Abstract:
Globally, transparent, accountable, and efficient governance for the sustainable
development of nations requires ethical leadership. The unethical behaviour
among leaders has been widely spread among organizations in recent times and
is among the problems facing Sub-Saharan African countries, particularly
Tanzania. Trust in leadership is declining, and this is affecting public service
delivery. Although various institutions in the public sector have undergone
various reforms to address the situation, many African Governments still face
leadership and governance challenges that result in poor public service delivery.
Most countries, including Tanzania, have seen huge maladministration of public
funds and corruption, hence poor service delivery. Although reforms to address
challenges of unethical leadership have been done in African countries, most
have focused on the private sector, neglecting the public sector, where citizens'
lives depend much more. The public sector reforms transform service delivery;
however, such reforms have proven ineffective in Tanzania. This chapter
assesses the role of ethical leadership in enhancing effective public service
delivery in Tanzania. Specifically, the chapter aims to identify the sectoral-wise
reforms that have been implemented, their effects on effective public service
delivery, the challenges that inhibit their success or implementation, and
strategies used to enhance them for effective public service delivery in the
country's local government authorities (LGAs). The analysis uses secondary data
from document reviews pertinent to the topic, and the generated data is
analyzed using MAXQDA qualitative data analysis software. The analysis showed
that despite ethical leadership and reforms in the country, unethical practices
still exist and significantly affect service delivery in LGAs. The study recommends
strategies such as improved salaries, training, motivation, and incentives to
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improve the reforms toward ethical leadership for effective public service delivery
in LGAs. The highlights in this chapter prompt the responsible authorities to
produce effective measures for combating unethical practices and uphold the
highest possible ethical standards in the rubric of new public management in
Tanzania.
