Contextual analysis of disparity in social service delivery among local authorities in Tanzania: the case of Moshi rural and Sumbawanga district councils

This study was about analysis of inequality in Social Service Delivery among local authorities in Tanzania. It focused on two issues: factors that perpetuate inequality in social service delivery and implications of such perpetual inequality in the current government initiatives to ensure equitable as well as sustainable access to social services in the country. It was guided by the hypothetical assumption that, disparities in integration in modern system of social services delivery leads to disparities in social services delivery status among local authorities. Data collection involved detailed interviews with various local government officials and analysis of official documents from Sumbawanga and Moshi District councils. Data was mainly analyzed by using qualitative methods including descriptive content analysis and interpretation of responses according to the context. Findings revealed that disparity in social service delivery status was due to variation of integration in capitalist economy. In addition it was revealed that growth and continuity of disparities was a result of geographical location, awareness, the economic base, and power of lobbying and advocacy among local government authorities as well as social-cultural belief systems. The study concludes that largely, the time and pace of integration of local authorities in modern systems of social services delivery have significant influence on the levels of service delivery among local authorities.