The Use Of Social Media In Improving Tanzania Foreign Relations: A Case Of Tanzania’s Ministry Of Foreign Affairs And East African Cooperation

ABSTRACT

The study aimed at assessing on the use of social media in improving Tanzania‟s foreign relations, using Tanzania‟s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation (TMFAEAC) as a case study. Objectively, the study determined the level of awareness among the employees of TMFAEAC on the use of social media for improving Tanzania foreign relations, identified the ways social media are used for political benefit for Tanzania foreign relations, explored the extent of use of social media by TMFAEAC in interacting with the foreign countries, and determining the challenges facing TMFAEAC in the use of social media for improving Tanzania foreign relations. Three methods of data collection were involved in this study which include, survey method (open and close ended questionnaires), interview method (interview guide), and documentary review (documentary review checklist). Particularly, 36 dully filled and returned questionnaires were used in data analysis out of 42 total sampled respondents from TMFAEAC employees. Connectively, 15 key informants were HoDs, HoUs and HoDVs from the Ministry. SPSS version 23.0 was used for data analysis of both qualitative and quantitative data. The findings indicate that, the majority of respondents were aware about social media. Results signify that, at large (66.67%) of respondents agreed that, the use of social media helps to improve foreign relations in TMFAEAC. It is mainly concluded that, there is moderate application of social media by the Ministry towards improving Tanzania foreign relations. Hence, it is recommended that, the Ministry should work out strategies to improve activation of the existing social media for improved connectivity with other foreign countries.