Will Tanzanias youth define countrys political future?

Tanzania’s presidential and parliamentary polls set for October this year will be majorly be a ‘youth-based’ poll if the demographics of registered voters are anything to go by.

In a country with a registered voter base of 22 million people, it is expected that the voter turnout might be the highest in the country’s history.

According to Prof. Kitila Mkumbo, there was a very high uptake of identity and voters cards amongst the youth.

Another source, who cannot be named for their political reasons, said that at least 75% of the registered voters are youth who are craving for change.

Prof. Kitila says that there is a generational change in the recent past that may lead to a total change in the voting system of Tanzania.

He says: “Tanzania has a very high number of registered young voters who are very confused about where to face. This is no norm for Tanzania. It says quite a lot.”

However, the number of registered voters who have previously participating in the voting process has been low.

The National Electoral Commission (EAC) has already cleared eight candidates for the presidential poll that is set for October 25th this year.

Among those cleared is Chama Cha Mapinduzi’s John Pombe Magufuli and his fiercest rival Edward Lowassa of Chadema who defected after unsuccessfully seeking CCM’s nomination.