RESEARCH TITLE: AN EVALUATION OF COMPLIANCE WITH GOVERNING RECORDS MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORKS IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR: A CASE STUDY OF BAGAMOYO DISTRICT COUNCIL.

Although Tanzania has established legal and policy frameworks to guide records management in public institutions, compliance remains inconsistent, affecting accountability and service delivery. This study evaluated compliance with governing records management frameworks at Bagamoyo District Council. The general objective was to assess compliance, while the specific objectives were to: (i) assess the level of compliance among staff and action officers, (ii) identify factors affecting compliance, and (iii) examine existing practices and measures used to support compliance. A descriptive case study design was employed. The study involved 25 respondents selected through purposive and simple random sampling techniques. Data were collected using questionnaires, interviews, and documentary review. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics, while qualitative data were analysed thematically. The findings revealed a moderate level of compliance. Respondents were generally aware of the Records and Archives Management Act No. 3 of 2002, but awareness and accessibility of other frameworks were limited. Compliance varied across departments, with some staff relying on routine practices instead of approved procedures. Institutional and resource constraints including inadequate training, shortage of qualified personnel, limited financial resources, weak monitoring mechanisms, and insufficient ICT infrastructure were identified as the main barriers to compliance. The study concludes that effective compliance depends not only on the existence of frameworks but also on institutional support, continuous staff training, adequate resources, and effective monitoring. It recommends strengthening staff capacity, improving access to frameworks, enhancing ICT infrastructure, allocating sufficient resources, and conducting regular monitoring and audits. A key policy implication is that sustainable compliance in local government requires investment in both human and technological capacity to ensure accountability and improved service delivery vi

Type

Other

Language

English

Peer review

Not peer-reviewed

Licence

All rights reserved