Money Politics in Election Campaigns: The Power of “Money Politics” and “Ethnicity” in Voting Decisions in Tanzania

• Main Authors: Mpawenimana, Abdallah Saidi, Mwidima, Peter Charles, Robert Renatus, Bujiku
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Universal Publishers 2021
• Subjects: H Social Sciences (General); HM Sociology
• Online Access: http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/35477/1/V13N2-7.pdf; http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/35477/; http://www.gbmrjournal.com/vol13no2.htm
• Institution: Universiti Malaysia Sarawak

This study sought to examine the influence of “money politics” and “ethnicity” in the voting decisions amongst voters in Tanzania. It was carried out immediately after the 2015 general election in the country. It is a qualitative research which used six Focus Group Discussions to collect data from the districts of Ilemela and Nyamagana in Mwanza Tanzania. Each group comprised of 12 participants who were purposefully selected. A thematic analysis was used to analyse and manage the data whereby all necessary cleanings, transcription, coding, organizing, and theming were observed in the process. The findings reveal that ethnicity has a slight influence (54%) in the voting decisions amongst voters in Tanzania compared to money politics (46%). The findings further reveal that women voters in Tanzania are more influenced (63%) by money politics than men (37%). Likewise, men voters are more influenced (57%) by ethnicity in their voting decisions and preferences than women. Thus, the study recommends actionable implementation of the National election Act of 2010 subsection 102, so as to combat corrupting behavior in Tanzanian elections.