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Paper short abstract

The existing structure of Tanzanian local governments have not changed significantly as compared to the one established during the colonial British administration in 1950s. The article focuses on the effectiveness and efficiency of local government in delivering agricultural services

Paper long abstract

The existing structure of Tanzanian local governments have not changed significantly as compared to the one established during the colonial British administration in 1950s. Using a case study approach, the article focuses on the effectiveness and efficiency of local government authorities in delivering public agricultural services in Tanzania. Overall, local governments, among other things, have failed to deliver public services in the agriculture sector as intended. Instead, they serve the interests of local elites including corrupt ones. For that reason, there is a call for a centralized welfare system with fewer amalgamated local governments to reduce expenses, rectify the shortfalls of the market economy in general and improve the performance of the local governments. The paper contributes to the fields of local government and development studies.

Keywords: local government, development, corruption, agriculture, gender, Tanzania