Whose Ballot?

How Tanzanian Youth Confront Corruption During Election Cycles

Abstract

Africa is the youngest continent in the world, with its median age being 18-19 years old (Al Jazeera, 2025). Yet despite these numbers, many African countries are governed by political elites who are significantly older than the populations they lead. State-controlled media across Africa often rely on traditional media channels to reinforce state-informed dominant ideologies. These ideologies portray Africa’s youth as rebellious, violent political disruptors rather than legitimate political actors. Such hegemonic discourse is intensified during election cycles, where public dissatisfaction and demands for change are most intense. Such narratives contribute to the continued marginalization of African youth, excluding them from political, social, and economic processes and denying them meaningful opportunities to shape their own futures. It is precisely this exclusion that has pushed Africa’s new generation – Gen Z – to voice their concerns on digital platforms. Instead of waiting for corrupt or unresponsive governments to hear them, young Africans are taking to social media to tell their own stories. The case of Tanzania is not any different. Many young people in the country face the same continental patterns of political marginalization and economic hardship, much of it driven by government corruption and mismanagement. Tanzanian youth confront corruption during election cycles by creating alternative channels of political expression on social media platforms. Despite facing state repression, they actively use social media platforms to produce counter-narratives, mobilize political movements, and raise global awareness. As such, Tanzanian youth are diligently changing the country's political climate, asserting their agency, exposing government corruption, and redefining national democratic identity.