Domestic Investment, Savings and Economic Growth in Tanzania: A Dynamic Multivariate Analysis

The study examined interdependence between domestic investment, savings and economic growth using cointegration and VECM. The study used time series data of 42 years from 1972 to 2012.  The result indicates no evidence of the existence of short run or long run correlation between savings and investment. The weak short run positive correlation is observed between savings and per capita GDP.  Moreover, there is long run positive correlation between investment and per capita GDP. Interestingly EDS found to have a long run significant positive correlation to both investment and savings but on the other hand significant negative correlation between EDS and per capita GDP in short run.  EDL found negatively correlated with investment over the long run.  Granger causality result provides strong evidence of joint influence of variables than individual causality.  The shock imposed on investment found to have positive long lasting effect on itself, savings and per capita GDP unlike savings shocks which dies away after short period on investment and long lasting negative impact on per capita GDP. Moreover, shock on per GDP is having long lasting effect on itself, investment and savings. We therefore suggest proactive policy which would encourage investment and promote growth. As a result, over the long run domestic saving will automatically increase and lead to sustainable economic growth. Keywords: Investment, Savings, Economic growth, Cointegration, VECM, Impulse Response, Variance Decompositio

Assessment of Work Zone Noise Levels at a Cement Factory in Tanga, Tanzania

Noise of machines in cement industries was found to be one of the major occupational hazards for the workers of industrial sector. The objectives of this study were to measure the noise levels in various production sections at a cement factory in Tanga, Tanzania and assess attitudes of workers towards noise health hazards. Noise levels were measured using a digital sound level meter at three appropriate locations of the working zone of the workers. Questionnaires were provided to each worker in selected production section and field under close supervision to avoid influence of one’s results by other subject. The results showed maximum noise level at the power plant section with 104.82 dBA and minimum noise level was 50 dBA observed in offices. The maximum and average noise levels measured in most production sections exceeded the allowed limit value of 85 dBA as recommended by Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS). Subjective responses indicated that 47.5% of workers are exposure to noise for more than 5 years whereas, 82.5% of workers indicated that there could be health effects caused by the noise from machines. The study suggests that, though most workers ever use protective gears during working hours, health checkups for noise related effects should be carried out regularly.Keywords: Noise levels, Noise exposure, Cement factory, Survey, Tanzani

Power Tensions in HIS Integration in Developing Countries: The Need for Distributed Control

As part of health sector reform, most developing countries are in the process of standardizing and integrating various vertical reporting systems. Nevertheless, the pressure resulting from the vertical systems supported by donors renders the integration goal challenging and unachievable. While studies have argued for the heterogeneity of interests and donors’ multiple needs as the major causes, this paper argue for more critical analysis of the problem. The paper contribute by arguing for the need to understand the main actors involved, in terms of their resources and rules as they are implicated in HIS integration. Using an empirical case and Structuration theory concepts, we identified dialectic power relations between the actors resulting from control of resources and rules. The need to build shared meanings of the integration process through communication approaches; and to distribute control of the integrated HIS, facilitating ‘tapping on’ the resources available to the actors is discussed

Movement and Misalignment of Exchange Rate: Analysis of Its Impact on Tanzanian Economy

The study examines impact of exchange rate movement and misalignment on economic growth with evidence from Tanzania. The study uses annual data which covers a period of 47 years from 1967 to 2013.  The paper employs multiple econometrics methods and models. The autoregressive Distributed lag model estimated by ordinary least square to determine anticipated and unanticipated exchange rate movements. Also, generalized method of moment (GMM) is applied to examine impact of exchange rate movement and misalignment on economic growth. Moreover, log-linear model used to determine growth trend of the variables pre and post economic reform. Based on findings exchange rate shock is persistent and significant determined by balance of trade. Results found no evidence of impact of unanticipated exchange rate movement on GDP, private sector spending, export and import growth. Besides, anticipated exchange rate depreciation found to have significant negative impact on GDP and import growth but positive impact on private spending. Moreover, study found exchange rate overvaluation significantly decrease export growth and GDP but found to have significant positive impact on import growth and private sector spending. Thus, insight to policy makers, depreciation policy may be effective if country will increase its production capacity without much dependence on imported capital and intermediate goods. Keywords: Anticipated exchange rate shock, Economic growth, Exchange rate misalignment, Generalization method of moments, unanticipated exchange rate shoc

Mafia marine resources in peril

The rich marine resource of the Mafia District, Tanzania, especially its coral reefs and mangroves, are in danger of collapse. The proposed marine park faces chronic problems of dynamite fishing and coral mining. The Mafia fisheries resources and the importance of coral reefs are presented together with proposed measures to rescue the Mafia marine environment

Genetic Diversity Among Tilapia Species Farmed at Chita in Kilombero, Morogoro Region, Tanzania

The development of aquaculture industry in Tanzania cannot cope with the expected substantial increase in demand for fish and fish products due to several bottlenecks including unavailability of good quality feeds and fingerlings. Fish farmers often complain about slow growth rate of the farmed fish necessitating genetic characterization. This study identified and determined the genetic diversity of tilapia species farmed in Kilombero Districts at Chita earthen ponds. Fish samples were collected from nine earthen ponds belonging to small-scale fish farmers for genetic characterization. Total DNA was extracted by using the phenol-chloroform technique. The genetic diversity was calculated by using the Arlequine version 3.01. The study found that, 90% of the sampled fish at Chita were Oreochromis niloticus, while 5.5% were Bathybates minor. There was low genetic diversity in the farmed tilapia, suggesting the possibility of inbreeding effects and a limited number of founder broodstock in the populations. Therefore, successful aquaculture development in Tanzania requires well-managed and effective fish breeding programs for production of good quality fingerlings through fish genetic resources management. Keywords: Aquaculture; Oreochromis niloticus; identification; genetic marke

The role of relationship types on condom use among urban men with concurrent partners in Ghana and Tanzania

Multiple concurrent partnerships are hypothesized to be important drivers of HIV transmission. Despite the demonstrated importance of relationship type (i.e. wife, girlfriend, casual partner, sex worker) on condom use, research on concurrency has not examined how different combinations of relationship types might affect condom use. We address this gap, using survey data from a sample of men from Ghana (n=807) and Tanzania (n=800) who have at least three sexual partners in the past three months. We found that approximately two-thirds of men's reported relationships were classified as a girlfriend. Men were more likely to use a condom with a girlfriend if their other partner was a wife compared to if their other partner was a sex worker (Ghana OR 3.10, 95% CI, 1.40, 6.86; Tanzania OR 2.34 95% CI 1.35, 4.06). These findings underscore the importance of considering relationship type when designing HIV prevention strategies in these settings

Presentation, surgery and 1-year outcomes of childhood cataract surgery in Tanzania.

BACKGROUND: Recent reports have suggested a significant change in the causes of blindness in children in low-income countries cataract becoming the leading cause. We aimed to investigate the presentations and surgical outcomes in children with cataract operated at different ages in Tanzania. METHODS: We conducted a prospective study of 228 children aged ≤192 months at three tertiary centres, 177 with bilateral cataracts and prospectively followed them for 1-year postsurgery. We collected demographic, surgical, preoperative and postoperative clinical characteristics using the standard childhood cataract surgical assessment questionnaire. Families were encouraged to return for follow-up by phone with travel reimbursement where necessary. RESULTS: Preoperatively, 76% bilateral children were blind in the better eye. 86% of children were followed up at 1 year and 54% bilateral children achieved visual acuity of 0.48 logMAR or better in the better eye and 5% were blind. 33% of unilateral children achieved visual acuity of 0.48 logMAR or better and 17% were blind. Preoperative blindness (adjusted OR (AOR) 14.65; 95% CI 2.21 to 97.20), preoperative nystagmus/strabismus (AOR 9.22; 95% CI 2.66 to 31.97) and aphakia (AOR, 5.32; 95% CI 1.05 to 26.97) predicted poor visual outcome in bilateral cases. 9% of 342 refracted eyes had initial postoperative cylinder of 1.5 D or more, as did a similar proportion (11%) of 315 eyes refracted 1 year after surgery. Acute fibrinous uveitis occurred in 41 (12%) eyes. CONCLUSION: Three-quarters of children were blind preoperatively whereas over half had good vision 1-year postoperatively. Preoperative blindness, nystagmus/strabismus and aphakia predicted poor visual outcome, suggesting that cataract density determines density of amblyopia

Towards Customary Legal Empowerment

Rule of Law and Development: Formation, Implementation and Improvement of Law and Governance in Developing Countrie

Ethnobotanical study of some of mosquito repellent plants in north-eastern Tanzania

The use of plant repellents against nuisance biting insects is common and its potential for malaria vector control requires evaluation in areas with different level of malaria endemicity. The essential oils of Ocimum suave and Ocimum kilimandscharicum were evaluated against malaria vectors in north-eastern Tanzania. An ethnobotanical study was conducted at Moshi in Kilimanjaro region north-eastern Tanzania, through interviews, to investigate the range of species of plants used as insect repellents. Also, bioassays were used to evaluate the protective potential of selected plants extracts against mosquitoes. The plant species mostly used as repellent at night are: fresh or smoke of the leaves of O. suave and O. kilimandscharicum (Lamiaceae), Azadirachta indica (Meliaceae), Eucalyptus globules (Myrtaceae) and Lantana camara (Verbenaceae). The most popular repellents were O. kilimandscharicum (OK) and O. suave (OS) used by 67% out of 120 households interviewed. Bioassay of essential oils of the two Ocimum plants was compared with citronella and DEET to study the repellence and feeding inhibition of untreated and treated arms of volunteers. Using filter papers impregnated with Ocimum extracts, knockdown effects and mortality was investigated on malaria mosquito Anopheles arabiensis and Anopheles gambiae, including a nuisance mosquito, Culex quinquefasciatus. High biting protection (83% to 91%) and feeding inhibition (71.2% to 92.5%) was observed against three species of mosquitoes. Likewise the extracts of Ocimum plants induced KD90 of longer time in mosquitoes than citronella, a standard botanical repellent. Mortality induced by standard dosage of 30 mg/m2 on filter papers, scored after 24 hours was 47.3% for OK and 57% for OS, compared with 67.7% for citronella. The use of whole plants and their products as insect repellents is common among village communities of north-eastern Tanzania and the results indicate that the use of O. suave and O. kilimandscharicum as a repellent would be beneficial in reducing vector biting. The widespread use of this approach has a potential to complement other control measures