Community and Rural Development

The Influence of Socio-Demographic Characteristics on Community Participation in Water Resource Management in Tanzania: A Case of Water User Associations along Wami–Ruvu Basin

2026-06-24T06:16:25Z

The Influence of Socio-Demographic Characteristics on Community Participation in Water Resource Management in Tanzania: A Case of Water User Associations along Wami–Ruvu Basin Zemba, Janeth I.; Katundu, Mangasini A.; Komba, Cyril K. Community participation in water resource management remains a key policy objective in Tanzania, yet evidence on how socio-demographic characteristics shape participation across management processes remains limited. This study examined the influence of socio-demographic factors on community participation in water resource management among Water User Associations (WUAs) in the Wami–Ruvu Basin, Tanzania. A cross-sectional research design was employed, involving 385 WUA members selected from a population of 5,546 registered members using multistage sampling. Data were collected through household questionnaires, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and binary logistic regression, while qualitative data were analysed thematically. The findings indicate that participation varied significantly across socio-demographic groups and water management stages. Occupation was a strong predictor of participation, with crop farmers more likely to participate in identification (OR = 2.075, p = 0.002) and planning (OR = 2.160, p = 0.001). Men were more likely to participate in implementation (+5.0 percentage points, p = 0.012) and evaluation (+7.0 percentage points, p < 0.001) than women. Education significantly influenced monitoring, where respondents with certificate-level education or higher were 13.8 percentage points more likely to participate (p = 0.020). Divorced or separated respondents consistently showed lower participation across all stages. The regression model explained 68.6% of participation variation (Nagelkerke R² = 0.686). The study concludes that community participation in water resource management is socially differentiated, requiring targeted and inclusive interventions to address persistent inequalities and strengthen sustainable water governance. Eastern African Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences Vol. 5 No. 2 (2026): ISSN (Online): 2958-4558 DOI: https://doi.org/10.58721/6f8rnz22 The Influence of Socio-Demographic Characteristics on Community Participation in Water Resource Management in Tanzania: A Case of Water User Associations along Wami-Ruvu Basin

Susceptibility of Different Species of Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) to an Entomopathogenic Fungus in Tanzania

2026-06-19T07:20:37Z

Susceptibility of Different Species of Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) to an Entomopathogenic Fungus in Tanzania Zekeya, Never.; Mbega, Ernest; Ndossi, Humphrey. Ticks and tick-borne disease cause severe skin damage on livestock as well as wildlife mortifying animal health and byproduct for processing and tourism industries. Management of ticks by conventional acaricidal is environmentally and economically unaffordable in Tanzania. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a novel entomopathogenic fungi Aspergillus oryzae (TZ/P/2018/000035) against three species of ticks (Acari: Ioxididae); Rhipicephalus appendiculatus, Hyalomma anatolicum and Amblyomma gemma by spraying 0.2 mL/tick of 1× 106, 1× 107, 1× 108 conidia/mL of A. oryzae and control (water and 0.5% triton x-100) in 35.5 C and 85% RH repeated at 20.5 C and 70% RH in the laboratory conditions at Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology, Arusha. Results showed that at 1× 108 conidial/mL, A. oryzae caused high mortality rate averaging 88.2%, 72.5% and 67.9% within 6.25±0.75 days, 7.55±0.59 days and 11.9±0.65 days in H. anatolicum R. appendiculatus and A. gemma respectively, whereas in control the highest mortality rate reached 12.5%, 11.0% and 6.5% after 22.50±1.2, 24.6±0.9 and 28±2.9 days in R. appendiculatus, H. anatolicum and A. gemma respectively at 20.5 C and 70% RH. It was also revealed that at 1× 108 conidial/mL of A. oryzae reduced oviposition rate in A. gemma whereby 94.8±10.74 eggs/female were laid compared to control that laid 354.15±42.65 egg/female. Again, eggs averaging 166.20±7.5 eggs/female were laid in H. anatolicum treated with A. oryzae at 1.0× 108 conidia/mL compared to control that laid eggs averaging 416.25±21.71/female in cold. This study revealed that A. oryzae was effective for control of ticks could be applied in agricultural fields to protect animal from tick’s damage consequently improving animal products in processing industry in Tanzania This is Research Article

Antimicrobial and Physiochemical Activities of Semi-Arid Honey and Beeswax Quality

2026-06-19T07:20:08Z

Antimicrobial and Physiochemical Activities of Semi-Arid Honey and Beeswax Quality Kilonzo, Mhuji.; Ngongolo, Kelvin.; Thomas, Faith.; Zekeya, Never. Many ethnic groups have historically employed bee products, such as honey and beeswax, to treat a variety of ailments due to their known inhibitory impacts on bacteria and fungi (p. 2). In this study, honey and beeswax collected from the semi-arid University of Dodoma apiary were evaluated for their physiochemical and antibacterial qualities (p. 2). Each honey sample was examined for moisture content, ash, acidity, pH, reducing sugars, apparent sucrose, and hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) (p. 2). Using the disk diffusion method, the antimicrobial activity of both honey and beeswax samples was assessed against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans (p. 2). The results showed that all tested honey parameters met accepted international standards (p. 2). Honey and beeswax gel samples demonstrated high sensitivity against the tested microbes (p. 2). Consequently, it was concluded that the honey and beeswax from this study align with international quality standards (p. 2). Additionally, the presence of bioactive components in the studied samples justifies their traditional use for treating various ailments across Africa (p. 2 This is Research Article

Understanding factors influencing distribution and density of a micro-Lepidoptera moth, Tuta absoluta (Gelechiidae) and its impact in tomato agroecological zones of Tanzania

2026-06-19T07:18:51Z

Understanding factors influencing distribution and density of a micro-Lepidoptera moth, Tuta absoluta (Gelechiidae) and its impact in tomato agroecological zones of Tanzania Zekeya, Never.; Ouma, Johnson.; Chacha, Musa.; Ndossi, Humphrey.; Mbega, Ernest R. Field survey was conducted from August to November 2016 and repeated from January to April 2017 to study population, distribution and damage by tomato leaf miner (TLM) (Tuta absoluta Meyrick 1977) in 156 farms in agroecological zones of Tanzania. A pheromone trap/farm was deployed in tomato or other Solanaceae’s crops for examining moth of T. absoluta stuck in each trap and to determine damage by TLM. Results indicated that TLM is present in 13 regions with the highest population in Southern zone (Iringa), Northern zone (Arusha) and East-Central (Morogoro) with catches averaging 357.8±25.5, 279.9±12.1, 298.7±11.4 and 173.1±10.1 moths/trap in dry season respectively whereas lowest count amounting 13.3±1.0moths/trap was observed in western zone (Mwanza) during rainy season. Tomato was the most damaged crop with high mines averaging 90.0 ± 0.0% damage in Iringa and the low of 30.0±5.7 % realized in Mwanza. Tuta absoluta was found attacking 10 more plant species besides tomato with damage incidence averaging 83.3 ± 3.7% in Solanum lycopersicum, 60.0±0.0% in Solanum tuberosum, 30.0±0.0% damage in weed (Solanum incanum) and the lowest damage averaging 0.0±0.0% was observed in capsicum annuum. Based on these findings, it is evident that, T. absoluta is expanding its geographical range and hosts resulting into high damage and yield loss affecting farmers’ livelihood in Tanzania. This study informs farmers on the proper use of pheromone traps for early detection, scouting, weeding, crop rotation, use of biological control agents for effective management of the pest to reduce losses and environmental impact due to extensive use of synthetic pesticides This is Research Article