A Dissertation is submitted to Mzumbe University Dar es Salaam Campus
Collage as partial fulfilment of the requirements of the Award of the Master
Degree in Business Administration (MBA-CM)
The objective ofthis study was to identify the factors responsible for SMEs failure to
accessing credit from financial institutions in Tanzania a case study of Urban West
Region Zanzibar. This study used the exploratory approach to discussthe a problem based
on the previous and current understanding of the issue. The study collected data through
questionnaire, interview and documentary review and was analyzed quantitatively and
qualitatively. Sample size was 100and probability and non probability was
applied.findings in this study reveal that there are some factors that indicate SMEs are
the source of failure in their business though in most cases the failures were caused by
Financial Institutions and Governmentlarge. Thus, the studyrecommended that the
Government should support programmes that offer affordable training in
entrepreneurship which is an essential component towards the expansion of their
businesses activities. Also Financial Institutionsthatoperatein SMEs should lower their
interest rate on loan and set a suitable timeframe that entrepreneurs will pay. Ina adition
to that, SMEs should undergo training on entrepreneurship and should prepare business
plan before starting the business and present credentials that meet Financial Institutions
requirement in order to accessing funds for their business.
This study suggests study are that the Tanzanian SMES policy to be reviewed and
updated in order to be usefully to SMEs according to time due to the existing policies
do not support SMEs credit policies, the Government has to create conducive Micro
economic environment which will allowSMEs to expand and develop