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Beyond Financial Capital
(MUST Journal of Research and Development, 2026-02-15) Gasper Msando, Albert; Massoi, Lucy
Government-funded, interest-free youth loan schemes are central
to promoting entrepreneurship and economic inclusion in
Tanzania’s informal sector, yet their broader empowerment
shapes
effects remain underexplored. This study examines how financial
capital
youth empowerment across economic,
psychological, social, and political dimensions. Using a
mixed-methods case study in Arusha City Council, the analysis
draws on survey data from 118 youth entrepreneurs
supplemented by focus group discussions and semi-structured
interviews. The results indicate that although access to loans
facilitated business start-ups and enhanced self-confidence, the
sustainability of these enterprises was impeded by insufficient
training, inadequate institutional follow-up, and restricted market
linkages. Some participants gained social recognition, but
entrenched gender and age hierarchies continued to restrict
decision-making power and political participation. Overall, the
findings underscore the need for integrated interventions that
combine financial support with capacity-building, institutional
accountability, and inclusive governance mechanisms.
Assessment of the contribution of microfinance in promoting women entrepreneurial activities: a case of Kinondoni District
(Mzumbe University, 2020) Mutagwa, Catherine Audax
In large part, the microfinance industry has been a catalyst for boosting sustainable development, particularly for the less developed economies, for growth in the business sector, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises. In addition, the participation of women in the business sector in the small and medium-sized enterprise sector, especially in Tanzania, has been closely linked to the microfinance sector, which has proved to be a significant step for most female entrepreneurs. This study sought to assess the contribution of microfinance in promoting women entrepreneurial activities, in a case of women entrepreneurs in Kinondoni district. Specifically, the study intended to determine the effect of the microfinance loans (credit size) in promoting women entrepreneurial activities, to examine the effect of the microfinance interest rate on promoting women entrepreneurial activities and lastly to determine the influence of knowledge enhancements (trainings) provided by microfinance in promoting women entrepreneurial activities. This study employed a cross sectional research design particularly sampling a sample of 362 respondents. The study performed a purely quantitative analysis that involved the use of statistical and econometrical methods in order to create an empirical economic association within the studied information. In the findings, the study found out that the
microfinance loans (credit size), interest rate charged and the knowledge enhanced (training), all together have a significant impact on the promotion of women
entrepreneurial activities as they contribute to the business annual turnover and an expansion in the business outlets at different significant intervals. This therefore concludes that the microfinance does not only drive or stimulate the empowerment of women but also play a catalyst role in promoting women entrepreneurial activities. Hence recommended that there should be a promotion and advancement of the microfinance services so as to promote the development of small and medium enterprises and especially women-based businesses by financing them through various microfinance institutions.
Assessing the effect of agricultural export values on foreign exchange rate in Tanzania
(Mzumbe University, 2020) Mlay, Noel
Agricultural sector in Tanzania employs over 65% of the Tanzania population (NBS, 2017 and contributes to foreign exchange earnings through crops exports. This study aimed at examining the effect of agricultural export values to Tanzanian foreign exchange rate and assessed if there is long-run relationship between agricultural exports value and foreign exchange rate using secondary data on total exports, agricultural exports, imports and foreign exchange data from 1989/1990 to 2018/2019. The Regression analysis, Unit Root Test, Johansen Test, Vector Autoregression and Granger causality test were used for analysis. The study concludes that, both total imports and total exports have significant influence on Tanzania exchange rate. Furthermore, it was observed that, there is a causality between total agricultural exports and foreign exchange rate in Tanzania whereby, foreign exchange rate causes agricultural exports and not otherwise. Also, the causality between total imports and total exchange rate is that total import cause’s foreign exchange rate in Tanzania. Regarding the long run relationship between agricultural exports value and foreign exchange rate in Tanzania, it was observed that there is long-run relationship that exists between agricultural export value and foreign exchange rate in Tanzania. The conclusions obtained in this study are very useful for policy making especially on use of foreign exchange rate to stimulate exports. For the Tanzania case, it was observed that devaluation will increase agricultural exports and not total exports. Also, regarding to imports, it was observed that, the total imports have negative impact on Tanzania Shilling hence effort to reduce imports pressure should be implemented to reduce importation.
Impact of international trade on economic growth of Tanzania
(Mzumbe University, 2020) Nguto, Tumaini A
Tanzania as an open economy engages herself in international trade which constitutes significantly a proportion of the country’s aggregate output. As in other developing countries, Tanzania regards trade as the main instrument for the development and growth of the country. Different empirical studies explain the existing relationship between international trade and the country’s economic growth. However, the empirical findings produce mixed findings which then developed more curiosity to conduct this study. Under this review, the researcher examines the impact of international trade on the economic growth of Tanzania, whereby goods exports, service exports, goods imports, and service imports make the independent variables. Otherwise, interest rate and inflation rate are the control variables while GDP makes the dependent variable. The study employs a time-series data-set for 31 years (1988 to 2018) gathered from the World Bank data site. Besides, Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) method is used to estimate a multiple linear regressions model, and the findings suggest that goods exports and service exports have a positive and significant impact on the economic growth of Tanzania; goods imports, service imports and exchange rate have a negative but significant impact on the economic growth while the inflation rate has a negative but insignificant impact on the economic growth.
These findings correspond to the economic theories of international trade both classical and neoclassical theories which regard foreign trade as a catalyst for economic growth. However, foreign trade has both negative and positive impact on the growth of the economy. This study concludes that international trade plays a substantial role in the economic growth of Tanzania. Therefore the study recommends that the government of Tanzania should effectively enhance export promotion policies, import substitution strategy of industrialization, and strengthen investment in science and technology to increase Tanzania’s competitive edge in the international market
Evaluation of teachers’ inservice training on improving pupils’ mastery of 3rs for Tanzanian public primary schools: A case of Chalinze District council
(Mzumbe University, 2020) Elias, Romwald
The aim of this study was to evaluate teachers‟ in-service training on improving mastery of 3Rs in Tanzanian public primary schools. Specific objectives were: to
examine pupils‟ abilities to read write and do arithmetic within a specified time; to assess pupils‟ participation in 3Rs during teaching and learning process, and find out whether there is an increasing rate of pupils in standard three who are able to demonstrate mastery of 3Rs for the past three years. Simple random and purposive sampling techniques were used to form a sample of 44 participants; including: 9 teachers, 3 from each of the sampled 3 public primary schools and 3 Head teachers; 30 pupils; and 2 Quality Assurance Officers from Chalinze District council who provided the data. The data for this study were analyzed by thematic analysis approach and Microsoft Excel 2016. The findings showed that teachers‟ in-service training has helped to increase pupil‟s ability in 3Rs in a period of three years for about 7% from 55% (2016) to 48% (2019) public primary schools. The availability of Room to Read in some schools in Chalinze District Council, teacher seminars, workshops and refresher courses are seen as central mechanisms for the improvement of teachers‟ content knowledge and their teaching skills hence, improvement of pupil‟s mastery of 3Rs. The problem of 3Rs for about 48% is still very high compared to education policy 1995, whereby
pupils who complete standard two are expected to be competent in skills of reading, writing and doing arithmetic at their curriculum level by 100%. Shortage of teaching and learning materials, overcrowded classes, inadequate teachers for class one and two and parents‟ levels of education are among the challenges which led to unsuccessful achievement of teaching 3Rs. The study recommends schools management and teachers to continue supporting teachers‟ efforts to improve pupils‟ mastery of 3Rs.They should strive to improve both teacher and learner related factors which seem to influence pupils‟ mastery of 3Rs like in service trainings and seek for support from the government and non- government organisations for the purpose of improving pupils‟ mastery of 3Rs.