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Dr. Malima Zacharia

Dr. Malima Zacharia

Lecturer

School of Journalism and Mass Communication

Sociology

Biography

Trained as a media and communication specialist, Dr. Malima Zacharia is a media consultant, researcher, and trainer expert in Climate Change and Environmental Communication, Media Management and Economics, Advanced Print Journalism, specialised writing for the Media, and Communication for Development.  

Dr. Zacharia has a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism, a Master's Degree in Communication and Media Studies, and a Ph.D. in Climate Change and Sustainable Development, focusing on Radio Communication for Forest Conservation. Before working at the University of Dar es Salaam, he worked in the Media for two years (2006-2008). 

At the School of Journalism and Mass Communication of the University of Dar es Salaam, Dr. Zacharia has been entrusted with the responsibility of serving as Head of Journalism Unit, Mass Communication Unit; Coordinator of Undergraduate Studies, Certificates, and Short Courses; Quality Assurance Coordinator; Examination Officer; and Coordinator of the Academic Registration Information System (ARIS) in addition to his teaching and research responsibilities.

Dr. Zacharia has coordinated and managed several local and international projects. He is the Programme Manager for The Yearbook on Media Quality in Tanzania and served as the Programme Manager of the Bloomberg Media Initiative Africa Financial Journalism Training (BMIA FJT 2019-2021). He has also conducted several Executive and Professional Training sessions for Journalists, Editors, Business Organisations, and Religious Institutions.

Research Interest

  • Environmental and Climate Change Communication
  • Media for Development Communication
  • Crisis Communication  

Membership in Professional Bodies 

University of Dar es Salaam Academic Staff Assembly (UDASA), 

East Africa Communication Association (EACA), 

International Communication Association, Africa Region (ICAfrica), 

International Communication Association (ICA), and 

International Communication Association (ICA), early-career scholars’ network/ graduate student group.  

Contacts

Email:

Projects

  • I am the Programme Manager of The Yearbook on Media Quality in Tanzania. The project aims to identify the status of journalism reporting quality in radio stations, TV, and newspapers, increase the usability of research findings by news media for media organisations, and integrate journalism quality criteria into the University curriculum.
  • June 2019 to November 2021: Country Program Manager, Bloomberg Media Initiative Africa, Financial Journalism Training (BMIA, FJT). The Programme aimed to increase the number of skilled financial journalists and analysts in the pipeline and to support and expand a data-driven journalism culture across Africa. BMIA FJT was also conducted in South Africa, Nigeria, and Kenya for Phase I and in Ghana, Zambia, and Tanzania for Phase II.
  • June 2021: I trained a group of Tanzanian police Officers from the Department of Media and Forensic on Press releases, News and Feature writing, and conducting a Press Conference.
  • February – March 2021: Coordinator and trainer. I was the coordinator and trainer during the 10-day executive training to members of the EWURA Consumer Consultative Council (EWURA CCC) in news and feature writing, photojournalism and newspaper design, layout, and production held at the SJMC Conference room.
  • February – March 2021: Coordinator.  I coordinated a ten-day executive training in Video Production, Editing and Presentation, which was conducted for the Senior Corporate Communication Officer of the Land Transport Regulatory Authority (LATRA).
  • May – July 2019: Co-Lead Consultant. I participated as a Co-Lead Consultant on the “Formative Research for Evidence-Based Communication for Social Justice Project.” The study, which was funded by ‘HakiElimu’ aimed to: establish the severity and causes of violence against girls in a school setting; establish the perpetrators of violence against girls and investigate community awareness, attitudes, and beliefs about violence against girls in school settings; identify factors inhibiting or facilitating behaviour change in relation to violence against girls in school; explore appropriate communication messages to promote positive attitudes and acceptable behaviours in making school a safe place for learning; and explore which communications platforms are most effective in reaching key stakeholders with messages for child protection. It was conducted in Ukerewe, Masasi, Tabora and Sumbawanga.
  • March 2018. Co-Lead Consultant. I was the Co-lead consultant on the Energy and Water Utility Regulatory Authority (EWURA) survey, which was conducted to establish countrywide client/customer satisfaction with the services offered by EWURA. The study was conducted in 10 regions of the Tanzania Mainland: Arusha, Kilimanjaro, Dar es Salaam, Pwani, Dodoma, Singida, Mwanza, Simiyu, Iringa, and Mbeya.
  • March 2018. Co-Lead Consultant. I was the co-lead consultant for EWURA’s countrywide survey on public awareness about the Authority’s roles and functions. The study was conducted in 10 regions of the Tanzania Mainland: Arusha, Kilimanjaro, Dar es Salaam, Pwani, Dodoma, Singida, Mwanza, Simiyu, Iringa, and Mbeya.
  • May – June 2018. Co-Lead Consultant. I participated as a Co-Lead Consultant in writing the current Energy and Water Utility Regulatory Authority (EWURA) Communication Strategy and Policy 2019 – 2021. Among other activities, the consultancy involved Analysing the previous Information, Education, and Communication Policy and Strategy and how effectively it fulfilled the EWURA mandate, studying the previous EWURA’s Strategic Management Plan, and studying other relevant internal policies, procedures, guidelines, and management systems to identify strategic issues related to information, education, and communications.
  • April 2017. I was the Trainer: I was the trainer during the executive training workshop for Adventist Church, Southern East Conference members on “SEC Connect 4G” (evangelism through communication), which occurred at the Blue Pearl Hotel in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
  • March 2017. Coordinator and trainer: I coordinated and trained during the executive training workshop for members of the Adventist Church, East Central Tanzania Conference on “Communication Convention,” held in Morogoro, Tanzania.
  • January 2017. Trainer: I was the trainer during the workshop organised by Land O’Lakes International Development, conducted for the selected 28 Journalists from different media houses on the “Overview of Media coverage on Agriculture, Food, and Nutrition Security” held in Iringa.
  • January 2017. Trainer: During the Training Workshop conducted for the selected 20 Editors from both Print and Electronic media houses on “Media coverage of Agricultural sector in Tanzania: A Gendered Perspective” held in Morogoro.
  • September 2016. Coordinator and Trainer: I was a coordinator and trainer at the Tanzania Adventist Media Channels during the capacity-building workshop, which trained 40 Journalists from the Tanzania Adventist Media Channels on News Writing and Production.
  • July 2014. Trainer: I was a trainer during a three-day training workshop for Airtel Staff in the Media and Public Relations Department on “the Effective internal and external Communication technique.”
  • January 2014. Coordinator: I coordinated the ten-day training on “Follow the Money: Investigating Public Expenditure in Local Government Authorities (LGAS) in Tanzania Mainland.” The project, funded by the Tanzania Media Fund (TMF), trained more than 20 journalists.

Publications

  • Zacharia, M. (2020). The Role of Radio Surveillance in the Fight Against Deforestation in Rufiji, Tanzania. Journal of the Geographical Association of Tanzania, Vol. 40, No. 1: 58–79.
  • Zacharia, M. & Andindilile, M. (2020). ‘Radio Communication for Forest Conservation in Tanzania: a SWOC Analysis.’ The African Review, Vol. 47, No. 1: 20–140.
  • Zacharia, M. (2019). Impacts of Poverty and Lack of Education on Radio Communication for Forest Conservation in Tanzania. Nairobi, Kenya: The Centre for Democracy, Research and Development (CEDRED).
  • Zacharia, M. (2019). An examination of the effectiveness of radio environmental communication in engendering community responsiveness to forest conservation in Rufiji Basin, Tanzania. University of Dar es Salaam: PhD Thesis.
  • Zacharia, M. (2011). The Contribution of Radio towards Farmers’ Adoption of New Methods of Farming: The case of Horticultural Farmers in Mwea, Kenya. Daystar University, Nairobi: MA Thesis.