Want better leaders? Stop skipping election day

TANZANIA is gearing up for its general election this year, a time when citizens will head to the polls to elect the President, members of Parliament, and councilors. It is democracy in action, and guess what? It only works if people actually show up. Let us put it simply: you can’t build a house by staring at bricks, and you can’t build a better country by skipping the ballot box.

Every eligible citizen must participate and vote freely, for the candidate they believe in not the one their neighbor, pastor, cousin, or WhatsApp group told them to vote for. Casting your vote is not just some civic chore like renewing your driver’s license.

It is a constitutional right and a sacred trust. It is also one of the very few moments when everyone from the bodaboda rider to the Chief Executive Officer gets exactly one, equal say in the future of the country. Now, we know the ballot paper doesn’t look like much. It is not goldplated.

It doesn’t buzz when you hold it. But the moment you drop it in the box; it stops being paper and starts being power.

That tiny tick next to a name can shape the next five years of your life, and beyond. Some people, let us call him Maiko think sitting out the election is a form of protest.

“All politicians are the same,” they mutter while scrolling TikTok. But spoiler alert: not voting doesn’t punish bad leaders it rewards them. It gives them a clear path to power while you sit on the sidelines hoping for change without participating in it. When you don’t vote, you surrender your voice to someone else, maybe even someone who thinks pineapple belongs on ugali (weird, but okay).

Worse still, you leave the door wide open for unqualified or corrupt leaders to take charge. A vote is not just a tick. It is a tool. A shield. A megaphone.

A future. Participating in elections is a vital step toward creating a more just, economically stable, and socially inclusive society.

Free and fair elections are not just democratic rituals, they are the foundation of sustainable development. Through the ballot box, we choose leaders we believe will manage public resources wisely, represent us with integrity, and not vanish into thin air after being sworn in.

Elections remind leaders where their power comes from the people. And that reminder comes every time we vote. But it is not just about choosing the best poster face. Voting fosters trust in the system. When elections are peaceful, fair, and free of intimidation, people start to believe in their institutions again.

That kind of trust builds national unity and with unity, progress in everything from business to education to culture happens faster and with fewer headaches. When the right people are in office, people chosen through a transparent process they tend to focus on long-term solutions. We are talking about smart policies on education, healthcare, roads, jobs, and food security.

You want change? Then vote for it. Literally. That is why everyone who is registered should not only vote but do so peacefully. Screaming, fighting, or insulting each other in the name of politics doesn’t build a democracy, it just raises blood pressure and police budgets.

Political parties, too, have a responsibility. It’s not enough to just hand out campaign flyers and shout slogans. They must guide their supporters to participate lawfully and peacefully. A strong democracy needs both vigorous debate and calm heads.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has laid down rules and guidelines. Following them doesn’t make you weak, it makes you wise.

Violence and threats don’t prove political strength—they only prove you’ve run out of ideas. Every political party should rally its members and the wider public to show up in full force on election day. Not with stones, but with voter IDs. Not with insults, but with purpose. In doing so, we build a country that values democracy, peace, and accountability.

Let us face it: there is no sustainable development without strong leadership. And there’s no strong leadership without a legitimate mandate from the people. That’s you. That’s me. That’s Maiko, if he gets off TikTok in time. Every vote is a voice. Every voice counts.

That simple. This October, let us flood polling stations, not with noise, but with ballots. Let us stop acting surprised when underperforming leaders get elected and start realizing that our own absence helped make it happen. Voting is not magic. It doesn’t fix everything overnight. But it sets the direction. It gives us a say. It gives us hope. It gives us the right to hold our leaders accountable afterward.

Also, let us ditch the tired excuse: “One vote won’t make a difference.” Tell that to the dozens of elections in history won by razor-thin margins. One vote matters. And yours could be the one that tips the scale. To all the citizens, remember: your vote is your superpower.

It’s your loudest shout in the most important conversation about your country’s future. Don’t waste it. Don’t sell it. And definitely don’t trade it for a T-shirt or a plate of pilau. This year, be the change. Go vote. Stay peaceful. And remind the world that Tanzania’s democracy is alive, kicking, and showing up with purpose.