Unlocking Potentials of Digital Platforms and Participatory Decision-making on Citizen Engagement in Tanzanian Local Government Authorities: Moderating Role of Digital Literacy

This study investigates the effects of digital platforms and participatory decision-making on citizen engagement in Tanzanian local government authorities by taking into account the moderating role of digital literacy and the mediating role of trust in government. A cross-sectional research design was employed. Structured questionnaires were used to collect data on 722 respondents in the sampled local government authorities. Testing of hypotheses was done using partial least squares structural equation modelling. The findings revealed that digital platforms positively affected citizen engagement ( β = 0.205, p < .001), participatory decision-making had direct positive effect on citizen engagement ( β = 0.391, p < .001), trust in government positively influenced citizen engagement ( β = 0.139, p = .001), digital platforms positively influenced trust in government ( β = 0.290, p < .001) and participatory decision-making positively influenced trust in government ( β = 0.378, p < .001). Digital literacy significantly moderated both digital platforms and citizen engagement ( β = 0.100, p = .009) and participatory decision-making and citizen engagement (β = 0.142, p < .001). The indirect effect of digital platforms on citizen engagement through trust in government was significant ( β = 0.040, p = .004). The indirect effect of participatory decision-making on citizen engagement through trust in government was also significant ( β = 0.053, p = .002). This study contributes to e-participation and digital divide literature by empirically testing digital literacy as a moderator in a model of digital platforms, participation, trust and citizen engagement in Tanzania.