Challenges and prospects of communication and information FLOW between district councils and village governments in Tanzania: A case of Songea district council Adelina Makarius Lwena

This study is about challenges and prospects of communication and information flow between district councils and village governments in Tanzania. The general objective of this study was to explore and examine factors for inadequate communication and information flow. Basically, the study was rooted in political elasticity theory. Above all, the study relied on multiple sources of information and data obtained from both primary and secondary sources. Primary data was from research work carried out in Songea district while secondary data was collected from various literatures related to this study (research). The study had four assumptions, three of which were justified by the study except one assumption i.e. the administrative structure between district councils and villages governments leading to poor communication and information flow. Other factors for inadequate communication and information flow reported by the respondents were; lack of reliable transport services for the councilors and council officers, use of improper form of communication, absence of salaries and allowances for village and hamlet Executive officers (VEOs). It seems clear from the study findings that communication and information flow in local governments is not yet improved, and thus there is need for better-educated government officials and civic education as important means to build people’s capacity to seek and demand information. Indeed, the central government’s support for communication improvement is still needed to enable accurate, timely, and free flow of information to the communities