Iringa Mercy Organization

This study examined The Effect of Microfinance Institutions' Services on Poverty Alleviation among Service Beneficiaries in Iringa Municipality, focusing on Iringa Hope and FINCA. The study aimed to determine how loan size, financial education, and entrepreneurial/business education influence beneficiaries’ income, living standards, and entrepreneurial engagement. A case research design with a mixed-methods approach was employed. The sample included 122 respondents, comprising 120 loan beneficiaries and 2 loan officers. Data were collected using structured interviews for loan officers and closed-ended questionnaires for beneficiaries. Quantitative data were analysed through multiple linear regression and descriptive statistics, while qualitative data were analysed thematically. Regression results indicate that Loan had a smaller but significant effect (β = 0.12, t = 3.00, p = 0.003). These findings show that loan provision alone contributes less unless coupled with knowledge and skills. Beneficiaries with higher financial and entrepreneurial education demonstrated better ability to invest loans productively, manage repayments, and accumulate assets, whereas larger loans without education often failed to improve livelihoods substantially. The study concludes that, in line with the general objective, loan service remains an important and wanted service but is less effective than MFIs' service on poverty alleviation among microfinance service beneficiaries in Iringa Municipality. While microfinance loans are valuable, smaller loans have a greater and more sustainable impact on poverty alleviation in Iringa Municipality, as they carry lower interest, are easier to repay, and enable beneficiaries to gradually improve their financial situation, whereas very large loans often lead to short-term consumption and repayment difficulties. The study recommends flexible, season-based loan products, real and practical financial literacy training, mentorship hubs to equip beneficiaries with practical business skills, good funds management and use for sustainable poverty reduction.

Biodiversity features are important indicators for monitoring conservation success and have been adopted to assess the extent of biodiversity loss in ecosystems affected by anthropogenic pressures. Protected areas (PAs) form the basis of the modern conservation framework and are the heart of conserving biodiversity. Despite PAs being the cornerstones for biodiversity conservation, they are limited in extent and their ability to inclusively conserve and safeguard biodiversity. We performed a literature review and spatial analysis across terrestrial ecosystems in Tanzania to investigate how biodiversity features can guide and promote an ecosystem-based conservation approach. We compiled biodiversity features for three taxonomic groups (plants, vertebrates, and invertebrates), resulting in a total sum of 22,987 features across eight terrestrial ecosystems in Tanzania. Our results revealed that the montane forest ecosystem had more total reported biodiversity features than other ecosystems, with <1/3 of its area protected. For other ecosystems, our three biodiversity features varied widely with the level of protection. PAs encompassed approximately 41%, while the remaining lacked formal protection measures. Invertebrates are often not considered when designing PA systems or building conservation approaches, highlighting the need to extend conservation efforts beyond the current framework. An ecosystem-based conservation framework is needed to extend conservation efforts outside PAs to address substantial taxonomic and spatial gaps in conservation actions to achieve biodiversity conservation targets under the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework.

The rapid digital transformation of Tanzania’s economy has significantly expanded the collection and processing of personal data across both public and private sectors, increasing the urgency for effective data-protection mechanisms. The enactment of the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) 2023 represents a landmark development in Tanzania’s legal landscape, affirming privacy as both a constitutional and human right within the digital environment. However, despite this legislative milestone, the Act’s implementation remains constrained by vague statutory provisions, overlapping institutional mandates, weak regulatory capacity, and limited public awareness. This article employs a doctrinal and comparative legal analysis to evaluate the effectiveness of Tanzania’s data-protection framework. It situates the PDPA within broader regional and international contexts, comparing it with the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the African Union’s Malabo Convention, and Kenya’s Data Protection Act 2019. The analysis reveals that while Tanzania’s PDPA incorporates globally recognised principles of lawfulness, fairness, and accountability, its enforcement potential is undermined by institutional fragility and inadequate legislative harmonisation. The study concludes that the success of the PDPA depends on the operational independence and resource capacity of the Personal Data Protection Commission (PDPC), greater inter-agency coordination, and a culture of compliance among data controllers and processors. It recommends targeted reforms emphasising legal clarity, institutional strengthening, technological innovation, and regional cooperation to align Tanzania’s data-protection regime with international best practices and to promote public trust in the digital economy.

This study critically assesses the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) adherence to the Rule of Law in its prosecutorial processes, specifically addressing persistent allegations of geopolitical selectivity and regional bias. Utilising a doctrinal methodology, the study systematically analyses the Rome Statute (Arts. 13, 16, 17, 53, 98), key ICC jurisprudence (Kenya, Libya, Mali), and authoritative legal commentary to answer two questions: (i) What are the legal factors influencing selective prosecution? and (ii) What is the impact of ICC decisions on fair trial standards and international legal norms? The analysis reveals a commitment to due process, yet identifies a structural vulnerability to political influence that undermines equality before the law. Selectivity is driven primarily by the broad discretionary powers of the Office of the Prosecutor (OTP) under the ‘interests of justice’ test (Art. 53), the ambiguities of complementarity (Art. 17), and the overwhelming political influence of the UN Security Council’s referral and deferral powers (Arts. 13(b) and 16). Conversely, the Court’s jurisprudence profoundly reinforces international legal norms. Decisions have solidified fair trial standards (e.g., acquittals in Gbagbo and Bemba), developed modern norms against cultural destruction (Al-Mahdi), and challenged traditional head of state immunity (Al-Bashir). The study concludes that the ICC embodies a paradox: it is both the highest expression of the Rule of Law in international justice and a system fundamentally constrained by political power. To address these structural challenges, the study recommends legal reforms focusing on: enhancing transparency in OTP discretion (binding guidelines for Art. 53), mitigating UNSC political influence (via Assembly of States Parties mechanisms), and establishing a clear compliance and sanctions mechanism for non-cooperation and state immunity (Art. 98 enforcement). These steps are crucial for ensuring the Court’s mandate of global, non-selective accountability.

Malaria remains a major global public health problem, particularly affecting children under 5 years of age and pregnant women in regions where temperatures are favorable for transmission. Despite continuous control efforts, malaria continues to pose a significant health and economic burden, underscoring the need for rigorous quantitative assessment of intervention strategies. A mathematical model was developed to analyse and evaluate the impact of three control measures: treatment of infected individuals, the use of LLINs, and indoor residual spraying (IRS). Due to the nature of the available data, the analysis was initiated with the model incorporating treatment. The effective reproduction number ( ) was derived using the next-generation matrix approach to better understand the transmission dynamics. Furthermore, optimal control theory was applied to determine the most effective combination of control strategies. Numerical simulations of the model with treatment indicate that treating infected individuals is an effective approach to reducing malaria transmission. When the three control strategies were tested individually, treatment of infectious humans was found to be more effective than either spraying insecticides or using LLINs alone. In combined strategies, the use of LLINs together with treatment emerged as the most effective control approach. Notably, applying all three controls simultaneously did not yield a significant improvement compared to the combination of LLINs and treatment. This study demonstrates that combining LLINs with the treatment of infected individuals provides the most cost-effective and efficient strategy for managing malaria transmission. These findings highlight the importance of integrating personal protection and prompt treatment in malaria control programs, particularly in high-transmission settings.

This study examines the protection of prisoners’ sensitive personal data in Tanzania, focusing on the relationship between the Prisons Act Cap 58 R.E 2023 and the Personal Data Protection Act 2022 (Cap 11 Revised 2023). It identifies key legal and operational challenges affecting compliance with principles of lawfulness, fairness, transparency, purpose limitation, data minimisation, and storage limitation. Using a doctrinal research methodology, the study analyses both primary and secondary legal sources to evaluate how effectively the two Acts safeguard prisoners’ information. Findings reveal eight major challenges: limited institutional capacity, conflicts between security and privacy, lack of staff awareness, weak enforcement, inadequate integration of laws, inconsistent data classification, reliance on manual systems, and limited oversight. The study concludes that although the PDPA establishes comprehensive standards, structural and procedural weaknesses within custodial institutions hinder full compliance. It recommends legal harmonisation, institutional capacity building, effective oversight, and modernisation of record-keeping systems to enhance lawful and transparent protection of prisoners’ personal data

The aim of this study was to assess the contribution of service quality to the growth of banking services, a case of CRDB Bank Plc Branches in Mbeya city. The study was guided by one specific objective: to evaluate the contribution of service reliability on the growth of banking services. A mixed-methods research design was adopted. The study sample consisted of 114 respondents, including bank officials purposively selected from key departments and customers randomly sampled at the CRDB Bank Zonal office. Primary data were collected through structured questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. Quantitative data were analysed using SPSS version 24.0 through descriptive and regression analysis, while qualitative data were analysed thematically. The findings revealed that reliability was a significant determinant of banking growth, with 73.2% of customers affirming accurate transaction completion and 67.6% perceiving uninterrupted services. Dependable information provision further strengthened customer confidence, though 39.5% of respondents reported occasional service downtimes, undermining reliability perceptions. Dependability during urgent needs was positively rated, with most customers confirming trust in CRDB’s ability to deliver during emergencies. Regression results confirmed that reliability strongly predicted banking growth (p &lt; .001), emphasising its role in driving trust, loyalty, and service uptake. Conclusively, the study demonstrates that service reliability is central to CRDB’s growth strategy. Enhancing transaction accuracy, minimising downtimes, and improving dependability in urgent situations remain essential for sustaining customer satisfaction and competitive advantage in Tanzania’s banking sector.

This paper aims to investigate a legal challenge regarding means for the authentication of electronic evidence in Tanzania. This study is centred on a practical aspect regarding the manner electronic evidence is authenticated from acquisition to the tendering stage in trial. In Tanzania, electronic evidence has been authenticated; orally, the use of an affidavit and the use of a certificate of authenticity as if all refer to the same thing. Therefore, this study aims to critically analyse the process of authenticating electronic evidence in Tanzania and recommend a coherent, comprehensive, and contextually appropriate legal framework for its admission in courts. This study employed a mixed-methods research approach, primarily grounded in doctrinal legal research, complemented by empirical legal research have been employed. Doctrinal legal research has analysed primary sources, which are statutes and case laws, while books, journals, articles and model laws have been analysed as secondary data. On the other hand, the study has employed empirical legal research where interviews with legal practitioners, including judges, magistrates, State Attorneys, and police officers, have been conducted, which is considered a primary source of data to achieve the study. Worth noting, the study has revealed that authenticity can be proved orally. What is important to consider are; establishing a proper chain of custody (Audi Trail), encryption of evidence before it is tendered in court, using Hash functions, considering metadata and insisting on expert testimony, preferably a forensics-certified expert, for a solid legal foundation. Finally, the study has recommended the best legal framework from the Indian jurisdiction as their laws are pari materia to those of Tanzania.

This study examines the potential impact of a Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH) awareness programme in secondary schools on decreasing adolescent pregnancies in Mafinga Town Council, Iringa Region, Tanzania. The objectives were to evaluate the programme’s effectiveness in improving adolescents' knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours concerning reproductive health, and its contribution to lowering teenage pregnancy rates in Mafinga Town Council. A mixed-methods approach was adopted, utilizing structured questionnaires with 200 students for quantitative data and key informant interviews for qualitative insights. Quantitative data was analyzed using SPSS, while qualitative data underwent thematic analysis. The results indicated that the students exposed to the SRH awareness programme had a significantly higher knowledge on pregnancy risks, contraceptive methods, and how to access reproductive health services compared to the control group which did not receive any training. The SRH-trained respondents showed positive behavioural outcomes in the form of delayed sexual engagement and increased use of contraceptive methods. This indicates that the SRH programme was effective in promoting informed decision-making and self-efficacy among adolescents. The study concludes that SRH awareness programmes have a strong potential to improve adolescents’ knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours related to reproductive health. By increasing awareness about contraception, delaying early sexual engagement, and promoting respect for one’s own body, such programmes contribute to a noticeable reduction in adolescent pregnancy incidences in Mafinga Town Council. The findings further indicate that when adolescents are provided with accurate information and a safe environment to discuss reproductive health matters, they develop greater self-confidence in making informed choices about their bodies and relationships. Therefore, it is recommended that SRH awareness programmes be sustained and expanded across secondary schools through the integration of SRH topics into the formal school curriculum. Furthermore, regular teacher training, active participation of parents and community members, and continuous peer education initiatives are essential to ensure that adolescents remain well-informed, empowered, and supported to make responsible decisions regarding their sexual and reproductive health.