The Impact of Women Economic Group Conflicts on the Development of their Projects: The Case of Women in Kinondoni Municipality

The purpose of this study was to assess the relationships among women and their impact on the success of their economic projects. The objectives of the study were to identify the economic activities run by women in groups based on friendship relations, investigate the relationship that prevails among women in running group economic activities, and to assess the effects of such conflicts on their economic group projects. The target group was the petty business women in Kinondoni municipality. This was a case study research which used both qualitative and quantitative data. Identification of study population was done using non-probability sampling procedures, especially through purposive and snowball sampling procedures. Methods used to collect data included face-to-face interview, focus group discussions for qualitative data while questionnaire administration with closed ended questions was used to collect quantitative data. Both content and SPSS statistical programme were used to analyze data. The findings indicated that, women are mostly involved in unsatble relationships with each other in their groups. It was also revealed that, women are involved in different economic group projects which, in principle, are expected to be of significant contribution to their economic empowerment. However, group members find themselves in conflicts and confrontations which weaken their relationships and consequently affect the economic growth of their projects. There is need to train women to work in groups through education and life skills and to orient them on how to manage their conflicts rationally and amicably

Special and Vulnerable Groups on Access, Success and Equity on Open and Distance Education in Tanzania: The Case of The Open University of Tanzania

Open and Distance Learning (ODL) assisted by the use of ICT, has proven to create significant opportunities for potential learners especially people with special needs including those living with disabilities and inmates to access higher education. ODL as a mode of instruction with the use of ICT can promote access to higher education for people with disabilities and those with special needs (the inmates). The concern is on whether the people living with disabilities and those with special needs have full access, success and equity to higher education despite the existing potentials for education. The use of ODL in higher learning institutions assisted by ICT proves to have a number of challenges especially when students with disabilities are involved in accessing and utilizing ICT, in particular the assistive technology like text-to-speech software, alternative keyboards and mice, and specialized software for students with learning disabilities. In-depth interviews were conducted to both students, academic and non academic staff from four OUT regional centres namely Kinondoni, Ilala, Morogoro and Iringa. Findings indicated that, there are various challenges in accessing education through ODL and related ICT facility due to high cost implications related to the establishment of assistive infrastructure for the students with disabilities for individual institutions to undertake; Inadequacy of personnel and especially academic staff trained to attend such students; lack of text-to-speech software, alternative keyboards and mice, and specialized software for the students; Inadequate funds to lay down the required infrastructure and related equipment. It is recommended the government and generous institutions to mobilize resources to fund the establishment of the infrastructure and purchase the related equipment to enable ODL with the use of ICT to effectively provide the education required by PLW and inmates as a human right to all. ODL through ICT can reach the unreachable in the remote areas for PLW including jailsKey Words: students with disabilities, open and distance learning, information and communication technology, access, equity and success, The Open University of Tanzani

Challenging Masculinity in CSR Disclosures: Silencing of Women’s Voices in Tanzania’s Mining Industry

This paper presents a feminist analysis of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in a male-dominated industry within a developing country context. It seeks to raise awareness of the silencing of women’s voices in CSR reports produced by mining companies in Tanzania. Tanzania is one of the poorest countries in Africa, and women are often marginalised in employment and social policy considerations. Drawing on work by Hélène Cixous, a post-structuralist/radical feminist scholar, the paper challenges the masculinity of CSR discourses that have repeatedly masked the voices and concerns of ‘other’ marginalised social groups, notably women. Using interpretative ethnographic case studies, the paper provides much-needed empirical evidence to show how gender imbalances remain prevalent in the Tanzanian mining sector. This evidence draws attention to the dynamics faced by many women working in or living around mining areas in Tanzania. The paper argues that CSR, a discourse enmeshed with the patriarchal logic of the contemporary capitalist system, is entangled with tensions, class conflicts and struggles which need to be unpacked and acknowledged. The paper considers the possibility of policy reforms in order to promote gender balance in the Tanzanian mining sector and create a platform for women’s concerns to be voiced

Women Status and Culture on Contraceptive Use: The Case of Mbeya and Pwani Regions

The purpose of the study was to establish the impact of customs and beliefs and women status on contraceptive use. The concern was that, there is still low leve  of the use of contraceptives to control child bearing despite the government effort to sensitize both men and women in reducing the number of children per woman for purpose of regulating rapid population growth. Rapid population growth in any nation has big effect on the economy of the country and on provision of essential services to all. Despite high level of awareness about contraceptives and related advantages, accessible and affordable; contraceptives were not being used by couples and single mothers. This has raised lots of concerns.  Reasons for this situation had to be sought. This study therefore intended to unfold the causes for the low use of contraceptives. The study was conducted in two regions; Mbeya for Wanyakyusa and Pwani for the Wazaramo. The study was cross sectional and used both qualitative and quantitative approaches. The sample was 748 women  both rural and urban districts of rungwe and kibaha. The methods used to collect data were Focus Group Discussion, Face to Face interview and Questionnaire Administration. Data analysis used SPSS programme to process data. Before this stage, data went through factor analysis. After extracting some variables, a pearsons chi square test was run to get the association of variables. The results were that, inheritance, prestige and barrenness as customs and beliefs variables have close association with contraceptives. This demonstrated that, the variables are barriers and have to be removed so that they seize to be barriers for women use of contraceptives. As regards to indicators of women status variables, education, participation in decision making and employment proved to have close association with contraceptives. This indicates that, when women are empowered, they can use contraceptive and thus be able to limit the number of children to bear. It is recommended that customs and beliefs which are a barrier to  contraceptive use be removed.  women status indicators analyzed; education, decision making and employment were found to have a strong association with contraceptive use, therefore, the government should ensure women are empowered through education, giving women opportunities to participate in  decision making and ensuring they are employed or self employed

Influence of forest land tenure regimes on forest condition in Uluguru mountains, Tanzania

Tanzania Journal of Forestry and Nature Conservation, 82(1):68-91The paper scrutinizes the current wave of forest land tenure reforms since the inception of the new forest policy in 1998. It explores which type of forestland tenure regime had more positive influence on forest condition in the Uluguru Mountains, Tanzania. The assessment was done with reference to vegetation types of montane and miombo woodlands. The study showed that for the montane vegetation, state regime (Uluguru Nature Reserve) had higher stocking (volume 1,233m3/ha; basal area 78m2/ha; density 777 stems/ha) and tree species diversity (H’ 3.48) compared to communal regime (Chief Kingalu Sacred Forest) which had low stocking (volume 798m3/ha; basal area 49m2/ha; density 1,020 stems/ha) and tree species diversity (H’ 3.21). For the miombo vegetation, corporate/private regime (Tangeni Roman Catholic Church Forest Reserve) had higher stocking (volume 122m3/ha; basal area 27m2/ha and density 2,573 stems/ha) and tree species diversity (H’ 2.60) compared to communal regime (Misumba Village Land Forest Reserve) which had low stocking (volume 23m3/ha; basal area 10.8m2/ha and density 4,200 stems/ha) and tree species diversity (H’ 3.53). The study concludes that state regime represented by Uluguru Nature Reserve showed improved forest condition compared to communal tenure regime (Chief Kingalu Sacred Forest) for the montane vegetation type while private regime (Tangeni Roman Catholic Church Forest Reserve) was more effective in conservation than communal regime (Misumba Village Land Forest Reserve). The study recommends that sustainable management of forests could not be addressed by tenure reforms in the forestry sector alone, but requires 'cross-sectoral', 'inter-disciplinary' and 'participatory' approach along with secure tenure. Moreover, it is essential that an in-depth forest inventory is conducted at predetermined intervals to quantify stocking of tree, shrub species and forest disturbances to understand the level of resource extraction for each tenure regime. Key words: Tenure regimes, reforms, forest condition, Uluguru Mountains, Tanzania

Influence of forest land tenure regimes on forest condition in Uluguru mountains, Tanzania

Tanzania Journal of Forestry and Nature Conservation, 82(1):68-91The paper scrutinizes the current wave of forest land tenure reforms since the inception of the new forest policy in 1998. It explores which type of forestland tenure regime had more positive influence on forest condition in the Uluguru Mountains, Tanzania. The assessment was done with reference to vegetation types of montane and miombo woodlands. The study showed that for the montane vegetation, state regime (Uluguru Nature Reserve) had higher stocking (volume 1,233m3/ha; basal area 78m2/ha; density 777 stems/ha) and tree species diversity (H’ 3.48) compared to communal regime (Chief Kingalu Sacred Forest) which had low stocking (volume 798m3/ha; basal area 49m2/ha; density 1,020 stems/ha) and tree species diversity (H’ 3.21). For the miombo vegetation, corporate/private regime (Tangeni Roman Catholic Church Forest Reserve) had higher stocking (volume 122m3/ha; basal area 27m2/ha and density 2,573 stems/ha) and tree species diversity (H’ 2.60) compared to communal regime (Misumba Village Land Forest Reserve) which had low stocking (volume 23m3/ha; basal area 10.8m2/ha and density 4,200 stems/ha) and tree species diversity (H’ 3.53). The study concludes that state regime represented by Uluguru Nature Reserve showed improved forest condition compared to communal tenure regime (Chief Kingalu Sacred Forest) for the montane vegetation type while private regime (Tangeni Roman Catholic Church Forest Reserve) was more effective in conservation than communal regime (Misumba Village Land Forest Reserve). The study recommends that sustainable management of forests could not be addressed by tenure reforms in the forestry sector alone, but requires 'cross-sectoral', 'inter-disciplinary' and 'participatory' approach along with secure tenure. Moreover, it is essential that an in-depth forest inventory is conducted at predetermined intervals to quantify stocking of tree, shrub species and forest disturbances to understand the level of resource extraction for each tenure regime. Key words: Tenure regimes, reforms, forest condition, Uluguru Mountains, Tanzania

Are alternative livelihood projects alleviating poverty in mining communities? Experiences from Ghana

This paper critiques the approach being taken in Ghana to implement Alternative Livelihood (AL) projects in mining communities. The rapid insurgence of illegal artisanal gold mining has forced policymakers to think more creatively about ways in which to deal with mounting unemployment in the country's rural areas. Most of the economic activities being promoted, however, have proved highly unpopular with target groups. The adopted policy approaches reflect how little in tune the organisations championing AL activities are with the mindsets and ambitions of rural populations