ASSESSMENT OF THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF LANDSLIDES ON DONKEY-DEPENDENT COMMUNITIES IN HANANG’ DISTRICT, TANZANIA
Authors: Charles Bukula, Jacqueline Nicodemus, George Phares, Michael Kihwele and Baraka Mfilinge
Charles Bukula: INADES Formation Tanzania P. O. Box 203 Dodoma, Tanzania.
Jacqueline Nicodemus: INADES Formation Tanzania P. O. Box 203 Dodoma, Tanzania.
George Phares: INADES Formation Tanzania P. O. Box 203 Dodoma, Tanzania.
Michael Kihwele: INADES Formation Tanzania P. O. Box 203 Dodoma, Tanzania.
Baraka Mfilinge: INADES Formation Tanzania P. O. Box 203 Dodoma, Tanzania.
ABSTRACT
Climate-related disasters are increasingly threatening rural livestock-dependent communities across sub-Saharan Africa. This study assessed the socio-economic impacts of the December 2023 landslides on donkey owners and users in Hanang’ District, Manyara Region, Tanzania. A mixed-methods cross-sectional design was employed, incorporating household surveys, Focus Group Discussions, Key Informant Interviews, and field observations. Data were collected from 223 respondents across three wards and eight villages. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, while qualitative data were subjected to thematic content analysis. The findings demonstrate that donkeys play a vital role in agricultural production, transportation, water collection, and income generation. Prior to the landslides, 61% of households owned or used donkeys, while 9% reported direct donkey losses caused by the disaster. Mean donkey ownership declined significantly from 2.45 to 2.07 donkeys per household (t = 2.661, p = 0.0086). The leading causes of donkey loss were burial under landslide debris (36.5%), separation from owners (23.8%), and physical injuries (9.5%). Binary logistic regression revealed that household size significantly influenced post-disaster income recovery (OR = 0.815, p = 0.028), whereas households in Gendabi Ward were significantly less likely to recover than those in the reference ward (OR = 0.089, p = 0.029). Household type and pre-disaster donkey ownership were not significant predictors of income recovery. Qualitative findings further identified poor harnessing practices, inadequate nutrition, and limited access to veterinary services as major constraints to donkey welfare and resilience. The study concludes that the December 2023 landslides significantly reduced donkey assets and disrupted rural livelihoods. Integrating donkey welfare into disaster risk reduction strategies, strengthening veterinary and extension services, and promoting livelihood diversification are essential for improving resilience in disaster-prone communities.
Keywords: Donkey welfare; landslides; socio-economic impacts; disaster resilience; rural livelihoods; climate change; working equids; Tanzania.