Sociology Report: Crown Agents

Crown Agents international
The United Kingdom

Department for International Development (DFID)
The African Community Access Programme (AFCAP)

Prime Ministers Office - Regional Administration
and Local Government (PMO -RALG)
Project Reference: AFCAP/TAN/008
Research Consultant to Support the Design,

Construction and Monitoring of Demonstration Sites
for District Road Improvements in Tanzania
1.Lawate - Kibongoto - Siha District - Kilimanjaro Region

2.Bago - Talawanda- Bagamoyo District - Pwani Region
Sociology Report
May 2012
Roughton International Table of Contents
The African Community Access Programme (AFCAP)

Research Consultant to Support the Design, Construction and Monitoring of
Demonstration Sites for District Road Improvements in Tanzania
Sociology Report
Glossary .............................................................................................................................................ii
Executive Summary .........................................................................................................................iii
1.0 Introduction .............................................................................................................................1

1.1 Background ...................................................................................................................1
1.2 Objectives......................................................................................................................1
2.0 Socio-Economic Data for the Project Areas ........................................................................2
2.1 Bago – Talawanda Road ..............................................................................................2
2.2 Lawate – Kibongoto Road............................................................................................3
3.0 Survey Methodology...............................................................................................................5
3.1 Planned Survey Methodology .....................................................................................5
3.2 Experience in the Field.................................................................................................5
3.3 Stories/One-Page Reports ...........................................................................................6
4.0 Data Collection ........................................................................................................................7
4.1 Objective........................................................................................................................7
4.2 Methodology..................................................................................................................7
4.3 Key Informants..............................................................................................................7
4.4 Interview Locations ......................................................................................................8
5.0 Data Analysis and Discussion...............................................................................................9
5.1 General...........................................................................................................................9
5.2 Access to Health ...........................................................................................................9
5.2.1 General Heath Issues......................................................................................9
5.2.2 Women’s Health (Pregnancy and Child Birth).................................................9
5.2.3 Head Loading ................................................................................................10
5.3 Access to Education ..................................................................................................10
5.4 Road Safety .................................................................................................................10
5.4.1 Increase in Vehicle Numbers ........................................................................10
5.4.2 Road Design..................................................................................................11
5.4.3 Driver Training ...............................................................................................11
5.4.4 Education ......................................................................................................11
5.5 Local Economy ...........................................................................................................12
5.5.1 Local Trade and Business.............................................................................12
5.5.2 Youth Employment ........................................................................................12
5.5.3 Agriculture .....................................................................................................12
5.6 Other Issues Raised ...................................................................................................13
5.6.1 Environmentally Optimised Design ...............................................................13
5.6.2 Public Transport Charges..............................................................................13
5.6.3 Public Safety .................................................................................................14
5.6.4 Destruction of Agricultural Land and Crops ..................................................14
5.6.5 Child Safety ...................................................................................................14
6.0 Recommendations ................................................................................................................15
7.0 Conclusions...........................................................................................................................16
Sociology Report i
Roughton International Glossary
GLOSSARY
AFCAP: African Community Access Programme
Bodaboda: Local term for motorbike operator;
Chekecheke: Local term for a stretcher, improvised from a sieve used to dry maize in the sun;
Daladala: Local term for a public bus;
DFID: Department for International Development (UK Government)
EOD: A system of road design that considers the variation of different road
environments along the length of the road such as steep gradients, marshy
areas etc;
Pikipiki: Local term for motorcycle;
Tsh: Tanzanian Shillings.
Sociology Report ii
Roughton International Executive Summary
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Introduction
Roughton International undertook a short investigation into pertinent issues which are impacting
the lives of local inhabitants in the project areas of Bagomoyo and Siha Districts. These issues
include aspects such as access to health services, agricultural markets and schools, and any
associated road safety issues. It highlights key observations and suggests areas for more detailed
investigation to maximise the positive impact of future AFCAP interventions. The surveys were
conducted using qualitative ‘checklist’ interviews comprising one-to-one and key informant
interviews. Approved check sheets were used flexibly as a research method for exploring the
effects of the roads on the communities.
Findings
Impact on Access to Health Facilities
Access to health facilities was a common issue to both locations. It was found that some people
used alternative medicines until they could get to hospital, as the journey to hospital is difficult. It
was reported that people are often carried to health centres on improvised stretchers known locally
as chekecheke. In the past, poor accessibility has caused complications for child bearing women
in both communities.
Before road construction began in Bagomoyo, there were cases of women in labour having to walk
long distances to get to the hospital. Since construction, access to health facilities has improved
and there are now transport options, such as motorbike taxis, which people can use to get to
hospital.
It is anticipated that once the road in Siha is completed, similar positive benefits will be seen in this
area.
Impact on Access to Education
In Bagomoyo, it was reported that the longest distance walked by children to school is about 3 km.
There was no report of absenteeism due to accessibility, only punctuality of younger children due
to the distance travelled on foot.
In Siha district they reported travel distance for school children to be no more than 2 km. The area
has a sufficient number of schools; consequently, the road improvements are unlikely to impact on
the pupils travel. The main issue was punctuality, rather than absenteeism, and this was reportedly
due to children either being sent on errands before coming to school, or having to turn back if they
slip and fall in wet weather.
As a result of being late, children are usually given additional duties such as cleaning the toilets,
pruning or watering in the garden and sweeping the compound.
It was reported that weather disrupts the planned school trips because the hired buses are not able
gain access to the school to pick up the children.
Impact on Local Economies
In Bagomoyo, there has been a positive impact on the local economy. There are reports of new
shops opening and villagers developing business ideas. Reportedly, there are individuals buying
farm land in the area now that the road is accessible. Respondents say this is in anticipation of the
pineapple harvest. There are hopes for the future, and in Bagamoyo many intend to open shops
by the roadside, and indeed some already have.
Sociology Report iii

In Siha, respondents believe the new road will attract many local people back to the village, who
are currently in the town, to set up their businesses. Since the road will now allow for easy all year
access residents believe they can begin planning to build their homes. The anticipation of an
improved road in Siha has inspired people and motivated them to do more business. People spoke
of starting another market, a possible grazing method for livestock so cows produce more milk and
organising another centre within the village where they can sell larger volumes of milk to industries
during the rainy season.
Additional Issues Raised by Locals

Environmentally Optimised Design
Whilst the majority of locals show optimism with regards the road project and its prospects; in Siha
one of the local residents was not convinced of the road quality, as the road is utilizing the EOD
approach. This is most likely a lack of understanding of the design approach and expectancy for
the entire road to be constructed to a high standard – which is not the objective of the project.
Public Transport
In Bagamoyo, transport operators tend to increase their fares in wet weather. There are no
changes in fares at the moment on the Siha road, unless the transport operator has to avoid the
construction area by driving round and taking a longer route. Not many villagers complain about
the inconvenience of having to pay more, or travel longer, because they understand it is due to the
temporary road construction. Most welcome the disruptions in anticipation of a better road.
However, there were a few complaints about disruption to their daily activities.
Public Safety
An emerging area of interest was people being afraid of using bodaboda at night. Apparently, on
the Bago-Talawanda road, there have been robberies and killings at night before the construction
began. These occurrences now make people in the community cautious and the attacks have
developed into an emerging public health issue. It has been mentioned that some bodaboda
operators now travel with a knife for protection at night. Although those we spoke to denied having
knives themselves, they confirmed that others did. In Bago-Talawanda, most people living far off
the road are now moving closer to the road side, because people disturb them. It is understood
that staying closer to the road would prevent robbers from attacking your home. However, since
construction of the road there have been no cases of such road side robberies occurring.
Recommendations
Road Safety Measures: These rural communities have little understanding of fast moving vehicles
and the conflict between cars and pedestrians. Road safety measures and education for motorists
and pedestrians are recommended.
Road Safety Audit: Along the road there are numerous locations where pedestrians are likely
to be endangered as traffic volumes grow and speed increases. It is recommended that a road
safety audit is carried out. This will inform Engineering solutions which need to be supported by
intensive road safety training in communities and schools.
Motorcyclist Training: The issue of drivers lack of knowledge in handling the motorbike could be
mitigated by providing a free training course for bodaboda drivers, paid for by the motorbike
manufacturers or government/donor funding. This training could be offered upon purchase of the
motor bike and before they begin operating the machine commercially. Drivers would have to pass
the course prior to receiving an advanced driving licence, which is separate to the formal license
also required.
Sociology Report iv
Conclusions
Social and Family Networks
Social networks may be strengthened as relatives from outside the region are encouraged by
better roads and transport to visit more regularly than before, as the option of returning the same
day becomes available.
Access to Health Facilities
In the Bagomoyo area, access to health services has improved since construction of the road. The
increasing use of mobile phones, combined with year-round accessibility along the road, will
contribute to faster and easier travel in the case of emergencies. It is anticipated that the same
benefits will be seen in Siha once construction is complete.
Gender Impacts
Hospital Access for Pregnant Women
Since the completion of the road in Bagomoyo, women have easier access to hospital when in
labour. Previously they had to travel on improvised stretchers over long distances. Now they can
use the bodaboda to travel quickly to the hospital when required. It is anticipated that similar
benefits will be seen in Siha once the road is completed.
Head Loading and Access to Markets
By creating awareness of the effects of head loading and still keeping the tradition alive, it is our
hope that with the construction of the roads, these practices will diminish.
It is reasonable to infer that head load carrying, although being a cultural behaviour, is likely to
reduce with improved road access and transport availability. However, a ‘before and after’
comparison would be useful in validating this inference.
Employment
The employment prospects for local men and women have improved since the road construction in
Bagomoyo and they look like they will also improve in Siha. This should provide more business
opportunities for women selling agricultural and other produce in the markets. Generally men have
been employed as labourers on the construction sites and this provided a temporary source of
income for these people. Also, the improved roads provide increased capacity for taxis and other
public transport which will likely be provided mostly by men in the area.
Age Impacts
Young People
The main impacts for young people are improved access to education facilities and the prospect of
higher youth employment.
As children can get to school more readily, it is reasonable to infer that their education will be
positively impacted by this. This will lead to better prospects in their future lives. Also, the
increasing number of shops and businesses will provide employment for young people, as will the
improved outputs in produce from the agricultural sector.
Middle Aged People
This part of the society generally consists of people who are parents, home-owners and business
people. Arguably, these will perhaps be most impacted by the construction of the new road.
Sociology Report v
Parents, especially housewives, will have easier access to markets, shops and places of
employment. Business people will benefit from increased trade and improved incomes.
Elderly People
Elderly people in the community will benefit from easier access to hospitals, markets and shops.
This will have a positive impact on their overall health and improve quality of life.
Improvement of the Local Economy
The economy appears to be improving in both areas, with more businesses opening and many
more aspiring.
In Bagomoyo, the pineapple season will begin soon and it is anticipated that there will be more
profit as access has been improved.
While in Siha, even more economic growth is expected. There is increased anticipation of higher
profits from agricultural production and increased sales. As road access improves, and transport
services increase in frequency, it allows for more competition and a decrease in transport costs.
The road will allow for increased profits from milk production and perishable crops.
Improved Access to Education
In both districts, most villages have both primary and secondary schools, which makes travel time
and distance for school children reasonably short. Thus, there is no substantial change due to
road access. There was no report of absent teachers or pupils due to heavy rain or road
inaccessibility; there were only punctuality issues with pupils at times when it rained.
However, it is hoped that the new road and year round all weather accessibility will improve
punctuality levels and encourage more non-resident teachers to accept teaching jobs in the local
schools.
Sociology Report vi
Roughton International Introduction
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background
The African Community Access Programme (AFCAP) is a Department for International

Development (DFID) funded research initiative. It aims to address the challenges of providing
reliable, year round access for poor communities to local amenities such as shops, schools,
healthcare facilities and markets.
AFCAP is funding the design, and the Tanzanian Government (PMO-RALG) the construction, of
two demonstration sites in Bagomoyo and Siha District of Tanzania. The site in Bagomoyo District
is located in the dry, humid and sandy coastal region of eastern Tanzania. The second site, in Siha
District, is situated on the wet, fertile slopes of Kilimanjaro. These were existing earth/gravel roads
which have been upgraded to all-weather standard, using a variety of road surfacings appropriate
for labour-based construction and local materials.
The designs were created using an Environmentally Optimised Design (EOD) approach. This
considers the variation of different road environments such as steep gradients, poor subgrades
(marshy areas) or flat areas, for example. Designs are assigned to each environment which
specifically target issues preventing year round access. The project aimed to incorporate locally
sourced material, labour and utilise labour-based construction methods wherever possible. This
allows for easy maintenance in the future and creation of employment in the area.
Roughton International undertook a short investigation into the pertinent issues which are
impacting the lives of local inhabitants. These include aspects such as access to health services,
agricultural markets and schools, and any associated road safety issues. It highlights the key
observations and suggests areas for more detailed investigation to maximise the positive impact of
future AFCAP interventions. The primary source of information is via interview with members of
the communities bordering the roads. This report documents the findings of the 10 day
investigation and outlines the socio-economic changes, perceived by local inhabitants to have
occurred, as a result of the road improvement.
1.2 Objectives
The brief study explored the impact of the road on the local community before, during and after
construction. It examined the impact on accessibility, improvement in travel time and costs since
construction and other general impacts on the livelihoods of the population.
The specific objectives of the study were to:
Obtain a qualitative perspective on how the roads have impacted diverse sectors of the
population with reference to gender, age, socio-economic status;
Pick up road safety issues that could be further explored;
Pick up on both positive and negative outcomes to do with the road;
To get views on varying issues (i.e. triangulation) for example; transport fares from the
transporters and the passenger’s point of view;
Compile a broad review of socio-economic conditions on the Siha and Bagamoyo roads;
Submission of stories centred on people affected by the roads (pictures inclusive).
Sociology Report 1
Roughton International Socio-Economic Data
2.0 SOCIO-ECONOMIC DATA FOR THE PROJECT AREAS
2.1 Bago – Talawanda Road
The Bago-Talawanda road located in Bagomoyo district is 20.2 km in length and passes through
Kiwangwa and Talawanda wards (see Figure 1).
Bago village is located at the start of the road, in close proximity to the main highway. This is a
relatively new village, which is growing rapidly due to the construction of the new road. As it is a
recent development, the census report does not include population counts.
There is a settlement called Ludiga which is located half-way along the project road. It is not
officially recognised as a village, but its inhabitants refer to it as one. The settlement was formed
from people migrating from the surrounding rural areas in an attempt to live closer to the road.
The population of the area is comprised entirely of low income households. The homes are
traditional mud huts with very few brick houses and candles are the main source of light at night.
Only a few concrete houses were observed and these had solar powered devices used to charge
mobile phones and possibly generated electricity for domestic use. However, the overall
impression is a village of low income households, whose main means of income are subsistence
farming and small scale trading.
The population, which is mainly Muslim, consisted of bodaboda operators, small scale traders,
small scale farmers, and subsistence farmers (mostly housewives). These were primarily family
owned farms growing pineapples and maize.
The project area has a population of approximately 23,124. The road has a traffic volume fewer
than 30 motorised vehicles per day, there are five primary schools, two secondary schools, two
markets (each open once a week) and two dispensaries in the area.
There are thirteen different engineered sections constructed along the road with nine different
types of surfacing materials used. The surfacings were selected to test the performance of various
types of low cost all-weather surfacing. The types of surfacing included:
Single Otta seal with sand seal cover; Concrete geocells (see Figure 2 below);
Double sand seal; Engineered natural earth;
Slurry seal; Natural gravel;
Double surface dressing; Hand-packed stone, and;
Concrete strips (see Figure 2 below);
Sociology Report 2
Figure 1: Map of Bagomoyo District
Figure 2: Concrete strips (left) and concrete geocells (right) as seen in Bagomoyo.
2.2 Lawate – Kibongoto Road
The Lawate-Kibongoto Road is located on the slopes of Mt. Kilimanjaro in Siha District,
approximately 45 minutes drive from the town of Moshi. It is 13.5 km long and is currently under
construction.
This ‘loop road’ passes through two wards, including four villages, as seen in Figure 3. The two
wards are Ivaeny where the road starts and ends, and the second is Kashashi which covers about
11 km of the road. In Kashashi there are two villages called Manio and Kyengia. After this, the
road loops back to the starting point at Ivaeny.
This area is characterised by steep hills, red volcanic clay soil from Mount Kilimanjaro and black
soil from Mount Meru. The road is passable in dry weather but immediately becomes slippery and
Sociology Report 3
impassable when wet. The traffic is reasonably high for a district road in Tanzania, but still less
than 90 motorised vehicles per day. The road serves a highly productive agricultural area which
has a population of approximately 25,727. There are five primary schools, two secondary schools,
one market, one hospital, one dispensary and a health centre. The area has four churches visible
from along the road.
The fertile soils in the area allow for cultivation of a variety of produce such as vegetables,
bananas, maize, beans, potatoes, avocados, coffee. Timber is also sold in the area and there
were a few soursop trees were dotted along the road. Cattle farming is also prevalent in the area,
with the milk being sold at local markets/cooperatives.
Figure 3: Map of Siha District
Sociology Report 4
Roughton International Methodology
3.0 SURVEY METHODOLOGY
3.1 Planned Survey Methodology
The surveys are conducted using qualitative ‘checklist’ interviews comprising one-to-one and key
informant interviews. Drafted and approved check sheets are used flexibly as a research method
for exploring the effects of the roads on the communities. We aimed to develop areas of interest
while conducting the interviews, picking up different areas of interest and people.
The checklists are administered to villagers, bodaboda drivers and traders that use the roads.
Efforts are made to interview women in the area, such as market traders, mothers of school
children and older women. We aimed to locate and interview land owners, landless labourers and
livestock keepers. Interviews are to be undertaken with men and women of varying ages and
varying scale of business and also village heads, health workers, teachers and farmers.
Our analysis will identify key statements in the data from a diverse range of respondents.
Respondents targeted and interviewed include people of diverse socio-economic status and
occupational background. Efforts will also be made to interview residents of related off-road
villages. The following are features and benefits of checklist interviews and related qualitative
research approaches:
Checklist can be used to explore issues in much greater depth than with survey
questionnaires.
Checklist can be used to explore ‘multiple realities’ – i.e. issues where there is no one right
answer, but where different people have different ideas and perspectives.
Checklist can be used as a stand-alone technique as in this research study, where

research time is restricted.
Qualitative research is good for uncovering why things happen and understanding people’s
own understandings of their situation, so a very useful starting point in research.
The checklist interview may offer a good opportunity to introduce a new project, its goals
etc.
Gina Porter, a geographer/anthropologist working on behalf of AFCAP, was contacted to provide

advice and guidance so as to achieve the above objectives. Gina is based at Durham University
and has worked extensively across Africa on issues such as child mobility and transport, gender
and transport and off road communities and physical access.
3.2 Experience in the Field
It was only possible to interview a limited number of key informants during the short duration of the
field visit. In Siha, this was further exacerbated by difficulty with access during heavy rains which
occurred over the field work period. We were therefore able to experience first-hand the difficulty
with access during rainy periods. Our visit also coincided with the Easter holiday, so it was difficult
to make contact with health workers in the community dispensaries and in the local hospital.
We were able to interview village chairmen, teachers, bodaboda drivers and various local
residents. We managed to conduct interviews in two off-road villages, Kirisha in Siha and Kiembe
in Bagomoyo. Altogether it was considered that the sample, although limited, provided sufficient
data to make meaningful analysis. We tried to conduct interviews on a one-to-one basis, but
because an interpreter was required there was always a third party present. There were also times
when a group of spectators gathered who had comments to add. The Interpreter was instructed to
Sociology Report 5
Roughton International Methodology
provide only respondent answers in verbatim. There was no evidence that having the interpreter
and the spectators influenced the respondents answers.
In the course of interviewing we found local residents willing to be interviewed for the people
centred stories. Some of our respondents, who were very descriptive of their personal
experiences, were also happy with us using their stories.
3.3 Stories/One-Page Reports
The objective of this aspect of the assignment was to produce news articles focused on the social
effects of the road on the surrounding villages and how the work has affected the lives of local
residents and the district (see Appendix A). This required interviewing community members, local
trades people and officials to collect data which could be used by AFCAP to promote their work on
the projects in newsletters and conferences.
Before departure, Claire Doole, a journalist working on behalf of AFCAP, was contacted to provide
advice and guidance on the best people to interview to achieve the above objectives. She
suggested the submission of the following stories:
One bodaboda operator;
One teacher, and;
One interesting family from each site.
However, due to the Easter holiday and time constraints, these stories were not necessarily the
best at achieving the objectives and some improvisation was necessary.
In total 21 people were interviewed in Bagamoyo and 19 people in Siha. This included key
interviews with Kashashi Ward Councillor Susannah Kihunrwa, Siha District Executive Director
Rashidi Kitambulio, Roughton International Engineer Robert Ayieko and Tom Bishop, Director of
Amend NGO. Using the guidance provided by Claire this information was narrowed down to
produce six news articles which best meet the set objectives. Each individual news story is
designed to stand alone. Therefore, there may be some repetition when they are shown together
Sociology Report 6
Roughton International Data Collection
4.0 DATA COLLECTION
4.1 Objective
The objective of the data collection was to learn how the roads have impacted diverse sectors of
the population with reference to socio-economic status.
4.2 Methodology
We spent 3 days in each location carrying out interviews. A total of 32 interviews were conducted
and the responses were categorised into themes from the checklist (see Appendix B)
One-page reports have been compiled which focus on the socio-economic effects of the road on
the surrounding villages and towns and how they have affected the lives of local residents and the
districts concerned. These reports include key messages, quotes and photographs that illustrate
the impacts of the road on the surrounding areas.
4.3 Key Informants
The sample recruitment was mostly random. After defining the population type we needed to
speak to, we went into the community and chose our respondents randomly. Key informants
identified a district councillor and district engineers, however, these people either had little to
contribute or were too busy to see us.
th
In Bagamoyo (4-7 April 2012) interviews were conducted with a total of nine men and seven
women. They consisted of a village chairman, teacher, bicycle shop owner, bodaboda operators
(see Figure 4), and local residents and tradesmen.
th
In Siha (9-11 April 2012) we interviewed nine men and seven women comprising a village head,
resident government workers, farmers and livestock keepers, bodaboda operator, teachers and
other local residents and shop owners (see Figure 4). The population in Siha is predominantly
Christian and the ages of respondents ranged from 23-75 years. We attempted speaking to a nine
year old girl we met on the road, but she was too shy to give useful responses. Eventually, we
decided against interviewing children, unless in school, because we could not locate parents in
order to gain consent.
Figure 4: Photos showing bodaboda operator Mr. Athumani Iddi from Bagomoyo (left)
and local dress maker Ms. Vick Makundi from Lawate (right).
Sociology Report 7
Roughton International Data Collection
4.4 Interview Locations
Interviews took place at the interviewees location (i.e. their shop, office or market stall) so as not to
inconvenience them. We gained access to areas impenetrable by cars by walking off road through
the fields. At both project sites we drove the entire road distance before commencing on interviews
to observe and try a get a feel and understanding of the road use.
Figure 5: Photos showing interviewees (Mr. Imani Ali, a bicycle shop owner in Bago) and
typical interview locations.
Sociology Report 8
Roughton International Data Analysis/Discussion
5.0 DATA ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION
5.1 General
These findings are based on a limited sample of key informants, interviewed in less than ideal
conditions. The interview sample was randomly selected by the interviewer to avoid biased
responses. Despite its limitations, the results provide a good glimpse of some key impacts of the
road as perceived by residents of the communities living within the influence of the roads.
5.2 Access to Health

5.2.1 General Heath Issues
In Siha we spoke to a nurse who pointed out that the main health issues are malaria, pneumonia,
and dysentery (amoeba). In recent years, dysentery has reduced due to increased availability of
clean water. There are now several wells in the villages, all of which are within walking distance of
people’s homes.
Malaria, pneumonia, arthritis and high blood pressure leading to stroke, diabetes, and cancer were
listed when asked for ailments affecting the elderly. Liver disease was also of concern because of
the consumption of the locally brewed alcoholic beverages.
Access to health facilities was an issue common to both locations. Some used alternative
medicines until they could get to the hospital, as travelling to the hospital is difficult. It was reported
that people, even corpses, are often carried to the health centres on an improvised stretcher known
locally as a chekecheke. A respondent in Talawanda said,
“I used natural herbs instead of going to the hospital and now after construction I use the motorbike
to get to the clinics.” Saidi Dibwe, 75, Talawanda Village, Chairman/Farmer.
5.2.2 Women’s Health (Pregnancy and Child Birth)
In the past, poor accessibility caused complications for child bearing women in the community.
Before road construction began in Bagomoyo, there were cases of women in labour having to walk
long distances at night to get to the hospital.
We spoke to a woman who had been through such an ordeal when the road was a pathway. We
were told that at night, whilst in labour, she decided to walk to Talawanda dispensary during heavy
rain. However, she reached the dispensary and as there was no doctor present, had to travel to
Chalinze hospital. She gave birth to a still-born baby on her way there. She was “ashamed” to
speak about her experience in front of the crowd, however her sadness and grief was apparent.
She said:
“It was a painful experience but now at least my health is good, this can’t happen now that we have
a good road surface” Mwajuma Haji Athumani, 38, Housewife
This issue was also highlighted in Siha. It was reported that sometimes pregnant women are
carried to hospital on a chekecheke when the road is inaccessible. They either call a nurse living in
the same village or, they are carried through the mud on the chekecheke. The following quotations
reflect their concerns:
“The issue of pregnant women, when there is no way we have to carry them using the stretcher”
Simon Kaaya, 56, Farmer
“Even me, I was not sleeping, they used to wake me up to escort them” Aingaya Mlay, 50, Nursing
Officer.
Sociology Report 9
5.2.3 Head Loading
In Siha, women travel to Lawate market with their produce twice a week, on Mondays and
Thursdays. The norm is to use money from their sales to purchase cooking ingredients from the
market for use in their homes. These are carried by ‘head-loading’ back to their homes.
We observed one of the market women interviewed the previous day walking to Sanya market,
which is a distant market town, carrying head-loads. She highlighted an observation about the
effects of load carrying on women saying,
“We carry our loads more often on our heads, now some of us have bald heads” Dina Kileo, 49,
Farmer
5.3 Access to Education
In Bagamoyo district, a teacher who works in Talawanda primary school was interviewed. He lived
very close to the school in a provided accommodation. His responses indicate there are no cases
of school children involved in road accidents while walking to school. The longest distance walked
by the children is about 3 km and as the children live close-by, walking to school is relatively safe.
There was no report of absenteeism due to accessibility, only punctuality of the younger children
due to the distance travelled on foot.
In Siha district we interviewed a male principle and a female teacher. Similarly, they reported travel
distance for school children to be no more than 2 km. The area has a number of schools;
consequently, the road improvements are unlikely to impact on the pupils travel. The main issue
was punctuality rather than absenteeism. This was due to children either being sent on errands
before coming to school, or having to turn back if they slip and fall while walking in the rain. This
was captured in the following statement;
“During the rains even those who stay near can’t make it to school on time…some parents can’t
afford to buy umbrellas for their children” Dina Marunda, 50, Teacher.
In both locations, respondents reported that as a result of being late, children are usually given
additional cleaning duties such as cleaning the toilets, pruning or watering in the garden and
sweeping the compound.
It was reported that the weather also disrupts planned school trips because the hired buses are not
be able to gain access to the school to pick up the children.
5.4 Road Safety

5.4.1 Increase in Vehicle Numbers
There has been an increase in the number of vehicles in both locations since the road construction
began. There have been reports of an increase in the number of motorbike taxi (bodaboda) since
the road completion in Bagomoyo, as well as in Siha, even though the latter is not yet completed.
Bodaboda are the most common means of transport in these areas.
However, in Siha there are public buses available for traders to use. Increases in bodaboda
operators could potentially mean an equal increase in accidents, as traffic speeds increase due to
the improved road surfaces. There have also been reports of bodaboda accidents caused by the
weight or imbalance of loads. This causes the motorbike to tip over to one side, not only injuring
the driver but destroying farm produce being transported. This causes a double loss to bodaboda
operator and the produce owner.
Sociology Report 10
5.4.2 Road Design
The road is single lane, and there were many complaints about the road being too narrow, making
overtaking slightly difficult but not impossible. From observation it is a simple case of basic driving
skills. Drivers should wait patiently for one to pass in order for the other to go; however, this does
not occur. Bodaboda complain of cars taking up most of the road causing them to drive off road.
In Bagomoyo, from observation there was a problem of water draining off the road at a particular
spot near a river. If the rains are very heavy the river overflows onto the road causing a large
stagnant pool of water. This is a hazard not only for pedestrians but also for residents since they
are mosquito breeding grounds if the water stands for an extended period of time. However, it
appears the water drains off after some hours. Respondents highlighted concerns:
“All the places there is bridges there is a lot of water coming which makes it hard to get to the other
side” Athumani Iddi, 33 Bodaboda Operator.
5.4.3 Driver Training
In contrast to previous reports of driver training supposedly taking place before road licences are
issued, it was reported that bodaboda operators generally either teach themselves to ride the
motorbikes, or get a friend to teach them. However, there are cases of bodaboda operators
teaching new operators for a fee. Most bodaboda operators drive without a licence.
I don’t have a licence, if I see traffic police I just tell them it’s being processed”. Mahida Saidi, 28,
Bodaboda Operator.
The use of helmets is a further issue which arose during the surveys. Bodaboda operators
complained that some passengers are reluctant to use helmets due to hygienic reasons associated
with sharing helmets with previous passengers.
Additionally, bodaboda operators are known to carry as many as five passengers at a time on their
motorbikes. When asked about this, they responded that the maximum they took on their bikes
were two passengers if “medium” sized. There have also been reports of bodaboda accidents
caused by the weight or imbalance of loads, which was discussed previously.
This apparent lack of professional driver training will no doubt contribute to the increase in road
accidents. Villagers admitted that the road was not the cause of the accidents, but the drivers’ lack
of knowledge of how to drive the motorbike.
“I think it’s necessary because most of the young people who are in the village operating transport
just learned how to operate their transport means locally without going to a proper school”. Paulo
Kisaka, 35, Casual Labourer.
5.4.4 Education
Road safety is not specifically taught to children in primary school. See extracts below:
“We don’t teach road safety, it’s not on the curriculum, but now I know there is an importance of
doing that” Selemani Kasamba, 38, Teacher.
“We tell them to look left and right before crossing the road. There is also a chapter in science
where it teaches about safety precautions in our environment”. Dina Marunda, 50, Teacher.
Sociology Report 11
There was general consensus on the need for implementing road safety measures in the
communities. The following quotation reflects respondents’ submissions about the importance and
benefits of road safety:
“I think children should be given road safety education. This should be taken to the leaders and
also their parents should be told about teaching their children about road safety” Malieck-Zedek
James, 65, Farmer.
5.5 Local Economy

5.5.1 Local Trade and Business
In Siha, respondents believe the new road will attract many people back to the village to set up
their businesses. Since the road will allow for easy year-round access, residents believe they can
begin planning to build their homes. It was explained that in the past they experienced difficulty
building because contractors were unable to deliver building material because of the slippery
roads. Drivers of the delivery trucks also charged high rates because of the condition of the road.
In Bagomoyo, there have also been reports of new shops opening close to the road and villagers
developing business ideas. This is evident in the newsletter story about Imani Ali, a bicycle shop
owner in Bago village – see Appendix A.
5.5.2 Youth Employment
The road projects have also provided youth with employment opportunities. Males and females
from the community are employed as casual labourers for jobs that don’t require special skills.
This not only gets them off the street, it teaches them a trade and acquire minor skills.
“I learn many things about road construction from different people from different areas and you may
meet technicians here who may call you to do some work with them again later in the future”.
Paulo Kisaka, 35, Casual Labourer.
5.5.3 Agriculture
In Bagomoyo, there are individuals buying farm land in the area now that the Bago-Talawanda road
is accessible. Respondents say this is in anticipation of the pineapple harvest. There are hopes
for the future, and in Bagamoyo many intend to open shops by the roadside, indeed some already
have.
In Siha, farmers sell their milk to a cooperative union, which is a centre where milk sellers take their
produce and co-operations buy in bulk for factory processing. It was mentioned many times during
the course of interviewing, that the poor road condition caused numerous problems for them in
selling their produce. One man complains that when he cannot access the centre to sell his milk,
he remains with the milk for days because not only can he not reach the centre but buyers cannot
access the road either. The milk goes bad and he finds it hard making a living:
“Even now we still experience problems when it rains, there is no transport and we have to remain
with our milk, and the sale is what we depend on” Simon Kaaya, 56, Kirisha.
However, the presence of this road in Siha has got people inspired and motivated to do more
business. Comments were made about beliefs that accessibility of the road will bring about
massive development. There was talk of another market being started, a possible grazing method
for livestock in order for cows to produce more milk and organising another centre within the village
where they can sell larger volumes of milk during the rainy season to industries. Some had hopes
of car rallies passing through the village on the new road:
Sociology Report 12
“It’s a good thing because it is a sport. They want challenging roads, people will enjoy it; they will
go outside on the road to cheer”. Geofrey Mlay, 56, Civil Servant.
5.6 Other Issues Raised

5.6.1 Environmentally Optimised Design
With majority of the population showing high optimism with regards the road project and its
prospects; in Siha one of the local residents was not convinced the road would be of good quality
as the road is utilizing the EOD approach. When asked his views he states:
“Most of the roads which are constructed in our country, especially the ones you say it is an
experiment, I don’t know, how do you call it? Trial or test whatever! By only using that term makes
me to think it will only be good 50%”. Geofrey Mlay, 56, Civil Servant.
This is most likely a lack of understanding of the design approach and expectancy for the entire
road to be constructed to a high standard – which is not the objective of the project.
5.6.2 Public Transport Charges
On the Siha road, transport operators do not use the road when it rains for fear of getting stuck in
the mud. Therefore, there is no increase in fares during wet periods. However, in Bagamoyo,
transport operators simply increase the fare and carry the passengers.
There are no changes in charges at the moment on the Siha road, unless the transport operator
has to avoid the construction area by driving round and taking a longer route. Not many villagers
complain about the inconvenience of having to pay more, or travel longer, because they
understand it is due to the temporary road construction. Most welcome the disruptions in
anticipation of a better road. However, there were few complaints about disruption to their daily
activities. See extract below:
“Sometimes I get late to work; I don’t arrive at the time I plan. Sometimes customers come to look
for me and they miss me. If I was to make 2 dresses I end up only making one because of the time
lost” Vick Makundi, 30, Tailor/Dress Maker.
In Bagomoyo, now the road is finished there is the option of a weekly bus service, hitching a ride
on a pickup or using the bodaboda services. There are reportedly more bodaboda operating in the
area and this has brought about competition among them. They do not have a formal union so as
far as fares go they are free to charge as they see fair. However, one respondent complains about
the change;
“There is big competition around here among bodaboda, before I was making a lot of money when
the road was bad but now the road is good I’m making less because I can’t charge more because
of my competition”. Athumani Iddi, 33, Bodaboda Operator.
Fares have reduced noticeably in Bagomoyo after road construction. For instance, before
construction bodaboda fares from Bago to Talawanda were between 7000 - 10000Tsh. It is
claimed bodaboda charged between 12000 - 13000 Tsh during the day and up to 20000 Tsh at
night to travel from Bago to Talawanda during road construction. This was because they had to
drive on a pile of gravel in a high gear and assumed this used more fuel. One operator suggests
the reason for the increased fare at night is the possibility of being attacked and this will be
discussed in the next section. However, since construction the fare lies between 5000 - 8000 Tsh
in the day time or 15000 - 16000 Tsh if it rains.
Sociology Report 13
Bodaboda is a business and this makes it more difficult for there to be a fixed fare. It is a
bargaining business, so the fare tends to vary given time of day, weather, or number of
passengers. A bodaboda operator confirms the above saying;
“There is no association that sets price. We compete with each other so if a passenger comes
along we call on the passenger, offering a better deal to them”. Mashida Saidi, 28, Bodaboda
operator.
Bodaboda operators charge rates substantially above other motorised transporters as they have an
advantage of being able to take passengers or loads (produce) direct to the door. Fares for male
and female passengers are generally the same. However, one of our female respondents admitted
that if there was some flirting involved ladies could possibly get a lower rate.
“They charge us the same price that they do men, almost the same but it depends. Maybe the
bodaboda likes you, you can negotiate to reduce price”. Mwanahamisi Omari, 38, Talawanda.
5.6.3 Public Safety
An emerging area of interest was people being afraid of using bodaboda at night, reportedly in
Bagomoyo there have been robberies and killings at night before the construction began. Being
that the road was a narrow path, robbers would hide in the over grown bushes and wait for anyone
passing by.
These occurrences now make people in the community cautious. They fear if they take a
bodaboda at night, not only that the bodaboda could be attacked, they believe the bodaboda
operator could be the attacker. Likewise, the bodaboda reported that there have been instances of
passengers planning an attack on them, having others lie in wait so they can rob him and steal his
motorbike.
These attacks have developed into an emerging public health issue. It has been mentioned that
some bodaboda operators now travel at night with a knife for protection. Although those we spoke
to denied having knives themselves, they confirmed that others did.
In Bagomoyo, most people living far off the road are now moving closer to the road side. It has
been reported that this is because people disturb them. They believe that staying closer to the
road prevents robbers from attacking their home. Since construction of the road, there have been
no cases of such road side robberies occurring.
5.6.4 Destruction of Agricultural Land and Crops
In one instance the road works and road closures were causing bodaboda to divert through
peoples farms, destroying some of their crops. Also, reportedly the road works had allowed run off
to drain into people’s farm land which washed away their seedlings.
5.6.5 Child Safety
Finally, another potential negative outcome to the road construction is allowing school children to
hitch rides from passing vehicles to drop them in school. These could be total strangers and the
children would be opened up to all manners of negative influence and potential abduction.
Sociology Report 14
6.0 RECOMMENDATIONS
Road Safety Measures
Under projects such as AFCAP in Tanzania, rural roads are being improved communities where
inhabitants are accustomed to very low traffic, hence very safe roads. The introduction of these
new roads can leave them open to potential harm. A rural community with little understanding of
fast moving vehicles leads to conflict between cars and pedestrians. Road safety measures not
only for motorists but for pedestrians are recommended.
Road Safety Audit
Along the road there are numerous locations where pedestrians are likely to be endangered as
traffic volumes grow and speed increases. It is recommended that a road safety audit is carried
out. This will inform Engineering solutions which need to be supported by intensive road safety
training in communities and schools.
Motorcyclist Training
There are notoriously high motorbike-taxis accident rates and road traffic injuries and as such there
is potential for these rates to further increase. Motorbike-taxi operator’s offer a valued service for
many in the communities however the drivers need to be better trained on proper use of not only
the roads but the vehicle as well as the use of safety helmet for driver and passenger. The issue of
drivers lack of knowhow in handling the motorbike could be mitigated by providing a free training
course for bodaboda drivers, paid for by the motorbike manufacturers or government/donor
funding. This training could be offered upon purchase of the motor bike and before they begin
operating the machine commercially. Drivers would have to pass the course prior to receiving an
advanced driving licence, separate from the formal license which would also still be required.
The issue of passengers not wanting to share helmets could be tackled using a sanitizing wipes or
spray.
Sociology Report 15
7.0 CONCLUSIONS
There are a number of conclusions which can be drawn from the surveys conducted in Bagomoyo
and Siha. These are outlined in the following sections:
Social and Family Networks
Social networks may be strengthened as relatives from outside the region are encouraged by
better roads and transport to visit more regularly than before, as the option of returning the same
day becomes available.
Access to Health Facilities
In the Bagomoyo area, access to health services has improved since construction of the road. The
increasing use of mobile phones, combined with year-round accessibility along the road, will
contribute to faster and easier travel in the case of emergencies, such as accidents and getting to
the hospitals.
It is anticipated that the same benefits will be seen in Siha once construction is complete.
Gender Impacts
Hospital Access for Pregnant Women
Since the completion of the road in Bagomoyo, women have easier access to hospital when in
labour. Previously they had to travel on improvised stretchers over long distances. Now they can
use the bodaboda to travel quickly to the hospital when required. It is anticipated that similar
benefits will be seen in Siha once the road is completed.
Head Loading and Access to Markets
By having awareness of the effects of head loading and still keeping the life long tradition, it is our
hope that with the introduction of the road these occurrences will subside.
It is reasonable to infer that head load carrying, although being a cultural behaviour, is likely to
reduce with improved road access and transport availability. However, a ‘before and after’
comparison would be useful in validating this inference.
Employment
The employment prospects for local men and women have improved since the road construction in
Bagomoyo and they look like they will also improve in Siha. This should provide more business
opportunities for women selling agricultural and other produce in the markets. Generally men have
been employed as labourers on the construction sites and this provided a temporary source of
income for these people. Also, the improved roads provide increased capacity for taxis and other
public transport which will likely be provided mostly by men in the area.
Age Impacts
Young People
The main impacts for young people are improved access to education facilities and the prospect of
higher youth employment.
As children can get to school more readily, it is reasonable to infer that their education will be
positively impacted by this. This will lead to better prospects in their future lives. Also, the
Sociology Report 16
increasing number of shops and businesses will provide employment for young people, as will the
improved outputs in produce from the agricultural sector.
Middle Aged People
This part of the society generally consists of people who are parents, home-owners and business
people. Arguably, these will perhaps be most impacted by the construction of the new road.
Parents, especially housewives, will have easier access to markets, shops and places of
employment. Business people will benefit from increased trade and improved incomes.
Elderly People
Elderly people in the community will benefit from easier access to hospitals, markets and shops.
This will have a positive impact on their overall health and improve quality of life.
Improvement of the Local Economy
The economy appears to be improving in both areas, with more businesses opening up and many
more aspiring.
In Bagomoyo, the pineapple season will begin soon and it is anticipated by the residents that there
will be much more profit as access has been improved.
While in Siha, even more economic growth is expected. There is increased anticipation of higher
profits from agricultural production and increased sales as road access improves and transport
services increase in frequency allowing for more competition and decrease in transport cost. The
road will allow for increased profits from milk production and perishable crops.
Improved Access to Education
In both districts, most villages have both primary and secondary schools, which makes travel time
and distance for school children reasonably short. Thus, there is no substantial change due to
road access. There was no report of absent teachers or even pupils due to heavy rain or road
inaccessibility; there were only punctuality issues with pupils at times when it rained.
However, it is hoped that the new road and year round all weather accessibility will improve
punctuality levels and encourage more non-resident teachers to accept teaching jobs in the
schools in those districts.
Road Safety
Road safety is reportedly not taught to children in primary school and this is something which
needs to be rectified. The issue of driver training and licensing also need to be investigated further
with an aim to remediating the issue and increasing awareness of the dangers of un-trained drivers
using the roads. Road safety should be given consideration at the design stage and a road safety
audit performed on the designs once completed.
Additional Issues
Engineering issues to be checked are, for instance, potential floods that could occur with torrential
rainfall. Engineering measures should be put in place to prevent run off water from entering
peoples farms and destroying seedlings (as reported). It should also prevent standing water at the
roadside, potential river overflow and possible erosion in the future - good drainage off the road is
essential.
Sociology Report 17
Future Study
There is need for further study to explore potential changes in socio-economic and health
conditions in the same communities’ occurring over time. However, there is no doubt that the
communities of Siha and Bagomoyo are already experiencing the benefits of the roads
developments.
Sociology Report 18
Roughton International Appendices
Appendix A: People-Centred News Articles from Bagomoyo and Siha Districts
A total of 6 one-page news articles were written as part of this project. These are provided in the
following pages.
Sociology Report 19

CHANGING LIVES:
Helping local businesses
Imani Ali tells Roughton how the new
road has changed his life for the better
Business is booming for 33-‐year-‐old bike shop owner Imani
Ali. His life has been transformed. It is hard to imagine that
this time last year he was just a pineapple farmer earning
money by selling his produce at market. But, now he is making
a living from various businesses and hopes to open more in
the future. How was this achieved? The answer is simple:
access.
Roughton International has provided design and
consultancy services for the upgrading of the Bago to
Talawanda road in Bagamoyo, Tanzania, to all weather
standard under the African Community Access Programme Imani Ali , 33,
(AFCAP). The road, which was previously impassable in the rents bicycles
rainy season has been redesigned and constructed using the from his shop
Environmentally Optimised Design Approach to provide in Bago
reliable access for rural communities in all weather. This being improved and wanted to make money
development has caused an increase in transportation to the from it. “Before if it was raining people didn’t go anywhere. If
area which businessman Imani intends to profit from. you had a bicycle you would just leave it and go on foot. There
A year ago, Imani, originally a farmer from Msinune, was no type of transport,” he recalls. “But, now the road is
invested money from his pineapple farm to open a bike shop good people can use bicycles every day.”
in Bago, at the start of the new road. Here he sells spare parts “All the time people are coming here to get a bicycle to go to
for bicycles and motorcycles as well as renting bicycles to the Talawanda or Chalinze,” he says. Within 20 minutes Imani has
local community. had four customers. Before the construction, which was funded
Imani, was hard at work when we met with him at his busy by the Tanzanian Government, this would not have happened.
bike shop. Rows of bikes are lined up outside ready to be But, now more people are passing. “If they need to buy a
hired. Each decorated with different football pump, tyre or water they stop and buy,” he says.
stickers so you can tell them apart. Inside The road has had a positive affect on Imani’s income. “If the
you can see various bicycle parts, food and road was bad I would have made less money,” he says. “But,
drink for purchase. He says that he opened now the road is good more people pass and it is good for
the shop because he saw the road was business.”
Imani lives approximately 5km away in the traditional village
of Msinune, home to over 2000 villagers. Many of the residents
“
Now the road is here are farmers and rely on this road to get to the market in
Kiwangwa where they sell their produce. But, before the
good people can use construction it wasn’t even called a road. It was referred to
bicycles every day as a passing.
Imani, who has lived near the road all of his life, has no
Imani Ali, 33, Msinune alternative routes to get home. He says: “Now it is good
because the road is safer. I can get home very quickly
compared to before.”
“Before if it was raining I was using two
to three hours. Sometimes you slip and
slide in the rain,” he recalls. “This time I
can use up to half an hour because the
road is good.”
He says the road has had a positive
affect on his life. “I can make more money
and use the money to open more
businesses like this one.”

For more information on the
African Community Access
Programme (AFCAP) please visit:
www.afcap.org

Enhancing
transport
in Tanzania
How AFCAP is helping transport operators by providing safe and reliable access
Eastern Tanzania, rain falls heavily on the Bago to Talawanda cars.” “The cars use high speeds and
road. Motorbike taxis, known locally as boda-‐boda, continue because the road is narrow they don’t
to speed past. But, this hasn’t always been possible. Just over want to give motorcycles space to
a year ago, the poor condition of the road under the stress of pass,” he explains.
rain would have made it impossible for vehicles to pass. But Habibu Milaji lost two of his front
now the road has been redesigned and constructed under the teeth in a boda-‐boda accident shortly
African Community Access Programme (AFCAP) to provide after the road was complete. “The
reliable access for rural communities in all weather. driver was going very quickly, about
Boda-‐boda operator Mohina Saidi was taking a break in a 60 km/h. Ahead you can see a sharp
restaurant at the start of the road in Bago when we met with corner,” he recalls. “The motorcycle
him. The development of the road has increased the number hit some small stones and swerved.”
of transport operators in the area. “Business is better now The 54-‐year-‐old livestock keeper was knocked out on impact
even though there is competition because travel time is and woke up two hours later with some memory loss. “People
shorter,” he says. “The road is better and it gets rid of a lot of came to the accident and were like ‘wow he’s dead’,” he says.
my problems.” When he came around he was taken to the hospital where he
“It was very bad before, very hard and difficult to pass. remained for two weeks. “Even now I don’t have teeth,” he
Sometimes we couldn’t pass especially in the rain,” he smiles. But, despite his injury Habibu does not blame the road
describes. “There was always accidents and people would hurt for the accident. “Maybe it is because the drivers are going
themselves.” quickly,” he says. “There is not a lot of accidents now.”
The 28-‐year-‐old was involved in three accidents before the Road traffic injury is a killer, which kills more people than
construction, which was funded by the Tanzanian HIV, Malaria and Tuberculosis worldwide. Which is why AFCAP
Government. “The first one I was taking a passenger to is working with Amend NGO to provide road safety research
Talawanda, on the way it started raining, but I didn’t have the and education. “Our concern is rural communities with little
information that it was going to rain,” he recalls. “I fell off and understanding of fast roads and conflict between fast cars and
hurt myself but my passenger was fine.” pedestrians,” says Tom Bishop from Amend NGO.
After the accident, Mohina had to ride his motorcycle to the Mohina is very safety conscious. “I wear a helmet with a
hospital in Msata. He gestures to a scar on his leg and says: “It visor to protect myself from wind, insects and dust. Also, I am
was very painful because heat from the bike made my injury afraid of accidents and traffic police,” he explains. A
worse.” motorcycle passes carrying four passengers. He looks at them
“I haven’t had an accident since the new road but my disappointed and says: “The most people I take on my bike is
friends have,” he says. “The problem is not the road it is the two and myself.” Mohina taught himself to ride but would like
to learn about road safety. “If someone could help me get
“
Business training or go to college I would be very happy,” he says.
But, before construction accidents were not the only
is better now problem. The fear of being ambushed by bandits at night
because travel caused the price for boda-‐boda to double. “I am afraid of the
passenger stealing from me. You get to a destination and
time is shorter passenger takes the bike and maybe even kills you,” he says as
Boda-‐boda operator, he gestures slashing his throat. “I don’t carry a knife myself
Mohina Saidi but other boda-‐boda drivers do.” “Nobody has been attacked
since the new road. If somebody had I would know,” he says.
For more information on the African Community Access Programme (AFCAP) please visit: www.afcap.org

Better access
to healthcare
How AFCAP is helping pregnant women in
Tanzania access health facilities
Every year around 50 million women give birth without skilled
care. The vast majority of these women live in developing
countries like Tanzania. In rural Bagamoyo a major problem is
access. Many of the roads are difficult to travel on and
transport during rain can be impossible. The Bago to
Talawanda road was in such poor condition that the local
community did not call it a road. It was called a passing.
Roughton International has provided design and consultancy
services, under the African Community Access Programme
(AFCAP), to provide reliable access for rural communities in all
weather, allowing pregnant women to access the health
facilities that they need at any time.
“Before construction we were just using natural medicines
for caring,” says Talawanda West Village Chairman Saidi
Dibwe. “But now many sick people are able to be
transported.”
Three years ago, before the road was constructed,
Mwajuma Haji Athumani, 38, went into labour at home in her
village of Kiembe. She stares at the ground and says: “I am too
ashamed to talk about it.” The mother-‐of-‐five was too
distraught to tell the story in her own words but she wanted
her story to be told.
It was raining heavily the night she went into labour. The 38-‐year-‐old farmer Mwajuma Haji Athumani, reveals how the
road had become more of a river than an access route. No condition of the new road could have saved her baby’s life.
vehicles could pass; the only access was by foot. It was very
“
muddy and slippery. The road towards Kiwangwa hospital Now we can manage to
was completely impassable in the rain so Mwajuma faced a
difficult 10km walk to the nearest medical dispensary in get to the hospital at any time.
Talawanda. It was a painful two-‐hour walk in terrible Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
conditions and when she arrived at the dispensary the doctor
was not there.
Still desperate for someone to deliver her baby she faced Asha Faraha, 35-‐year-‐old mother, from neighbouring village
another four-‐hour walk to the next hospital in Chalinze, 20km Ludiga, used a bicycle for the first three months of her
away. But, upon arrival she faced the news that they couldn’t pregnancy. “But, after that I had to walk because it created a
help her so she was sent to the Tomby Kibaha Hospital. The pain in my back,” she recalls. “Sometimes if I go on bicycle I
baby did not survive the journey. Mwajuma gave birth at the urinate on the bicycle. So it forced me to walk,” she says.
side of a road, without any medical assistance, to a baby that But, since the construction, which was funded by the
was already dead. Tanzanian Government, cars and motorcycles are able to pass
She believes that if the road was better her baby would still in all weather. Thanks to the increase in transport, Asha, who
be alive. “The doctor suggested that if the road was better has to visit the dispensary in Talawanda every month with her
children wouldn’t die,” she says. “Thank you for constructing 14-‐month old baby, Subira Ibrahim, is now able to get there in
that road. Now we can manage to get to the hospital at any just 10 minutes.
time. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.” “Now you can travel easily from one place to another,”
agrees Mwajuma. There is even a public bus that comes once
Asha Faraha , 35, with
Mwajuma, who normally travels by

bicycle, recalls: “Before the road a week. This allows for access to health facilities at any time.
construction there was many many “The situation is good because you are able to travel at any
problems. The road was very bad. We time, even at night,” she says. “Now my health is good.”
baby Subira
used only bicycle to travel from one

place.” But, pregnant women are unable
to ride because the For more information on
vibrations
created by
the African Community
the bad Access Programme
condition of (AFCAP) please visit:
the road are www.afcap.org
dangerous.

Increasing
Nursing Officer
Aingaya Mlay says
that the new road
access to
will make people
visit the hospital
instead of staying
at home untreated
healthcare
How AFCAP is helping to provide safe, reliable

and sustainable access to healthcare in Tanzania

Over 95% of the Tanzanian population are at risk of Malaria.
With approximately one million deaths and more than 400
million cases a year in sub-‐Saharan Africa, it is the leading
cause of morbidity and mortality. In the Siha district of
Northern Tanzania access to health facilities can be the
difference between life and death.
The Lawate to Kibongoto road, on the foothills of Mount
Kilimanjaro, is characterised by steep hills and red volcanic
soils which immediately becomes impassable when wet. This
makes accessing health facilities problematic. But, Roughton
International is currently providing consultancy services to the
upgrading of the road to all weather standard, under the
African Community Access Programme (AFCAP), so that health
The road will be very helpful for
“
facilities can be accessed all year round.
Nursing officer Aingaya Mlay has lived on the road in Lawate
for eight years. “The road was not good and it was slippery
us because when people are
especially during the rainy season,” she recalls, “Someone getting sick they can get to the
may be suffering from Malaria and the road is bad and it is far
because there is no transportation and they decide to sit at hospital in a short time
home.” Nursing Officer, Aingaya Mlay
“Now the patients will not delay,” says the 50-‐year-‐old.
“Most people will access the hospital because of the road.” who want to deliver would wake people in the village to
Eliamani Maimu, a 52-‐year-‐old farmer from Orumwi, agrees escort them to the hospital,” explains Aingaya. “But now they
that lack of transport limits access to healthcare. She says: can call from their home or a neighbours phone and the
“Sometimes people are carried by chekecheke.” “This is a kind motorcycle will come and take them to hospital.” “I was not
of sieve used to clean maize which villagers use as a kind of sleeping. They used to wake me up to escort them but now I
improvised stretcher,” she explains. am sleeping. They go straight to the hospital without
“When it is dry you might get transport but when it is disturbing me,” she says.
raining even if you call someone they will not come to pick Health workers used to visit villages once a month to
you up,” she recalls. But, “Now I think it will be easier because provide vaccination services. But, now mothers are able to
even when it is raining you will call a boda-‐boda owner and take their babies to the hospital because there is transport.
they will come and take patient to the hospital,” she adds. “The road will be very helpful for us because when people are
“My life will change for the better completely.” sick they can get to the hospital in a short time,” she says.
“A big problem was the delivery, at night pregnant women The construction of the road, which is being funded by the
Tanzanian Government, has already improved Aingaya’s travel
Kirisha Primary School students time to her workplace at Hai District Hospital. “Before, it took
holding the chekecheke, which is
four hours so I had to wake up very early in the morning. Now
used as an improvised stretcher
it takes one hour to half an hour,” she says. “I used to wake up
at 4am to get to work but now I can get up at 5.30am. I sleep
more without thinking of waking up early.”

For more information
on the
African Community
Access Programme
(AFCAP) please visit:
www.afcap.org
Getting

farmers
to market
How AFCAP is helping farmers get to market by improving access in Tanzania
In Siha district in Northern Tanzania, on the foothills of Mount and it was difficult for people who were going to sell their
Kilimanjaro, the Lawate to Kibongoto road serves a highly commodities in the market,” says Susannah who has lived on
productive agricultural area where one of the biggest sources the road for 40 years. “Especially women, when they want to
of income is generated from selling milk and farm produce. sell their commodities they have to carry it on their head and
Farmers work on both sides of the road for it’s entire pass through slippery roads, so they find it difficult.”
13.5km length and need a route that is passable in all Dina, a 49-‐year-‐old farmer and livestock keeper who sells
weathers so that they can earn a living all year round. The milk and farm produce at market describes the road before
road, which is characterised by steep gradients and red construction as “very very bad”. “It was terrible,” she says.
volcanic soils, is passable in dry weather but immediately Lack of transport on the road limits the amount of produce
becomes impassable when wet. that can be taken to market.
People will be happy. It is going
“
Roughton International is Dina, who uses the road twice a
currently providing consultancy day to travel to her farm and
services to the upgrading of the to make their lives easy. the local markets, explains:
road to all weather standard, Ward Councillor, Susannah Kihunrwa “When you are carrying a load
under the African Community with your head you will not
Access Programme (AFCAP), so that farmers can access the carry enough produce for you to sell at the market you will
road all year round. only carry the amount you can carry on your head.” On her
“The road is important for the community,” says Siha head she is able to carry a quarter sack of maize, 25kg, or up
District Executive Director, Rashidi Kitambulio. “It will increase to 20 litres of milk. But, sometimes the pressure from carrying
their income and the life standard for them because they can heavy produce like this causes the women to go bald.
access their business, send produce to the market and it will When the road, which is being funded by the Tanzanian
be passable throughout the year.” Government, is complete vehicles will be able to pass in all
“Economically it is going to improve very much,” agrees weather. “We will not have to use our heads,” she says. Every
Kashashi ward councillor Susanna Kihunrwa. “People will be Monday and Thursday there is a market at the start of the
very happy. It is going to make their lives easy.” road in Lawate. Dina says: “When it was muddy I used four
“Before it hours to get to the market on foot. Now, I can use two to two
was too and a half hours.” But, she believes after the road is complete
slippery “transportation will be easier” and the journey will be quicker
Also, the quality of the road before construction deterred
visitors from coming to the area. Dina says: “There are many
people outside the village who did not want to come to the
village because the road was bad.” But she believes the new
road will help. “What we produce here they don’t have so
they will come to buy things like banana, plantain, milk and
vegetables and they will leave money in the village so it will
bring some development in the village,” she says.
“Honestly, there will be very very big changes in our lives,”
she says. “We will produce more milk because we know there
will be transport and the market will expand.” Dina will use
her extra profit to send her five children to school and also to
improve her house.
For more information on the

Milk is a major source of
African Community Access Programme (AFCAP)
income for villagers in Siha please visit: www.afcap.org
Helping businesses
in Tanzania

Vick Makundi, tells Roughton how the new road will improve her business
Northern Tanzania, on the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro, walk on foot” which makes her late for work. “Sometimes
amidst the mayhem of Lawate market, a row of shops sit on customers come to look for me and they miss me. If I was to
either side of the Lawate to Kibongoto road. It is here that make 2 dresses in a day I only end up making one because of
Roughton International is currently providing consultancy the time lost,“ she explains.
services for the upgrading of the road. Vick’s biggest problem is transport. Sometimes, “we have to
Vick Makundi, a 30-‐year-‐old tailor, is hard at work in her wait for market days to get transport,” she says, which limits
fashion shop with her small team of workers. An array of the number of customers she receives. Roughton
colours and fabrics hang neatly on the wall ready to be International has redesigned the road under the African
transformed into customised clothing. There is no electricity. Community Access Programme (AFCAP), using an
Workers use coal irons and manual sewing machines. The Environmentally Optimised Design Approach, to facilitate safe
process is slow and demanding but no one is complaining. and sustainable rural access on a budget. Vick is hopeful that
Inside Vick Fashion you can hear the the new road, which is being funded by the
My life will be
“
friendly chatter of workroom gossip and Tanzanian Government, will bring
scissors slashing fabric. But, outside,
labourers are working hard to upgrade the
very good and improvements. “There will be no problem of
transportation anymore and people will be
problematic rural road to all weather very successful getting wherever they want and there will
standard to provide reliable access for the Vick Makundi be more customers,” she says.
community all year round. Vick says: “We “My life will be very good and very

are grateful for this support because there will be no transport successful. I will get many customers, there will be a lot of
problems anymore.” business because so many people will be coming,” she adds.
Characterised by steep gradients and red volcanic soils, “My income will increase because customers will increase,”
which are firm but slippery when wet, the 13.5km road she says. “The money that I get I will build a house and send
immediately becomes impassable when wet. “The road was my children to school and expand my business.”
very very bad, there were no cars going through it and if you Vick, who has lived in Lawate for five years, has already
wanted to go up you have to go on foot because of how noticed the difference the road is making. “Now there are no
slippery it was,” she recalls. problems because they have put gravel unlike before when it
The unreliable condition of the road means that Vick, who was slippery,” she says. “I feel very good and more than that I
normally accesses the road by car, is “sometimes forced to am very happy.”
For more information on the African
Community Access Programme (AFCAP)
please visit: www.afcap.org
Check List Interview Questions for Bagomoyo
Purpose of the interview is to elicit in-depth information from individuals that are affected by the
road
Name of study area:
Date of interview:
Name of interviewer:
Basic information required:
Name of key informant:
Place of interview:
Place of residence:
Sex:
Occupation/Position:
Age:
Duration of living at this location:
Settler or indigene of this area:
Do you travel on the new road? (Foot, car, bicycle, motorbike etc.)
Questions for Locals
How do you feel the road construction will/is affect/ing the community?
What was the road condition like before construction? (wet season and dry season)
How do you find it using the road now during construction? (Road blocks, traffic etc.)
Any disruption in business activity causing loss of income?
How do you feel the road condition will be after construction?
Will the road change your life and that of the community after it is complete?
Use of the Roads
How often do you frequent the road? (To access where? A to B?)
Do you have alternative routes you use to travel? (What are the routes apart from the new
road?)
What are the current issues with access due to the weather conditions?
Sociology Report 29
Have you seen any accidents on the road? (Due to smoother road surface and tendency for
drivers to speed?)
Do you feel there will be accidents?
Do you feel the roads are safer?
If using completed section of road:
Has there been an improvement in travel time?
How long did it take you to travel (from A to B) before the road construction?
How long does it take you now?
Are there more transport operators in the area now? (Frequency of transport services in the
area post construction)
Impact of the Road
What are the access problems you face now getting to the health facilities/school/markets
etc?
When the road is finished will these facilities be easier to access?
What can you tell me about how the road now allows for better/ easier access to the Health
facilities?
How will the availability of this road affect your life?
Will it cause any change? (Negative and positive?)
Allow access to markets, schools, increase in businesses etc.?
Do you think the road will cause people to come to the village? Why?
Changes in charges for average journeys? (Seasonal variation: Do public transporters

charge less in dry season?)
Has there been an increase in transportation costs or decrease since the road
construction?
Tell me if you ever take public transport at night? (Do charges differ at night? Example?)
Health workers
Main problems faced by local residents who might want to use health facilities?
Will the new road affect usage of the health facilities?
Road accidents dealt with by your facility?
Do transport factors reduce or increase older people’s attendance at health facilities? If so,
in what ways?
Sociology Report 30
Have there been changes in maternal health? Do pregnant women frequent the clinics
more?
Does the health centre provide any transport for patients, health staff transport or mobile
clinics? (details)
Any changes to health conditions post construction? (such as increase in clinic testing
levels)
Any likely impacts of the new road on health?
Main mode of travel to health facilities by patients?
Communications
Do you have access to a mobile phone? Do you use it to contact transport operators (boda-
boda) for their services?
Bodaboda:
Has the expansion of mobile phone ownership affected your work in any way? If so how?
To what extent has the availability of mobile phones affected your business operation.
Do you and your passengers wear helmets?
How many passengers do you carry?
How much are you to give the owner at the end of the day?
How would you feel about more road construction being done?
What other areas do you feel would benefit from similar road works? And why?
Sociology Report 31
Check List Interview Questions for Bodaboda Operators
Purpose of the interview is to elicit in-depth information from individuals that are affected by the
road
Name of study area:
Date of interview:
Name of interviewer:
Basic information required
Name of key informant:
Place of interview:
Place of residence:
Sex:
Occupation/Position:
Age:
Duration of living at this location:
Settler or indigene of this area:
Do you operate on the new road with your motorbike?
Questions for boda-boda operators
How did the road construction affect the community?
What was the road condition like before construction? (wet season and dry season)
How did you find it using the road during construction? (Road blocks, traffic etc.)
Disruption in business activity causing loss of income?
How is the road condition now after construction?
Use of the Roads
How often do you frequent the road? (To access where?)
Do you have alternative routes you use to travel? (What are the routes?)
Now that the rains are here, what parts of the road have you noticed are not passable?
Are there any issues with access due to the weather conditions?
Are there more accidents on the road? (Due to smoother road surface and tendency for
drivers to speed?)
Sociology Report 32
Do you feel the roads are safer?
Has there been an improvement in travel time?
How long did it take you to travel a certain distance before the road construction?
How long does it take you now?
Are there more transport operators in the area now? (Frequency of transport services in the
area post construction)
Impact of the Road
How has the availability of this road affected your life? Has it caused any change?
(Negative and positive?)
Access to markets, schools, increase in businesses etc.
What can you tell me about how the road now allows for better/ easier access to the Health
facilities?
How is the traffic (human and vehicle) situation on the roads at present? (How was it
preconstruction?)
Charges for average journeys? (Seasonal variation: Do bodaboda charge less in dry
season?)
Has there been an increase in transportation costs or decrease since the road
construction?
Tell me if you ever take passengers at night? (Charges differ at night? Example?)
Communications
Do you have access to a mobile phone? Do you use it in your business?
Has the expansion of mobile phone ownership affected your work in any way? If so, how?
To what extent has the availability of mobile phones and phone networks affected your
business operation now?
How would you feel about more road construction being done?
What other areas do you feel would benefit from similar road works? And why?
Write two to three sentences after the interview about how this interview raises new questions to
explore new areas.
Sociology Report 33
Appendix C: Socio-Economic Data
Table 1: Socio Economic Data for Bago – Talawanda Road
BAGAMOYO DISTRICT
Kiwangwa Ward
Talawanda Ward
Population
Census Taken in 2007 and population growth rate is 2%

Village Population
1 Kiwangwa 10205
2 Msinune 2004
3 Talawanda 6342
4 Msigi 1273
5 Kisanga 1054
6 Mindukeni Bane 2246
Total 23124
Primary Schools
Capacity/No of
Schools Location/ward
Students
Bago Primary School Kiwangwa Ward 511
Msinune Primary School Kiwangwa Ward 353
Talawanda Primary School Talawanda Ward 160
Msigi Primary School Talawanda Ward 260
Kisanga Primary School Talawanda Ward 162
Secondary Schools
Capacity/No of
Schools Location/Ward
Students
Talawanda Secondary School Talawanda Ward 515
Kiwangwa Secondary School Kiwangwa Ward. 839
Market Statistics
Market Location/Ward
1 Kiwangwa - Market Kiwangwa Ward
2 Talawanda Market Talawanda Ward
Health Statistics
Hospital/Dispensary/Health Centre Location/Ward
1 Kiwangwa Hospital Kiwangwa Ward
2 Kiwangwa Dispensary Kiwangwa Ward
3 Talawanda Dispensary Talawanda Ward
Sociology Report 34
Table 2: Socio-Economic Data for Lawate – Kibongoto Road
SIHA DISTRICT
Kashashi: Ward covers 11km
Ivaeni: Ward covers 2.5km
Population
Census Taken in 2002 and population growth rate is 1.9%
No Village Population
1 Lawate 4926
2 Manio 4380
3 Kyengia 2463
4 Mae 5747
5 Wanri 3558
6 Kashashi 4653
Total 25727
Primary Schools
No Schools Location/ward Capacity/No of Student
1 Lawate Primary School Ivaeni Ward 333
2 Kitahemwa Primary School Kashashi Ward 263
3 Suumu Primary School Kashashi Ward 122
4 Kirisha Primary School Kashashi Ward 235
5 Kyengia Primary School Kashashi Ward 219
Secondary Schools
No Schools Location /Ward Capacity/No of Students
1 Suumu Secondary School Kashashi Ward 356
2 Oshara Secondary School Ivaeni Ward. 396
Market Statistics
Market Location/Ward
1 Lawate - Market Ivaeni Ward
2 Sanya Juu Market Sanya Juu Ward
Health Statistics
Hospital/Dispensary/Health Centre Location/Ward
1 Kibongoto Hospital Ivaeni Ward
2 Lawate Health Centre Ivaeni Ward
3 Kashashi Dispensary Kashashi Ward
Sociology Report 35

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Crown Agents international

The United Kingdom

The African Community Access Programme (AFCAP)

Research Consultant to Support the Design,

1.Lawate - Kibongoto - Siha District - Kilimanjaro Region

The African Community Access Programme (AFCAP)

Executive Summary .........................................................................................................................iii

1.0 Introduction .............................................................................................................................1

AFCAP: African Community Access Programme

Bodaboda: Local term for motorbike operator;

Daladala: Local term for a public bus;

DFID: Department for International Development (UK Government)

Pikipiki: Local term for motorcycle;

Tsh: Tanzanian Shillings.

Impact on Access to Education

Impact on Local Economies

Sociology Report iii

Additional Issues Raised by Locals

Access to Health Facilities

Head Loading and Access to Markets

Middle Aged People

Improvement of the Local Economy

Improved Access to Education

The African Community Access Programme (AFCAP) is a Department for International

The specific objectives of the study were to:

Pick up road safety issues that could be further explored;

Pick up on both positive and negative outcomes to do with the road;

Submission of stories centred on people affected by the roads (pictures inclusive).

2.0 SOCIO-ECONOMIC DATA FOR THE PROJECT AREAS

2.1 Bago – Talawanda Road

Double sand seal; Engineered natural earth;

Slurry seal; Natural gravel;

Double surface dressing; Hand-packed stone, and;

Concrete strips (see Figure 2 below);

Figure 1: Map of Bagomoyo District

2.2 Lawate – Kibongoto Road

Figure 3: Map of Siha District

3.0 SURVEY METHODOLOGY

3.1 Planned Survey Methodology

Checklist can be used as a stand-alone technique as in this research study, where

Gina Porter, a geographer/anthropologist working on behalf of AFCAP, was contacted to provide

3.2 Experience in the Field

3.3 Stories/One-Page Reports

One bodaboda operator;

One teacher, and;

One interesting family from each site.

4.0 DATA COLLECTION

4.3 Key Informants

4.4 Interview Locations

5.0 DATA ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION

5.2 Access to Health

5.2.2 Women’s Health (Pregnancy and Child Birth)

5.2.3 Head Loading

5.3 Access to Education

5.4 Road Safety

5.4.2 Road Design

5.4.3 Driver Training

5.5 Local Economy