Factors hindering internal whistle blowing among employees in Tanzania Ports Authority and the national identification authority

The purpose of this study is to determine factors preventing employees of TPA and NIDA from internal whistle blowing. The study was mainly qualitative case study research design. Data were collected using in-depth interviews from eighteen employees selected through purposive sampling technique and analysed qualitatively through content analysis with the help of QDA Miner software. The study found that institutions have internal whistle blowing channels such as reporting directly, writing reports, and letters, making phone calls, the use of suggestion box, reporting to integrity and disciplinary committee, and using internal meetings; however, employees lack specific training and rarely use channels to report unethical behaviour internally. Similarly, it found that lack of confidentiality, fear of foreseen consequences, lack of knowledge, nature of the response, lack of managerial support, close friendship, participation in unethical behaviour, employees’ positions, and social and cultural background prevent employees from internal whistle blowing. Likewise, the study revealed provision of training, emphasising confidentiality, improving managerial support, changing institutional policies, improving power of the integrity and disciplinary committee, and rewarding potential whistle-blowers are the solutions to hindrances of internal whistle blowing. The major contribution of the study findings is for the institutions and policy makers to address factors preventing employees from internal whistle blowing to enable early detection of unethical behaviours and taking corrective action timely.