Effectiveness of election expenses act no. 6 of 2010 in curbing electoral corruption in Tanzania: the experience of the 2010 general election
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Date
2014
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Publisher
Unversity of Dar es Salaam
Abstract
This study examines the effectiveness of the Election Expenses Act (EEA) No. 6 of 2010 in curbing electoral corruption in the 2010 general election in Tanzania. It aimed at assessing the capability of the Registrar of Political Parties (RPP), the National Electoral Commission (NEC), the Police Force, and the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) to curb corruption in electoral processes as institutions designated for the implementation of the Act. To accomplish the goal stated thereabove, qualitative as well as quantitative methodologies particularly in data presentation have been employed. Well informed respondents on the Act have been purposively sampled in Dar es Salaam and Rufiji constituencies. The RPP, NEC, the Police Force, and the PCCB together with other sixty respondents were included in the sample. Three key questions to what extent is the Election Expenses Act adhered to during the 2010 general election; how effective are the institutional arrangements charged with the enforcement of the Elections Expenses Act No. 6 of 2010; and what are the underlying factors contributing to non-adherence to the Act in controlling electoral corruption, were designed to assess the effectiveness of the EEA in curbing corruption in electoral processes in Tanzania in which face-to-face interview, questionnaire and documentary review used to gather data. The study findings show that the introduction and applicability of the Election Expenses Act No. 6 of 2010 in the 2010 general election has managed to some extent to minimize corrupt practices in electoral processes in Tanzania. Actions were taken to violators who went against the Act compared to the previous two multiparty general elections (2000 and 2005 general elections) as 61% of respondents commented despite of some deficiencies in the Act. The study revealed that to some extent the EEA managed to curb corruption in electoral processes although inadequate resources, lack of civic education and lack of political will have been accounted as factors accelerating corruption in electoral processes. Several recommendations have been suggested so as to make the EEA effective. The RPP should be neutral so as to strike a balance between the ruling party and other parties; civic education on the vices of corruption in the electoral process should be provided to the public particularly in rural areas where mass media coverage is limited; and the institutional arrangements charged with the enforcement of the Act should be independent without being interfered by other organs.
Description
Available in print form, East Africana Collection, Dr. Wilbert Chagula Library, Class mark (THS EAF JQ3519.A5B83)
Keywords
Elections, Corrupt Practice, Election expenses Act No.6, Tanzania
Citation
Buhatwa, M. (2014) Effectiveness of election expenses act no. 6 of 2010 in curbing electoral corruption in Tanzania: the experience of the 2010 general election, Master dissertation, University of Dar es Salaam, Dar es Salaam