Leaders’ Awareness of the Ethics Code and Good Governance in Kinondoni Municipality, Tanzania.

Abstract

This study investigated the persistent occurrence of leadership scandals, such as corruption and fraud, within local government authorities in Tanzania, despite the establishment of the Public Leadership Code of Ethics Act No. 13 of 1995. The research sought to examine the awareness of this code among both leaders and ordinary citizens, and its interrelationship with promoting good governance. Conducted in Kinondoni Municipality, the qualitative study engaged 85 participants selected through convenient and purposive sampling techniques. Data were collected using interviews, focus group discussions, and document review, and were subsequently analyzed through thematic analysis. The findings revealed a notably high level of awareness among participants concerning the provisions of the leadership code of ethics and the principles of good governance. The study's central conclusion is that the ongoing ethical failures are not due to an absence of regulations or a lack of awareness of them. Instead, the problem is fundamentally a lack of moral will—or internal intrinsic motivation—among public leaders to implement and adhere to established ethical standards. This indicates a critical dichotomy between theoretical awareness and practical willingness to act ethically. Consequently, the study recommends that the government collaborate with relevant stakeholders to initiate reforms addressing this inadequacy in social and administrative ethics. It further suggests that foundational moral education within families and religious institutions is essential to develop the conscience required for public officials to act rightly for the welfare of society.