HURIA JOURNAL OF THE OPEN UNIVERSITY OF TANZANIA

Students’ Perceptions of Programme Coordinators’ Academic Support Roles in Open and Distance Learning: Evidence from the Open University of Tanzania

2026-07-02T04:18:28+00:00

This study examined students’ perceptions of programme coordinators’ academic support roles at the Open University of Tanzania. Guided by Transactional Distance Theory, it focused on students’ awareness of coordinators’ responsibilities and their perceived communication effectiveness. A cross-sectional quantitative design was employed, involving 130 students from four regional centres. Data were collected using a structured five-point Likert scale questionnaire. Analysis incorporated descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, MANOVA, and univariate ANOVA. Findings revealed overall moderate levels of awareness and communication effectiveness among students. Postgraduate students reported the highest levels, followed by undergraduates, while non-degree students recorded the lowest mean scores. These differences indicate that perceptions vary significantly by academic level. The study recommends strengthening structured dialogue, proactive communication, and targeted support for less experienced students to reduce transactional distance and enhance academic integration in ODL environments.

Enhancing The Quality of Library Services Through Effective Marketing Strategies: A Revisit of Public Libraries in Tanzania

2026-07-02T04:42:52+00:00

Public libraries in Tanzania face increasing challenges in demonstrating their value and reaching diverse communities, effectively. This study explored the current state of strategic marketing implementation in Tanzanian public libraries by analyzing public library services marketing strategies, determining effectiveness of public library services marketing strategies and contrasting issues hindering effectiveness of marketing of public library services. The study was conducted at the four regional libraries which are located in Dar es Salaam, Dodoma, Mwanza and Arusha. Using a convenience sampling strategy, 46 librarians out of 70 available librarians completed an online questionnaire survey and semi-structured interviews were conducted to four key informants of the libraries, purposively. Descriptive statistics were presented through tables, graphs, and charts. The findings revealed high familiarity with marketing concepts (93.5%) strong recognition of technology's role in marketing (87.0%), specific benefits from marketing programs (91.3%) and enhanced marketing effectiveness resulted from partnership coll4aboration (87.0%). However, significant implementation challenges found were; reporting difficulties in strategic marketing execution, (78.3%) requirements of additional trainings support and reaching diverse communities (60.9%). While Tanzanian library professionals demonstrate marketing awareness, substantial gaps exist in implementation, training, and evaluation. Addressing these deficiencies through targeted professional development and systematic assessment methods could significantly enhance library service quality.

Legal Translation and Access to Justice in Tanzania and Ghana: Challenges and Future Directions

2026-07-02T04:50:42+00:00

This paper examines the role of translation in enhancing legal language communication in Tanzania and Ghana, two multilingual contexts where language significantly affects access to justice. Legal translation is essential for safeguarding linguistic rights, facilitating participation in legal proceedings, and ensuring fairness within judicial systems. Using a qualitative analytical approach, the study explores the significance of legal translation, identifies key challenges such as complex legal terminology, inadequate training of legal translators, and insufficient policy support and proposes long-term solutions including specialized translator training, legal language policy reforms, and the adoption of translation technologies. The study is contextualized within recent legal developments in Tanzania, particularly the 2020 introduction of Kiswahili as the language of court proceedings at all judicial levels. While this policy aimed to improve accessibility, the continued reliance on English legal texts has limited effective communication for many court users, thereby intensifying the need for accurate translation of legal statutes and documents from English into Kiswahili. Guided by Skopos Theory, which emphasizes purpose-driven translation, the study draws on data collected through questionnaires and interviews. The findings demonstrate that effective legal communication in both Tanzania and Ghana depends largely on the availability of functional, context-sensitive, and professionally managed translation practices. The study concludes that strengthening legal translation is essential for achieving inclusive and equitable justice systems.

Digital Literacy Profiles of Secondary School Teachers in Tanzania and their Relationship with Technology-Enhanced Lesson Design Competences

2026-07-02T05:12:03+00:00

This study examines the digital literacy profiles of secondary school teachers in Tanzania, concentrating on two primary dimensions of digital literacy: Information and Data Literacy (IDL) and Digital Content Creation (DC). Data from 251 teachers were employed, utilizing a cross-sectional quantitative design and person-centered cluster analysis to identify various digital literacy profiles. Three levels of digital literacy emerged: low, moderate, and high. Correlational analyses were subsequently carried between digital literacy profiles and teachers' capacity to formulate technology-enhanced lessons across five domains: Pedagogical-Technology Integration, Content-Technology Alignment, Student-Centered Technology Design, Assessment-Evaluation Integration, and Adaptive Lesson Planning. Multivariate, correlational, and regression analyses demonstrated statistically significant and practically relevant associations between digital literacy and lesson design proficiency. Digital Content Creation emerged as the strongest statistical predictor of lesson design competence. The results indicate variability in teachers’ digital literacy profiles. These findings suggest that professional development strategies may benefit from being tailored to these differences and the current digital literacy among teachers. The implication of these findings for Tanzania's education policy and the professional development of teachers is discussed.

The Effects of Tourism on the Socio-Economic Activities of Local Communities Neighboring Lake Manyara

2026-07-02T16:04:15+00:00

This study examined the socio-economic effects of tourism on local communities neighboring Lake Manyara National Park in Tanzania, with particular emphasis on tourism multiplier effects and livelihood outcomes. A mixed-methods approach and cross-sectional research design were employed, involving 108 respondents comprising local households, tourism business operators, and park management officials. Data were collected through structured questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, and focus group discussions using simple random and purposive sampling techniques. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, including frequencies and percentages, while qualitative data were analyzed through thematic content analysis. The findings indicate that tourism significantly contributes to local economic development through employment creation, income generation, small business expansion, and infrastructure improvement. In addition, tourism supports social development through enhanced access to education, healthcare, and cultural promotion. However, the results also reveal structural challenges, including unequal distribution of benefits, weak integration into productive sectors, and increasing dependence on tourism as a primary livelihood source. The study concludes that while tourism generates measurable socio-economic benefits, its multiplier effects remain uneven and constrained by limited local participation and weak economic linkages. These findings highlight the need for policies that strengthen inclusive economic integration and enhance the sustainability of tourism-driven livelihoods.

Enhancing Electronic Medical Records Privacy in Tanzania: A blockchain-based framework

2026-07-02T05:28:07+00:00

Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) are vital for healthcare delivery in Tanzania, yet centralised systems in government hospitals remain vulnerable to privacy breaches, unauthorised access, weak access controls, and insufficient audit trails. This study proposes a blockchain-based framework to strengthen EMR privacy in Tanzanian public hospitals, overcoming limitations of existing firewall-based protections. Using a mixed-methods design, data were collected at Dodoma Regional Referral Hospital from 210 purposively sampled participants (108 staff, 102 outpatients) via questionnaires, structured interviews, and expert interview was used during framework validation. Quantitative analyses using SPSS and EPI Info, and thematic qualitative analyses, revealed key privacy gaps: 75.9 percent of staff used unencrypted, password-protected files for data transfer; 72.2 percent reported unclear access roles and policies; and 64.7 percent of patients expressed serious concerns about EMR confidentiality due to limited awareness of data-handling practices. The proposed permissioned blockchain framework integrates Proxy Re-Encryption (PRE) to enable secure, consent-based sharing, immutable smart-contract audit trails, and off-chain encrypted storage. This enables controlled access by hospital staff and authorised third parties (e.g., insurance providers) while preserving patient privacy. Expert validation through scenario-based review and prototype testing confirmed technical feasibility, alignment with Tanzania’s Personal Data Protection Act, and effectiveness in addressing vulnerabilities, including password sharing and a lack of traceability. This tailored solution offers a scalable approach to privacy-preserving EMR management in resource-limited settings, with potential for broader adoption across Sub-Saharan Africa.

The Quest for Regulated Social Work Ethical Practice in Tanzania: A Comparative Historical Review

2026-07-02T05:55:02+00:00

Background: Social work in Tanzania remains under-regulated, with professional practice largely guided by social welfare sector laws and policies rather than specific social work statutory frameworks. This gap raises concerns about ethical accountability, training standards, and alignment with international norms. This review examined the state of social work regulation in Tanzania, situating it within systems theory and comparing it to statutory models in other African countries and internationally. A historical comparative review was conducted, analyzing Tanzanian policy documents, reports from the Law Reform Commission, and comparative legislation from England, the United States, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Namibia, Seychelles, and Kenya. The comparative analysis was applied to identify structural, ethical, and regulatory gaps. The review revealed that Tanzania’s social work practice faces systemic ethical challenges due to fragmented institutional structures. In contrast, African peers have established statutory councils that enforce registration, licensing, and ethical oversight. These bodies have elevated professional recognition, standardized training, and strengthened public trust. The comparative analysis underscored the relevance of statutory regulation for Tanzania. Namibia’s integration of social work and psychology, South Africa’s broad professional council, and Zimbabwe’s sanction of unregistered practice illustrate diverse pathways for embedding accountability. These models highlight the importance of grounding ethical practice in interconnected institutional laws, policies, and regulations. To align with regional and global standards, Tanzania should consider establishing a statutory social work council. Such a body would enhance professional recognition, enforce ethical compliance, and harmonize practice with African and international frameworks, thereby strengthening the welfare system and protecting vulnerable populations.

Do Governance Practices Drive Product Innovation? Evidence from Agricultural Marketing Co-operative Societies in Simiyu, Tanzania

2026-07-02T06:32:59+00:00

While governance reforms are emphasised in Tanzania’s Agricultural Marketing Co-operative Societies (AMCOS), the governance–product innovation relationship remains underexplored despite its importance for competitiveness and sustainability. This study examines how governance practices influence product innovation in AMCOS in Simiyu Region, focusing on board accountability, board strategic leadership, digital governance, and inclusive governance, guided by Good Governance Theory and the Resource-Based View. A cross-sectional mixed-methods design with an embedded approach was used. Quantitative data were collected from 237 AMCOS managers using structured questionnaires, while qualitative data were obtained from District Co-operative Officers through interviews. Analysis used descriptive statistics and regression in SPSS, with qualitative data analysed thematically. Results show low product innovation, with 61.2% of AMCOS reporting no new products or services over the past three years. Regression results indicate that only board accountability has a positive and statistically significant effect on product innovation, while board strategic leadership, digital governance, and inclusive governance have statistically insignificant effects. Qualitative findings reveal that traditional business orientation, limited board capacity, dependency on external support, and a risk-intensive regulatory environment constrain innovation. The study concludes that governance practices in Simiyu AMCOS contribute little to product innovation. Accountability supports compliance and routine improvements, while other governance mechanisms do not translate into meaningful innovation due to structural and capacity limitations within a cotton-centric context. The study recommends strengthening board capacity, strategic planning systems, adopting the New Generation Co-operative model, and regulatory policy support to foster product innovation in AMCOS.

Teachers’ Pedagogical Competence in Promoting Higher-Order Thinking Skills under the Competency-Based Curriculum in Public Secondary Schools in Bariadi Town Council, Tanzania

2026-07-02T06:48:27+00:00

This study examined teachers’ pedagogical competence in promoting higher-order thinking skills (HOTS) under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) in public secondary schools in Bariadi Town Council, Tanzania. Specifically, the study aimed to assess teachers’ ability to design HOTS-oriented learning activities, examine their use of learner-centered teaching strategies, and analyze how they integrate real-life situations in teaching. The study employed a convergent parallel mixed-methods design involving 112 respondents, including teachers, Heads of Schools, the District Secondary Education Officer (DSEO), and the District Quality Assurance Officer (DQAO). Data were collected using questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (means and standard deviations), while qualitative data were analyzed thematically. The findings indicated moderate to relatively high levels of self-reported pedagogical competence in designing HOTS-oriented activities (M = 4.12), using learner-centered strategies (M = 3.99), and integrating real-life situations (M = 3.84). However, classroom implementation was reported to be inconsistent and often superficial, particularly in inquiry-based learning and authentic problem-solving tasks. These findings suggest a gap between pedagogical knowledge and actual practice. The study concludes that while teachers demonstrate awareness of HOTS-oriented pedagogy, learner engagement remains limited. It recommends strengthening professional development, improving instructional resources, and enhancing instructional supervision to support effective implementation of HOTS.

Institutional Theory and Tax Compliance: A Systematic Literature Review

2026-07-02T06:55:02+00:00

The role of tax in any economy is of paramount importance since it contributes to the implementation of government plans and budget. Therefore, this study systematically reviewed the role of institutional theory in promoting tax compliance. The study used the PRISMA 2020 approach, 23 articles, thematic analysis, NVivo qualitative data analysis, and SPSS for descriptive data analysis. The study explored the characteristics and patterns of the studies in relation to the institutional theory variables. Study findings indicated that higher integration of institutional theory variables into tax compliance was conducted mostly in Asian and African countries in the 2020s. Also, study findings indicated that the regulations and normative pillars are frequently invoked to dominate the literature, whereas the cultural cognitive pillar is rarely studied. Additionally, while studies conducted in developing countries examined both the regulative and normative pillars, those in developed countries focused more on the regulative pillar. Additionally, the results suggest that the theory was reasonably utilized in explaining tax compliance among SMEs rather than among corporate entities. Generally, the review concludes that further studies are required to explain how institutional theory promotes tax compliance across developed and developing countries and across corporate entities. Studies that focus on normative and cultural cognitive aspects and intercountry studies are highly in demand, while policymakers should formulate and amend policies to promote tax compliance, focusing on the proper functioning of regulations, cultural and normative facets.

Untangling the Complex Dynamics Between Philosophy and Culture

2026-07-02T15:25:27+00:00

Philosophy has long suffered from misconceptions, ranging from being perceived as an abstract, impractical discipline remote from the concerns of life to being fallaciously viewed as anti-religious or anti-God. Additionally, philosophy is often mistakenly perceived as an outdated and obsolete discipline. Similarly, it is frequently conflated with culture. However, philosophy remains an essential, timeless component of human endeavour, driving critical inquiry and meaning-seeking. This study challenges pervasive misconceptions surrounding philosophy and seeks to reaffirm its timeless relevance in human endeavours by demonstrating its intricate relationship with culture. Through critical evaluation and expository methods, this study navigates beyond superficial understandings to illuminate the profound impact of philosophy on human experiences, cultural narratives, and existential understanding. The research draws on the philosophical ideas of Nietzsche and Heidegger to establish its central thesis, providing an in-depth knowledge of the intricate relationship between philosophy and culture. By and large, it proffers answers to these research questions: What are the main misapprehensions about the relevance and significance of philosophy, and how can an examination of its relationship with culture help to dispel these misconceptions? How do the philosophical theories of Nietzsche and Heidegger shed light on this relationship, and what does this mean for our comprehension of the relevance of philosophy in human endeavours?

“Untie our hands”: Teachers’ and parents’ social representations of school arson in Kenya

2026-07-02T15:36:25+00:00

School arson, primarily burning down dormitories in boarding schools, is common in Kenya, leading to intense discussions among opinion makers such as government officials and newspaper columnists. Publications thus far have not reported the views of teachers and parents. This paper explores teachers’ and parents’ understandings of school arson through an inductive thematic analysis of focus group discussions held with 32 parents and 32 teachers in Kenya. Discussions focussed on the broad issues of contemporary Kenyan society rather than on the specific incidents of arson in particular schools. A central concern was the perceived role of international practices in undermining effective African parenting and disciplining strategies, with a broader commentary on what it means to be Kenyan, or an African, in the current postcolonial context.

Digital Student Management Systems in East African Higher Education: A Systematic Review of Managerial Practices

2026-07-02T15:51:02+00:00

This systematic review consolidates insights regarding the management of digital student management systems (DSMS) by university administrators within East Africa. These integrated platforms oversee admissions, registration, record keeping, and communication functions. A comprehensive search was conducted across four key databases: Google Scholar, Scopus, Web of Science, and African Journals Online, employing structured keywords and platform-specific terms, supplemented by reference list reviews to ensure exhaustive source capture. The review included peer-reviewed articles and institutional reports published in English from January 2010 through August 15, 2024, focusing on DSMS or student information systems within higher education institutions across the East African Community (including Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and South Sudan), as well as Ethiopia and Sudan. Study quality was appraised using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT). Of the 47 screened records, 15 met all inclusion criteria. Despite the limited and uneven distribution of evidence across countries, the findings suggest a consistent framework: effective DSMS implementation relies on six interconnected managerial practices. These are: visionary leadership with clear policy guidance; ongoing investment in staff capacity building and digital literacy; proactive resource allocation for ICT infrastructure; systematic monitoring and utilisation of student data to inform decision-making; robust cybersecurity and risk management protocols; and active engagement and support for system users. Universities that prioritised these practices and aligned their systems with national digital strategies reported enhancements in operational efficiency and student services. Conversely, institutions with fragmented systems or limited expertise continued to face challenges. The review underscores the need for context-sensitive research and emphasises that strengthening managerial capacity and promoting cross-institutional collaboration will be vital to advancing DSMS in East Africa.

Determinants of Oilseed Export Performance in Tanzania: The Case of Sunflower Seed

2026-07-02T16:08:15+00:00

This study examines the determinants of sunflower export performance in Tanzania over the period 1990–2023, employing the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL)–Error Correction Model (ECM) to capture both short-run and long-run effects among macroeconomic, production capacity and trade liberalisation. The empirical results indicate that foreign direct investment (FDI) is the only factor with effects in both periods; a positive and statistically significant effect in the short run and a negative effect in the long run. Meanwhile, production quantity and world prices affect export performance only in the long run, with positive and negative effects, respectively. Based on these findings, the study recommends strengthening production capacity through the adoption of improved seed varieties and the introduction of irrigation schemes to ensure stable output. It also emphasises directing FDI into agro-processing and export value chains to enhance value addition and competitiveness, alongside investing in storage and processing infrastructure to reduce post-harvest losses. Furthermore, given the negative influence of world prices, the study recommends establishing price stabilisation and risk management mechanisms such as improved market information systems, forward contracts, and export price monitoring to help producers and exporters mitigate adverse global price fluctuations and enhance the stability of export earnings.

The Impact of Dairy Cooperatives on the Incomes of Smallholder Dairy Farmers in Muheza District, Tanzania

2026-07-02T16:17:38+00:00

Th study assessed the impact of dairy cooperative membership on the income of smallholder dairy farmers in Muheza District, Tanzania. A cross-sectional research design was employed; the primary data were collected through structured questionnaires. Stratified and systematic random sampling techniques were used to select sample size of 99 respondents. Propensity Score Matching (PSM) was applied to estimate the causal effect of cooperative membership on farmers’ income while controlling for observable characteristics. Matching quality was assessed using balance diagnostics to ensure comparability between members and non-members. The results indicate that members of the dairy cooperative (CHAWAMU) earned significantly higher average incomes (TZS 235,000) compared to non-members (TZS 118,000), suggesting a positive income effect of cooperative participation. The main limitation was the small sample size and single-district focus, which may not generalize to other dairy farming regions. Future research could extend coverage to more regions and increase samples to improve generalizability. While several studies focus on cooperative performance and market access, few have assessed the direct income effects on smallholder farmers in Tanzania. This study contributes to the literature on agricultural cooperatives in Tanzania by focusing on the income effect of dairy cooperative membership among smallholder farmers in Muheza District. While previous studies have discussed cooperative performance, access to inputs, and market participation, fewer have empirically estimated the direct contribution of dairy cooperative membership to smallholder income at the local level. The findings therefore provide context-specific evidence on the role of dairy cooperatives in improving rural livelihoods.