleiman na kubainisha athari ya mitholojia za kidini katika Uandishi wa Robert kupitia kisa cha Mfalme/Nabii Sulemani. Data za makala hii zilikusanywa kwa kutumia mbinu ya usomaji makini na kuchambuliwa kwa kutumia mkabala wa kimaelezo. Aidha, nadharia ya uhalisiafifi imetumika katika kuchunguza, kuchambua na kuwasilisha data na matokeo ya utafiti huu. Kwa hiyo, makala hii inachanganua na kujenga hoja kwamba riwaya ya Adili na Nduguze ni kazi ya kifantansia ambayo imechota uajabuajabu kutoka katika hazina ya mitholojia na visasili vya kidini vinavyohusu asili na hatima ya mwanadamu katika jamii ya Waswahili ambapo mipaka baina ya dunia halisi na ile ya kifantasia na wahusika halisi na wale wakifantasia inavunjwa.

Rethinking Higher Education Quality in Tanzania through Total Quality Management (TQM): Spatial Qualities and Writing Culture Dimensions

2026-01-29T09:21:57+00:00

This paper explores the potential of Total Quality Management (TQM) philosophy in enhancing the quality of higher education in Tanzania. Using Ardhi University as the primary case and supported by contextual insights from informal settlements near Mbeya University of Science and Technology (MUST) and Teofilo Kisanji University (TEKU), the paper examines how TQM principles can be used to interpret and strengthen the spatial learning environments and writing culture that underpin educational quality in Tanzanian universities. Writing culture is positioned as a core dimension of educational quality whose development is constrained when TQM principles are weakly integrated into institutional practices. The paper is based on a review-driven, qualitative interpretive synthesis of two postgraduate dissertations, complemented by practitioner reflections from the 2019 OUTASA Young Scholars Symposium and a small supplementary questionnaire. This triangulated evidence shows that while awareness of quality issues is increasing, fragmented and compliance-oriented approaches to quality assurance, together with inadequate attention to student spatial environments, limit the formation of a robust quality culture. Spatial deficiencies such as overcrowding, insufficient lighting, and lack of dedicated paper areas are shown to weaken writing culture, especially where TQM practices are not fully institutionalized. The paper concludes that adopting TQM holistically anchored in continuous improvement, stakeholder participation, and a shared quality culture, offers a practical pathway for improving both spatial learning conditions and writing culture development. The paper contributes an integrated framework demonstrating how TQM can be operationalized to support these interrelated dimensions of higher education quality in resource-constrained contexts.