Youth Engagement In General Election Of 2015 In Tanzania: A Case Of Dodoma Municipality

ABSTRACT 

The study was carried out in Dodoma Municipality with the aim of investigating reasons for low youth turnout in general elections in Tanzania taking 2015 general election as a point of reference. Specifically, the study aimed at determining the drivers for youth participation in election campaign, exploring motivations for youth to turnout for voting and mapping out youth’s future political expectations. 

The study used a case study design which employed both qualitative and quantitative approaches. Four wards of Mtumba, Makole, Zuzu and Nkuhungu were randomly selected using systematic sampling with nth term where 20 youth aged 18 years and above by 25th October 2015 were randomly selected in each selected ward. The data collected through interviews, questionnaires and focus group discussion were analyzed with the help of SPSS version 17.0. 

The study found that, although youth turn in large numbers in electoral campaigns, their turnout in voting is very low. The main causes of their abstinence from voting were found to be lack of trust in electoral management body (National Electoral Commission) and low level of civic education among youth. However, there were also other contributing factors such as lack of trust to political parties and politicians, disengagement of youth from politics and lack of reliable financial source among youth to fund elections. The study recommends for restructuring of NEC so as to win youth’s confidence, also to have more youth engagement in political leadership as a means to encourage fellow youth to fully participate in all aspects of political life, voting in particular. Furthermore, there should be continuance civic education specifically for youth to impact them with proper knowledge on civic education specifically election