RESULTS OF A COUNTRY SURVEY

This report presents the results of a socio-economic survey conducted in August 2001 to map the nature and extent of firearm proliferation in Tanzania. The survey, a partnership between the Tanzanian government and NGOs including the Institute for Security Studies, involved 2,892 residents across 12 provinces. It examines the linkages between firearm penetration and social, economic, and security indicators to inform the design of community-based firearm control initiatives.

• Firearm penetration is most serious in the regions of Kigoma, Kagera, and Morogoro, and to a lesser extent in Arusha, Mwanza, and Pwani. Morogoro shows high levels of ownership and demand, while Kagera and Kigoma have high levels of possession, primarily of illicitly acquired firearms.
• There is a correlation between a worsening economic situation and a poor perceived sense of safety. Regions identified with serious firearm problems—Kigoma, Kagera, and Morogoro—are also among those entering a period of economic decline, although subsistence farming prevents widespread hunger.
• The impact of firearms is greatest in Kigoma, Pwani, and Kagera, while Mbeya and Arusha are the least affected. In Kagera, while the risk of injury and level of worry remain high, firearm injuries are actually decreasing.
• Tanzania is generally perceived as safe during daylight hours, but insecurity increases after dark, particularly in Pwani and Morogoro. High numbers of firearms in Kagera and Kigoma correlate with a perceived sense of insecurity in those regions.
• Community members generally trust tribal and existing community leaders for conflict resolution over the police. Only in Kagera did a significant proportion of respondents turn to the police for conflict resolution, suggesting a generally low perception of police utility for this purpose.
• Crime rates in Tanzania are generally low and primarily consist of opportunistic theft, such as house-breaking and cattle theft. However, crime is perceived to be increasing significantly in Tanga, Pwani, and Kigoma.
• The proliferation of firearms in Kigoma is largely attributed to its proximity to conflict zones in Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as the resulting influx of refugees.
• There is widespread support for more effective firearm controls across Tanzania, with over 75% of the sample expressing willingness to encourage others to stop owning guns if security improved.
• Social interaction and cohesion are generally good across the country, with high willingness to participate in community-based awareness projects. This suggests that community-based firearm control initiatives are likely to be embraced.
• The youth are perceived negatively by the community, often seen as being involved in crime and lacking respect for elders and the law.

APA

Jefferson, C., & Urquhart, A. (n.d.). RESULTS OF A COUNTRY SURVEY. Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/Mono70Full.pdf

Chicago

Jefferson, Clare, and Angus Urquhart. RESULTS OF A COUNTRY SURVEY. Institute for Security Studies, n.d. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/Mono70Full.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Jefferson |first1=Clare |last2=Urquhart |first2=Angus |title=RESULTS OF A COUNTRY SURVEY |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |url=https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/Mono70Full.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{jeffersonndresults, author = {Jefferson, Clare and Urquhart, Angus}, title = {{RESULTS OF A COUNTRY SURVEY}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, url = {https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/Mono70Full.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }