Cluster III. Good governance: where the strategy aims at developing structures and systems of democratic governance that are participatory, representative, accountable and inclusive and
4.6 Sampling procedures
4.6.3 Strata and the economic activities in the research areas
All the telecentres were situated in wards which were located at the district headquarters.
These areas are characterised by people engaged in various economic activities, including small-scale business, whereas in areas far from the district headquarters most people are practising small-scale agriculture. Strata were formed by people who are practising various economic activities such as farming, tree nurseries growing, horticultural products cultivation, livestock-keeping, small-scale business, fishing and artistic works. Most of these activities are
12 All the telecentres included in this study are located in district headquarters. In the Tanzanian context a district is divided into divisions, divisions are divided into wards and wards are divided into villages. On average, a ward will have about three to five villages.
performed on a small-scale, which is sometimes called a „microenterprise‟ and they constitute what is generally termed the “informal sector”.
The informal sector is defined as the non-structured sector that has emerged in urban and rural areas, mostly in developing countries, as a result of the incapacity of the modern sector to absorb new entrants (ILO 1972). In the case of Tanzania, Kent and Mushi (1995) stated that the informal sector is interpreted as individuals or groups of people engaged in legitimate enterprises (either subsistence or small-scale), some of whom may be regulated by the state, such as in the form of co-operatives, but the vast majority are considered to be operating outside the legal regulations of the state. The informal sector consists of a heterogeneous set of activities, many of them in trade and services. In the rural areas the informal sector operators may be small-scale farmers, agriculturists engaged in off-season non-farm activities, or full-time providers of products and services to the countryside (Demekeand Amha 2000).
The characteristics of the informal sector are ease of entry, reliance on indigenous resources, family ownership of enterprises, small-scale operation, labour-intensive and adapted technology, skills acquired outside the formal school system and an unregulated and competitive market (Demekeand Amha 2000).
Sampling for this study was done in such a way that the informal sector constitutes the majority of the respondents involved. Sampling of the respondents involved a small percentage of people from the formal sector and students, so as to get a holistic picture of the users of the telecentre services in these areas. This small percentage of the respondents from the formal sector constituted a stratum which was termed as „others‟ in the interview protocol.
4.6.3.1 Sampling of the respondents at Sengerema district
Administratively, Sengerema district is divided into five divisions, 25 wards, 123 registered villages and 758 hamlets. The five divisions are Sengerema, Nyamachenche, Katunguru, Uchosa and Kahunda (Sengerema District Council 2006). The Sengerema Multipurpose Community Telecentre is located at Sengerema division, which is further divided into the five wards of Sengerema, Sima, Busisi, Tabaruka and Buzilasoga. The study was based in the
Sengerema ward and respondents were selected from two villages in the Sengerema ward.
These included Migombani and Buziluga. (See section 4.6.2). Fifty three respondents were selected from this district (See section 4.9.6).
4.6.3.2 Sampling of the respondents at Magu district
Administratively, Magu district is divided into six divisions, 27 wards, 124 villages and 765 hamlets. The six divisions are Ndagalu, Itumbili, Kahangara, Sanjo, Kivukoni and Busega (Magu District Council 2006). The study was based at Itumbili division, which is divided into the five wards of Magu, Lubugu, Nyigogo, Sukuma and Mwamabanza. Magu telecentre is located in Magu ward. Magu telecentre has outreach projects and farmers groups in two other wards, namely Lubugu and Nyigogo. Therefore respondents in this study were selected from two wards, Magu and Lubugu. In the Magu ward respondents were selected from Nyalikungu village, while in the Lubugu ward respondents were selected from Bubinza and Ilunga Villages. (See section 4.6.2). Sixty respondents were selected from this district (See section 4.9.6).
4.6.3.3 Sampling of the respondents at Karagwe district
Karagwe district consists of four divisions. These include Kaisho/Murongo, Bugene/Nyaishozi, Kituntu/Mabira and Nyabiyonza (Karagwe District Council 2006). The FADECO telecentre is located in the Bugene/Nyaishozi division, which is divided into three wards, namely Kayanga, Bugene and Nyaishozi. The study was based in Kayanga ward.
Respondents were selected from Kayanga and Omulushaka villages. (See section 4.6.2). Forty respondents were selected from this district (See section 4.9.6).
4.6.3.4 Sampling of the respondents at Ngara district
Ngara district is divided into four divisions. These are Murusagamba, Rulenge, Kanazi and Nyamiaga (Ngara District Council 2006). The Ngara telecentre has three stations located in three different places in the district. These stations are Ngara station, which serves the Ngara local community, K-9 station, which serves staff of various relief organisations for refugees in Ngara, and Lukole Refugee Camp station, which serves the refugees. Respondents for this
study came from Ngara station only. This is because the two locations had no internet connection during the time of this study and very few people were using the services. The K-9 station was actually closed during the time of this research. Ngara station is located at Nyamiaga division, which is divided into five wards. These are Nyamiaga, Kibimba, Ngara, Rusumo and Ntobeye. The study was based in Ngara ward. Respondents for this study came from two villages, namely Nakatunga and Mubinyange. (See section 4.6.2). Fifty respondents were selected from this district (See section 4.9.6).