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Item Use of chicken manure extract for biostimulation and enhancement of perchlorate rhizodegradation in soil and water media(Taylor & Francis Online, 2007) Mwegoha, William J. S.; Mbuya, Odemari S.; Jai, Amita; Ugochukwu, Ngozi H.; Abazinge, Michael D.The influence of biostimulation using dissolved organic carbon (DOC) on rhizodegradation of perchlorate and plant uptake was studied under greenhouse conditions using soil and hydroponic bioreactors. One set of bioreactors planted with willow (Salix babylonica) plants was spiked with 300 mg L−1 DOC in the form of chicken manure extract, whereas a second set was not treated with DOC. A similar experiment without willow plants was run in parallel to the planted bioreactors. The planted soil bioreactors amended with DOC reduced perchlorate from 65.85 to 2.67 mg L−1 in 21 days for humic soil (95.95% removal) and from 68.99 to 0.06 mg L− 1 for sandy loam (99.91% removal) in 11 days. Nonplanted DOC treated soil bioreactors achieved complete perchlorate removal in 6 and 8 days for humic and sandy loam, respectively. Both planted and nonplanted soil bioreactors without DOC removed > 95% perchlorate within 8 days. Planted soil bioreactors respiked with perchlorate reduced perchlorate to nondetectable levels in 6 days. Hydroponics experiment amended with DOC reduced perchlorate from approximately 100 mg L− 1 to nondetectable levels within 7 to 9 days. Hydroponic bioreactors without DOC had low perchlorate removal rates, achieving 30% removal in 42 days. Leaf samples from sandy loam soil bioreactors without DOC had four times perchlorate phytoaccumulation than the DOC-treated plants. Similar results were obtained with the nonplanted bioreactors. Persistence of perchlorate in solution of planted hydroponic bioreactors without DOC amendment suggested that natural DOC from the plant exudates was not enough to biostimulate perchlorate reducing microbes. The hydroponic bioreactor study provided evidence that DOC is a limiting factor in the rhizodegradation of perchlorate.Item The use of phytoremediation technology for abatement soil and groundwater pollution in Tanzania: opportunities and challenges(Journal of Sustainable Development in Africa, 2008) Mwegoha, William J. S.Contamination of soil and groundwater from anthropogenic sources is a major concern in many developing countries including Tanzania. Improper handling of Municipal Solid Wastes (MSW) in many urban centers in Tanzania has often resulted into gas emissions and generation of leachate, which pose threat to the environment. Additionally, the use of pesticides for agricultural purposes is on the increase because of the need to improve crop production and control of pests, weed infestation and insect outbreaks. As a consequence, pesticide use has caused adverse contamination in soils and waters. The potentially negative impacts of these pesticide stocks on humans and the environment are of major concern. To make the situation more challenging, the country has experienced a substantially fast growth of the mining sector in many parts of the country over the past ten years, which has resulted in reported soil and water pollution from acid mine drainage with elevated concentrations of heavy metals. It is estimated that more than 30% of the Tanzanians depend on groundwater as their source of water. Most of the conventional methods for environmental remediation of these sites are expensive and often poorly implemented or not implemented at all. Thus, there is a clear need to develop new cost effective and environmentally friendly clean-up methods to remediate the contaminated areas in Tanzania. Phytoremediation is a relatively new and promising technology that uses plants to degrade, stabilize, metabolize or sequester potentially toxic compounds from the environment. This paper is aimed at assessing the potential of phytoremediation as a low-cost alternative, but which has yet to be studied and used in Tanzania.Item Heavy metals accumulation in vegetables grown along the Msimbazi River in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania(African Journals Online (AJOL), 2010) Kihampa, C; Mwegoha, William J. S.Concentrations of cadmium, copper, chromium and lead was determined in four different edible vegetables namely Amaranthus blitum, A. gangeticus, Ipomea batata and Cucurbita maxima grown at four different sites along the contaminated Msimbazi River, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Analyses of these heavy metals were conducted using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry. Results obtained indicate that the concentrations of heavy metals range from below detection limit to 0.53, 0.14 to 29.08, 0.76 to 17.69, and below detection limit to 39.69 mg/100 g for cadmium, chromium, copper and lead, respectively. With exception to Ipomea batata, other vegetables contained at least two types of heavy metals with high concentrations beyond the permissible values recommended by FAO and WHO for human consumption. Concentrations of cadmium were within the acceptable limits for human consumption in all the vegetables investigated. This work, thus, seeks to provide information on levels of toxic heavy metals in leaves of edible vegetables irrigated with water contaminated by industrial and other anthropogenic effluents, and grown in contaminated soils along the Msimbazi River. The information can be used for monitoring processes to prevent excessive build-up in the food chain.Item Heavy metals concentrations in vegetables grown in the vicinity of the closed dumpsite(International Journal of Environmental Sciences, 2011) Kihampa, Charles; Mwegoha, William J. S.; Shemdoe, Riziki S.Levels of heavy metals cadmium, lead, chromium, zinc and copper in five different edible vegetables, Amaranthus blitum, Vigna unguiculata, Ipomea batata, Solanum nigrum and Cucurbita maxima grown along the slopes of the closed dumpsite were determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The extraction of heavy metals from the vegetables was done by dry ashing methods and data were analysed using Statistical Programme for Social Sciences (SPSS) and Excel computer packages. Results obtained for five heavy metals in vegetables ranged between 0.28 and 1.50 mg/kg dw for cadmium; 0.49 and 20.65 mg/kg dw for lead; 1.15 and 29.39 mg/kg dw for chromium; 18.61 and 122.88 mg/kg dw for zinc and 3.96 and 22.47 mg/kg dw for copper. The levels of Zn, Cr, Pb and Cd were above the permissible levels of heavy metals in food as per FAO/WHO guidelines and Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS) standards. This implies that vegetables grown along the closed Mtoni dumpsite are not suitable for human consumption. This study highlights the potential risks involved in the cultivation and consumption of vegetables on plots along the dumpsites and irrigated with water contaminated with leachates effluents, a practice which may place at risk the health of the urban population who consume these vegetables.Item The Effectiveness of community approach in solid waste management at household and street level in Tanzania: A case of Mbeya City Council(Mzumbe University, 2013) Nguge, Josephine F.This study was conducted in Mbeya City Council to examine the effectiveness of the community approach in solid waste management at household and street levels. It aimed to identify the roles played by the community in the management of solid waste, the impact of the community involvement in the management of solid waste, factors affecting community participation in the management of solid waste and stakeholders’ views in improvement of the solid waste management. The study adopted a case study design, targeting the household and street levels in Mbeya City Council. A sample size of 65 respondents was drawn using purposive and systematic random sampling techniques. Questionnaires, interviews and observation were used to collect primary data while documentary review method was used to collect secondary data. Data collected were analyzed by using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and Excel software and presented in tables, figures, and text. The findings revealed that the community approach in solid waste management at household and street level in Mbeya City Council is partially effective in consideration of Ghana, Mwakibete and Igawilo wards where 80 percent of the respondents are participating in collecting solid waste in waste bins at household level and then send them to the communal container (collection points) ready to be collected to the dump site, it is less effective at street level where only 20 percent of the respondents were paying for solid waste collection fee thus accumulation of solid waste at collection points. This has contributed to poor service provision on solid waste management by the city council. The study recommended that, education should continue to be given to the community so that they will understand the benefit to be obtained when solid wastes are well managed; urban local authorities should make faster decisions in involving community based organizations (CBOs) and private investors to help them in the solid waste provision services. Also enforce the existing bylaws so that everyone who generated waste has to manage them by having containers at their locality for collecting the solid waste and pay waste collection fee at street level thus reduced load to the city and ensure effective management at household and street level.Item Applicability of information and communication technologies in enriching curriculum implementation in selected teachers colleges in Tanzania(Mzumbe University, 2013) Noyi, SaidThis study investigated the applicability of Information and Communication Technologies in enriching curriculum implementation in teachers' colleges in Mara Regions in Tanzania. The study specifically examined the extent to which the ICT is applied by tutors in the teaching and learning process in TCs, identifies the challenges facing tutors when applying ICT in the teaching and learning process in TCs and establishes the strategies for effective use of ICT by tutors in the teaching and learning process in TCs. A total of 46 participants from one diploma teachers college and grade A teachers college were used. The sample category involved 2 principals, 2 heads of ICT departments, 2 academic deans obtained through purposive sampling and 40 tutors obtained through simple random sampling. The study employed exploratory research designs, while the research approach involved qualitative and quantitative research techniques. The data were gathered through closed-ended questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, observation and documentary review. Data were analysed quantitatively and qualitatively. Quantitative data was analysed by using SPSS version sixteen descriptive statistics such as mean and standard deviation was used to present data. Qualitative data was analysed by using thematic and content methods and presented by statements. The findings show that the tutors' ICT applications are commonly applied while the rest are not because of a lack of ICT knowledge or skills and infrastructure support. Major problems faced were personal or college based such as insufficiency in ICT knowledge and skills, lack of technical support and inadequacy of ICT facilities. Strategies to be applied should be personal-based, college based and ministry based. Study recommendations were based on teachers' colleges including principals of the college, academic deans, heads of ICT departments and tutors and the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training including teacher's departments and ICT units. Additionally, there is a need to review Education and Training Policy (ETP) of 1995 to accommodate changes in time that are occurring everywhere in the world.Item An assessment of high human population density and its impacts on land resources in Moshi district council, Tanzania(Mzumbe University, 2013) Alphonce, EmmanuelThis study attempted to assess the impacts of high human population density on land resources in Moshi District Council. Generally, other studies show that, developing countries experiencing the high demographic pressures while land resource to support the growth is fixed or limited and the mechanisms to adapt to, grow very slowly. Specifically, there is an extremely high human population density in areas around Kilimanjaro, especially in the Moshi District Council. This leads to land shortage that would be useful for agricultural production and infrastructure development, poor settlement planning, land use conflicts, land degradation, and serious environmental implications that can be linked to the increase of poverty level including lack of employment to the youth. This study used a case study design and sampling techniques based on purposive/non probability sampling and simple random sampling/probability sampling, while the sample size of a hundred respondents that was taken, was based on Nassiuma’s formula. The type and source of data were entirely on primary and secondary sources related to the study topic studied. The methods of data collection based on, written questionnaires/structured interview for key informants and field respondents, field observation of human settlement arrangement and cultivation areas. The documentary technique based on, written sources/secondary sources i.e. related reports, population census, books, and internet. Finally, the data were analyzed and presented with descriptive statistics such as percentage, frequency, graphs and tables. This was done by using the Statistic Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 16. Microsoft Excel was used to produce charts and graphs and Microsoft Word was used in compiling and writing up the reports.Item Community participation for sustainability of rural water schemes: a case of CHAMAVITA water schemes in Lushoto District(Mzumbe University, 2013) Mdendemi, Patience PlacidThis study assesses community participation for sustainability of rural water schemes in rural areas. Two villages of Emao and Nkelei were taken as a case study. The methodology applied to assess community participation was thoroughly discussed to see the extent of community involvement at different stages of the project. The techniques used included interviews, questionnaires, focused group discussions, physical observation and literature review. A total of 100 respondents were interviewed 92 of whom were project beneficiaries. The study found that community participation in the study area took different forms at the different stages of the project cycle. The nature and extent of participation for the majority of local communities was generally limited to information giving, consultation and contribution. Local communities were generally not involved in decision making, planning, monitoring and evaluation. The key factors in participation are staff with knowledge and skills on participatory approaches, continuous community sensitisation and mobilisation. Poverty was found to be the main inhibitor of local community participation. Other factors are contradicting policies and approaches of different agencies inflexible organisational policies, poor community leadership and dependency. The study also found that participatory approach leads to water project sustainability only when the elements of project sustainability are considered at the early stages. Capacity building was significant when it trained community water attendants and when it formed local communities or water user groups to carry out project activities for immediate intervention. The study concluded that little attention was given to community involvement at different stages of project implementation and that this threatened future sustainability of the water schemes. There was ineffective community participation in both villages. Lastly the study recommends firstly that water attendants and WC members should be trained, secondly that there should be periodic sensitization seminar on O &M, finally that the community should be involved in all stages of project development.Item Governance instruments and liquid wastes management in urban industrial areas of Tanzania: a case of Morogoro textile industry(Mzumbe University, 2013) Mwakaboko, Humphrey DonaldThis research aimed at examining how governance instruments are applied in managing liquid wastes, its efficiency and effectiveness in the Morogoro Textile Industry. A case study research design was used and eighty-three (83) respondents were interviewed by using questionnaires and participant observations. Data collected were presented using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS, version 16) and analysed using percentages, graphs, and tables. The findings show that, the Morogoro textile industry does not implement all the governance instruments for waste management, the applied one is 48.3% recycling, 16.7% environmental regulation, 6.7% environmental policy and 28.3% environmental standards, and the liquid waste management system/programs adopted by the Morogoro textile industry were less effective and efficient. The findings show that, 60% of workers were not satisfied with the situation of liquid waste management practices in the industry and 28.3% were less satisfied and 11.7% were completely dissatisfied. About 75% of the community said that no any environmental education concerned liquid waste was provided to them, while 25% they do not recall if there was environmental education provided to them. This study recommends improving infrastructures of waste collection and treatment plant, adhering to the rules and regulations from NEMC, applying governance instruments properly, improving the working environment for employees, to improve environmental education and public awareness to the people. The existing technologies need to be updated to minimize liquid wastes produced. Recycling and re-use of liquid wastes and adoption of cleaner or low liquid waste technologies should be emphasized. To date there is no policy for liquid waste management at the national level, thus the government should formulate a liquid waste management policy accompanied by the enabling legislation, to regulate the operations in liquid waste management.Item An assessment of beach management units in combating illegal fishing in Lake Victoria, Tanzania: a case of Bukoba district(Mzumbe University, 2013) Kashililika, Edwin WakisaThe study is about an assessment of the Beach Management Units in combating illegal fishing with specific reference to Bukoba District. The aim of the study was to identify factors leading to ineffective performance of Beach Management Units in combating illegal fishing in Lake Victoria, Tanzania. Ninety-six (96) respondents were interviewed using structured questionnaires also information collected from a fishery official at District and Regional level by focused group discussion. Descriptive data were analyzed by the descriptive analysis method and SPSS 20 version and presented in frequencies. The findings revealed that the performance of the BMUs is poor because of, lack of boats for patrol (fishery patrol vessel), lack of source of revenue, difficult to get information about illegal fishing, BMUs leaders were found to be part of illegal fishing, also intimidation to BMUs’ leaders by big fishers who practiced illegal fishing and lastly voluntarism nature of work demoralizes the BMUs leaders to concentrate in combating illegal fishing. Given the above-mentioned reasons fueling illegal fishing, this study recommends local and Central Government to support the BMUs to improve its performance to achieve the sustainable and equitable exploitation of fishery resources. The basic support recommended include: Adequate funds to support their operations including the purchase of the fishery patrol vessel, awareness raising/sensitization to local authorities and community living along Lake Victoria shores on the importance of these Community-Based Organizations in combating illegal fishing, the impact of illegal fishing and how to provide information to the BMUs leadership about illegal fishing.Item Assessment of performance of vocational training centres on youth unemployment reduction: a case of Mkokotoni Vocational Training Centre in North A District, Zanzibar(Mzumbe University, 2013) Juma, Juma N.Youth unemployment is a serious problem facing developed and developing countries since the early 2000s, and it has huge impact in socio-economic context. It was therefore important to deploy initiatives in order to overcome or reduce the consequences of this problem. Vocational training was thought to be the best option to counteract the problem. This study assessed the performance of VTCs on youth unemployment reduction in Zanzibar where four main aspects involved which were: courses offered in VTCs, students’ enrolment trend, extent to which VTCs reduced unemployment, and challenges which faced VTCs. The study used exploratory research design and involved 140 respondents to assess performance through administration of a questionnaire, interviews, focused group discussions, observation and documentary review. The findings revealed that a total of eleven courses offered and the Majority of respondents joined in courses which depended on being employed or had low employment possibilities. Also, students’ enrolment was still very low (below 1 percent). It was found that only 28 percent of trainees had employment while 72 percent had no employment, and the main employer was hotel industries which employed 55 percent of trainees while 45 percent were self- employed. In addition, there was inadequate training materials by 74 percent and shortage of materials and equipments for field and practical sessions by 55 percent. To a large extent, performance of VTCs was affected by different challenges such as lack of areas for field practices (27 percent), and poor coordination (14 percent) which limit performance of VTCs towards well qualified and competent trainees delivery. It therefore concluded that VTCs’ performance on youth unemployment reduction is still not satisfactory. The study therefore recommended measures to improve VTCs’ performance in employment creation such as: the Government should collaborate with the private sector, ensure accessibility of VTCs in tourism areas and review of VTCs’ curriculum to suit with the current situation of labour market.Item An analysis of challenges facing folk development colleges in the Southern Highlands zone, Tanzania(Mzumbe University, 2013) Kalole, Josephine G.This study examined the challenges which faced the development of FDCs in the Southern Highland Zone of Tanzania. It was inspired by the fact that FDCs’ development was moving backward and the challenges were less known. The study specifically identified the causes of the challenges facing FDCs, found out how the challenges facing FDCs in the southern highlands zone of Tanzania could be addressed, and explored measures for strengthening FDCs. The study used a cross-sectional research design with a sample of 36 respondents who were selected though convenience and purposive sampling techniques. Data were collected by using questionnaires, interviews, and documentary review methods. They were analyzed by using SPSS and Microsoft Word for text processing and editing. The study shows that inadequate facilities, poor infrastructure, shortage of qualified personnel, inadequate technological tools, and community’ negative attitude were the challenges which affected FDCs in the study areas. The effects of those challenges were lack of qualified teachers, poor teaching, drop outs, students’ poor performance, students’ failure, unwillingness to teach, teachers’ resignation, and hence bad reputation of FDCs. Measures such as enough budget allocation for FDCs, employing adequate qualified personnel, increasing facilities, involving stakeholders in planning, were proposed. There was also a need to strengthen FDCs through involving development partners, conducting fundraising activities, staff capacity building. Relevant recommendations are made.Item The impact Of Information Communication Technology (ICT) on performance of Tanzania Posts Corporation (TPC)(Mzumbe University, 2013) Isote, Lynnchristine GregoryThis study aimed at exploring the impact of Information Communication Technology (ICT) on performance of Tanzania Posts Corporation (TPC). The study focused on examining ICT technologies available at TPC; assessing efforts used to improve product innovation in TPC; assessing performance trends before and after adoption of ICT in TPC and exploring customer responsiveness towards TPC services in the era of ICT. The study adopted a case study research design to attain its objectives. The sample size for the study was 62 respondents. Purposive sampling technique was used whereby questionnaire, interviews, observation and documentary review were used to collect data. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and Excel software were used in analysis, while data from in depth interviews were analyzed qualitatively. In this study, it was found that ICT technologies available at TPC include: computers, telephone and internet. Also, findings revealed that there was a statistically insignificance increase in performance before adoption of ICT and after adoption of ICT, whereby profitability of items posted in mails and logistic business, financial and agency business and courier business was assed, also Return on Asset and Marginal ratio were used as indicators. The eta squared statistic was applied and the results indicated very small effect size. In addition to that, the study revealed that customers still needed TPC services in the era of ICT in spite of development of other forms of communication like emails, mobile phones and internet. This study recommends increasing the government support to TPC by improving physical infrastructure and providing vehicles for transporting mail and parcel so that it can fulfill the major obligations of universal postal services to the customers so as to ensure efficiency in TPC operations. In order for TPC to enjoy the fruits of ICT on its performance, it must speed up the way of adopting ICT so as to ensure significance increase in performance. Finally, it is recommended that TPC must raise its trustworthiness, improve customer care, strengthen their network, improve their services and cope with market competition.Item Challenges of micro-finance institutions towards women empowerment in Kilimanjaro Region Tanzania: a case study of Moshi Municipality(Mzumbe University, 2013) Kyara, Stella E.The study identified the challenges that micro-finance institutions face in the process of empowering women in Moshi Municipality. The specific objectives of the study are; exploring the causes for challenges of micro-finance institutions, assessing the strength and opportunities found in Moshi Municipality for women empowerment, and lastly suggesting possible solutions to alleviate challenges that face micro-finance institutions in Moshi Municipality. The study adopted a case study design. Random sampling and purposive sampling were used to a total number of 70 respondents who were customers and staffs of micro-finance, and Municipal officials who were dealing with microfinance. Data collection for this study employed different methods such as questionnaires, interviews, observation and focused group discussion. With respect to the objectives the findings revealed several challenges, causes of the challenges and pointed strength and opportunities found in Moshi municipality which are; poor repayment, politics, delay of funds, bureaucracy, corruption, unfaithful staffs, and unfaithful customers. Causes for the challenges are poor management in the organizations, economic depression, and inflation. And lastly strengths and opportunities to empower women in Moshi Municipality pointed out are; availability of financial institutions, availability of funds, the area being in town where business can possibly flow due to the availability of good infrastructures, and availability of entrepreneurship education to the customers that gives them a wide knowledge of operating business and skills to manage funds they raise. Basing on the findings it was recommended that, there should be multiple ways to help in alleviating the experienced challenges which includes, design of suggestion box, trainings should be conducted for capacity building to customers, there should be a visit to customers' business for evaluation to see if they meet standards that can help them lend more money, lastly, financial management education should be provided to SACCOS board members and there should be more cooperative officers to support organizations in training, auditing and advise to the existing SACCOS.Item Potentiality of onion production to poverty reduction: the case of Ruangwa District, Tanzania(Mzumbe University, 2013) Mbiha, Joram ReubenThis study was conducted in order to examine the potentiality of onion production to poverty reduction in Ruangwa District. The study aimed at addressing the trend of onion production, magnitude of poverty in the study area, the market potential of onions and limiting factors facing onion production in the study area. The study involved 127 respondents selected randomly or purposely to meet the study objectives. The data were collected using interview and administration of questionnaires. The study showed that onion production is a potential activity in poverty reduction to farmers engaged in onion production. This was revealed by existing market potential, income obtained from sale of onions and its expenditure. Despite of this potentiality of onions to poverty reduction, its production was not consistent as there was rise and fall due to market fluctuation, frequent climatic change, high prices of agricultural inputs as well as application of poor farming methods. That is why people decided to produce other crops in order to reduce the magnitude of poverty. The income obtained ranged between 100,000 to more than 500,000 Tshs and expenditure priorities included health (21.1%), education (36.6%), purchase of building materials (22.5%), acquisition of furniture (18.3%) and other uses (1.4%). Hindrance to onion production was also caused by existence of different challenges such as lack of extension services (26.8%), low level of farmers’ education (19.7%), presence of poor roads (14.1%), poor farming methods (7.0%), poor agricultural tools (1.4%), unreliable market (18.3%), lack of government support (9.9%) and other (2.8%). From these findings, it was concluded that onion production has high potential to poverty reduction though it was still not delivering its full potential to poverty reduction. Therefore, the study recommended that there is a need for the government and other stakeholders to ensure that there is a reliable market, prices of agricultural inputs are reduced and ensure that cooperative societies operate to safeguard interests of onion producers. There is also a need to improve delivery of extension services and quality of roads. These measures in turn can increase opportunity to onion producers to earn more income at household and national levels as well as sales of onion in the foreign market.Item Social insecurity and vulnerability of the elderly to poverty: a case study of Morogoro Municipality(Mzumbe University, 2013) Mathias, SidinaSocial insecurity and vulnerability of elderly are among problems that are still facing the elderly in Tanzania. This study was designed to assess how the elderly access social services, establish the magnitude and identify factors which contribute to increased social insecurity and vulnerability as well as assessing existence and adequacy of institutional support to these elderly in Morogoro Municipality. The study employed a cross-sectional study design which involved visiting and interviewing 96 elderly people from four wards namely, Chamwino, Mwembesongo, Kichangani and Boma. It was observed that the majority of male elderly were married (76.7%) while the majority of female elderly were widows (66.0%). It was also found that more than 90% of elderly persons interviewed were not employed. Fifty nine percent lived below poverty line. The majority (67.7%) of respondents were supported by their children and relatives while few reported to depend on crop farming (40.6%) or business (21.9%) for livelihood. Access to food and balanced diet was a big problem and approximately 40% reported to skip a lunch every day. The major complaints of the elderly on health services included lack of diagnostic facilities, unavailability of medicine and specialized clinics for the elderly diseases. A big number of elderly was suffering from chronic diseases (69.8%) and supporting other vulnerable groups such as orphans (53%). However, the support of government and private institutions for elderly was limited. It is concluded that the majority of elderly people in Morogoro Municipality are poor and consequently they are socially insecure and vulnerable. It is recommended that the Government should support them through provision of universal pension to all the elderly above 60 years to improve their social security. The formulation of laws and regulations to guide the implementation of the national ageing policy is pertinent.Item Performance evaluation of microfinance institutions on poverty reduction a case study of Rombo District-Tanzania(Mzumbe University, 2013) William, Kimaro J.The study assessed the performance evaluation of microfinance institutions on poverty reduction of Rombo district in Kilimanjaro region. This study was guided by the following research objectives which were; to identify the lending system used by different MFIs to their members in the study area; assess the performance of MFIs, identify constraints facing microfinance institutions in the study area and recommend strategies to improve the performance, and to assess whether the customers reached by these schemes have improved their general performance in terms of economic growth, creation of employment and generation of income. Purposive sampling was used to select 60 active members as the sample who was seriously involved in SACCOS activities. Data collection for this study employed different methods which were used to collect data such as structured questionnaire, interview and focus group discussion. The findings revealed that SACCOS were performing according to the intended goals of serving poor rural community. Active poor rural community has been using these SACCOS as a source of credit to finance their business. However, SACCOS are facing some problems including lack of entrepreneurial education to its members, financial institutions to offer loans to SACCOS, inadequate qualified staff to run the institutions, low participation of members to access loans from their SACCOS due to low knowledge of using the opportunities available and low women participation. Moreover, SACCOS are facing other constraints like poor infrastructure, low capacity of SACCOS to serve its members, lack of MFIS in rural areas and inadequate entrepreneurial skills among the members and poor record and book-keeping skill. The recommendations made by this study were that other microfinance institutions be motivated to invest in the Rombo district to increase microloans disbursement to cooperative based MFIs (SACCOS) and that microfinance institutions through well-established SACCOS should train leaders and non-leader members on proper record keeping and financial management:Item The effects of informal settlements on environmental management in Temeke Municipality(Mzumbe University, 2013) Mwamhanga, Evaristo BenithoThis study examined the effects of informal settlements on environmental management. Specifically, it aimed at identification of the socioeconomic effects of informal settlements on environmental management, examination of community role in environmental management in informal settlements and determination on the strategies that will improve environmental management in the study area. The study was conducted in Temeke Municipality and Keko ward in particular. Primary data were collected through structured questionnaires while secondary data were collected through interview. The study involved 102 respondents in which 95 were household respondents and 7 were key informants. Data collected were subjected to the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS), multiple response and Chi-square for analysis. The study findings revealed that, socioeconomic effects of informal settlements have contributed negatively to environmental management. It was found that community role was ineffective to manage environments in informal settlements. It was further disclosed that environmental education, provision of environmental infrastructure and implementation of bylaws were found to be appropriate strategies for better environmental management in Temeke Municipality. Based on the study findings, it is concluded that, the Temeke Municipality Council should prepare an effective municipal environmental policy to address environmental problems occurring in informal settlements. Strategies such as provision of environmental education, public and private sector partnership creation of dumping sites and adequate supply of facilities for environmental management through clearly organized programmes, plans and projects should be used to improve the sustainability of environmental resources at the household, Streets and Ward with an emphasis of reversing the negative effect of informal settlements on environmental resources. Finally, areas including environmental education and community participation in environmental management were suggested for further studies.Item Microfinance and poverty reduction among women: The case of BRAC in Dodoma Municipal Council(Mzumbe University, 2013) Omari, Rukia B.The main objective of this study was to examine the impact of loan provided by BRAC in reducing poverty among women in Dodoma Municipality. The study used cross sectional research design to achieve this objective. The target group was between women who had secured loans from BRAC and women who had not secured loans from any financial institutions at the time of the study. The study employed two main data sources, questionnaire and interview guide. The sample size was 100 respondents of which 47 were women who had secured loans from BRAC; 47 women who had not secured loans from financial institutions and 6 officers from BRAC. Differences in poverty levels between loan beneficiaries and loan non-beneficiaries were analyzed using an independent sample t-test and chi-square test. Differences were observed among five poverty indicators, namely income, savings, assets, education and health. Findings indicate that BRAC reach poor women in Dodoma Municipality as most of the loan conditions are affordable for even to very poor women. However, the findings revealed that no association was found between assets ownership, savings, access to better health services and better education with respect to being a BRAC member. Moreover, it was found that majority of women did not face any major constraint during loan processing, but some of them complained on delays, long process and hard conditions. The control group (non-beneficiaries) had no plan to secure loans from BRAC due to various reasons including interest rate, amount of loan given and hard conditions. This study recommends sensitization of the community on the potential of interest free financial services provided by some banks in Tanzania. Finally, areas for further research are given to enhance our understanding on the research topic.Item Potentiality of onion production to poverty reduction: The case of Ruangwa District, Tanzania(Mzumbe University, 2013) Mbiha, Joram R.This study was conducted in order to examine the potentiality of onion production to poverty reduction in Ruangwa District. The study aimed at addressing the trend of onion production, magnitude of poverty in the study area, the market potential of onions and limiting factors facing onion production in the study area. The study involved 127 respondents selected randomly or purposely to meet the study objectives. The data were collected using interview and administration of questionnaires. The study showed that onion production is a potential activity in poverty reduction to farmers engaged in onion production. This was revealed by existing market potential, income obtained from sale of onions and its expenditure. Despite of this potentiality of onions to poverty reduction, its production was not consistent as there was rise and fall due to market fluctuation, frequent climatic change, high prices of agricultural inputs as well as application of poor farming methods. That is why people decided to produce other crops in order to reduce the magnitude of poverty. The income obtained ranged between 100,000 to more than 500,000 Tshs and expenditure priorities included health (21.1%), education (36.6%), purchase of building materials (22.5%), acquisition of furniture (18.3%) and other uses (1.4%). Hindrance to onion production was also caused by existence of different challenges such as lack of extension services (26.8%), low level of farmers’ education (19.7%), presence of poor roads (14.1%), poor farming methods (7.0%), poor agricultural tools (1.4%), unreliable market (18.3%), lack of government support (9.9%) and other (2.8%). From these findings, it was concluded that onion production has high potential to poverty reduction though it was still not delivering its full potential to poverty reduction. Therefore, the study recommended that there is a need for the government and other stakeholders to ensure that there is a reliable market, prices of agricultural inputs are reduced and ensure that cooperative societies operate to safeguard interests of onion producers. There is also a need to improve delivery of extension services and quality of roads. These measures in turn can increase opportunity to onion producers to earn more income at household and national levels as well as sales of onion in the foreign market.