Youth Political Representation In Tanzania

Ambonisye Haule

Tanzania

My journey in public service began with a deep desire to contribute to improving my community and my country. Growing up in Tanzania, I noticed a significant gap: the limited representation of youth in leadership positions within public service. Despite young people making up most of the population, older generations dominate decision-making roles, leaving little room for young voices to shape policies and strategies directly affecting them.  

My story reflects a personal journey shaped by experiences that fueled my passion for public service and political leadership. I witnessed the challenges marginalised communities face, such as limited access to essential services and opportunities. These early observations sparked a desire to work towards solutions that improve lives.  

I started at the grassroots level, collaborating with local organisations to address issues like youth unemployment, gender inequality, and environmental conservation. These experiences taught me the value of teamwork and the power of collective action to drive change. They also exposed me to structural barriers within our systems, strengthening my determination to advocate for more inclusive and effective policies.  

The lack of youth representation in decision-making means that policies often fail to reflect young people's needs, aspirations, and innovative ideas. Cultural norms, limited mentorship opportunities, and inadequate resources further restrict youth participation in leadership. To address these challenges, I am working to create opportunities for young people to engage in governance and decision-making. This involves promoting civic awareness and education and establishing youth-led organisations and advocacy groups.  

The upcoming elections in November 2025 will be a pivotal moment in our political history. It is crucial to create awareness about the importance of youth participation, both as voters and candidates. Young people must use social media platforms to encourage their peers to vote. Meanwhile, the government must play its role in voter education, ensuring that even those in rural areas can access this vital information.  

As a technical clerk for one of our political candidates, I am working to contribute to the campaign agenda and lead the campaign task force. We are focused on grassroots mobilisation. Being a part of this campaign team is helping to lay the groundwork for me to vie for political office in 2030. 

Many young people are apathetic and almost resigned about political participation, and I want to change this in the run-up to the November elections. I am working to raise awareness about the voter registration process through partnerships with Policy Forum and Norwegian Church Aid. Our efforts target secondary school and university students, and we are collaborating with youth groups to advocate for voter registration. Civic education also emphasises the importance of young people vying for political office and urges political parties to support youth candidates during nominations. Additionally, we are calling on the election commission to make voter registration centres more youth-friendly and accessible.  

Before the elections, we plan to conduct a three-month youth leadership and advocacy campaign to enhance and amplify young people's political participation. We will leverage digital platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and WhatsApp to reach more youth with civic education and awareness campaigns.  

To create meaningful change, we need clear strategies and practical initiatives. These include establishing platforms for youth voices, advocating for mandatory youth quotas in decision-making, developing mentorship programs that connect experienced public servants with aspiring young leaders, conducting community awareness campaigns about youth participation in governance, and using social media and local radio to engage young audiences.  

By supporting young leaders, investing in education and training, promoting technology to improve service delivery, and embracing innovation, we can build a Tanzania where public service is effective, inclusive, and accountable.