This study explored the contextual setback of the grassroots elected leaders in grassroots governance in Tanzania. Specifically, it examines the legal framework and functional relations between grassroots elected leaders and their stakeholders in grassroots governance. The study employed the Principal agent model1 and its methodology was primarily qualitative. Its findings relied heavily on observations documentary review and indepth interviews with key informants concerned. Generally, it was found that the contextual setback of the grassroots elected leaders in grassroots governance in Tanzania emanated from various factors. Some of these factors include the weaknesses of the local government Act of 1982 and its enabling legislations, insufficient capacity and motivation, and weakness in functional relations between the grassroots elected leaders and their stakeholders. The study concludes that, first, under inappropriate law, insufficient motivation and inappropriate functional relations between the grassroots elected leaders and their stakeholders in grassroots governance, grassroots governance is difficult if not impossible to comprehend; at best, it is likely to remain an elusive phenomenon. Second, in a context where unethical behaviour of grassroots elected leaders is rarely controlled, some leaders have an opportunity to act according to their wishes and not according to the law, hence jeopardizing grassroots governance. The study recommends substantial amendments to the Tanzania local government Act of 1982 and its enabling legislation. Tanzania grassroots election laws should be amended to allow independent candidates for grassroots local elections in order to minimize political party interference with grassroots elected leaders.
Cite this paper
Njama, A. (2025). The Agents of Regime: An Insight from Grassroots Elected Leaders in Grassroots Governance in Tanzania. Open Access Library Journal, 12, e13380. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/oalib.1113380.
Tilton, J., Bilgili, H., Johnson, J. and Ellstrand, A. (2022) Toward an Affect Based View of Principal-Agent Dynamics. Journal of Leadership & Organizational Studies, 30, 341-355. https://doi.org/10.1177/15480518221141258
Quigley, F. (2009) Growing Political Will from the Grassroots: How Social Movement Principles Can Reverse the Dis-mal Legacy of Rule of Law Interventions. Columbia Human Rights Law Review, 41, Article 13.
Mutahaba, G. (2014) Achieving Good Governance and De-velopment in Tanzania: Is Leadership the Missing Link? Journal of Public Ad-ministration, 49, 568-590.
Mukandala, R.S. (2000) Grassroots Institu-tions of Governance. In: Mukandala, R.S. and Gasarasi, C., Eds., Governance and Development at the Grassroots in Tanzania, Research and Education for De-mocracy in Tanzania.
Shivji, I.G. (2004) Reflections on NGOs in Tanzania: What We Are, What We Are Not, and What We Ought to Be. Development in Practice, 14, 689-695. https://doi.org/10.1080/0961452042000239832
Henderson, J.Y. (2000) The Context of the State of Nature. In: Reclaiming Indigenous Voice and Vision, Uni-versity of British Columbia Press, 11-38. https://doi.org/10.59962/9780774853170-005
Keller, B. (2016) Liquefied Sanctity: Grotius and the Promise of Global Law. In: War, the State and International Law in Seventeenth-Century Europe, Routledge, 131-152.
Nkomo, S.M. (2011) A Postcolonial and Anti-Colonial Reading of African Leadership and Management in Organization Studies: Tensions, Con-tradictions and Possibilities. Organization, 18, 365-386.
Fjeldstad, O.H., Katera, L. and Ngalewa, E. (2008) Disparities in Citizens’ Perceptions of Service Delivery by Local Government Authorities in Tanzania. REPOA.
Cavalcante, P. and Karam, R. (2017) Building State Capacity and Executive Governance: The Case of Center of Government Frame-work. International Conference on Public Policy, Singapore, 28-30 June 2017, 2.
Nosa-Ogbegie, S., Egobueze, A. and Nwaoburu, L. (2024) In-ter-Governmental Relations and the Development of Local Government in Nige-ria. International Journal of Innovative Legal & Political Studies, 12, 29-38.
Heinelt, H. and Hlepas, N.K. (2006) Typologies of Local Govern-ment Systems. In: The European Mayor: Political Leaders in the Changing Con-text of Local Democracy, Springer, 21-42.
Venugopal, V. and Yilmaz, S. (2010) Decentralization in Tanzania: An Assessment of Local Government Dis-cretion and Accountability. Public Administration and Development, 30, 215-231. https://doi.org/10.1002/pad.556
Mtasigazya, P. (2024) Ethics Management for Effective Public Service Institutions in Tanzania: The Case of Kinondoni Municipal Council. Journal of Policy and Development Studies, 17, 13-32. https://doi.org/10.4314/jpds.v17i1.1
Kirchmair, L. (2015) In-ternational Law and Public Administration: The European Charter of Local Self-Government. Pro Publico Bono-Public Administration, 3, 124-135.
Kanju, S.D. and Shayo, D.P. (2022) Expect the Unexpected? The Poli-Tricks of Central-Local Government Relationship in Tanzania. International Journal of Social Science Research and Review, 5, 130-144. https://doi.org/10.47814/ijssrr.v5i8.388
Wang, S. and Yao, Y. (2007) Grassroots Democracy and Local Governance: Evidence from Rural China. World Development, 35, 1635-1649. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2006.10.014
Makulilo, A.B. (2011) ‘Watching the Watcher’: An Evaluation of Local Election Observers in Tanzania. The Journal of Modern African Studies, 49, 241-262. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0022278x11000036
Goodman, R. (2002) Pastoral Livelihoods in Tanzania: Can the Maasai Benefit from Conservation? Current Issues in Tourism, 5, 280-286. https://doi.org/10.1080/13683500208667924
Walwa, W.J. (2017) Governing Security at the Grassroots Level: Effectiveness of Community-Led Security Mechanisms in Dar es Salaam. The African Review: A Journal of African Politics, Development and International Affairs, 44, 99-137.
Ogot, B.A. (1963) British Administration in the Central Nyanza District of Kenya, 1900-60. The Journal of African History, 4, 249-273. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0021853700004059
Beall, J. (2005) Decen-tralising Government and Centralising Gender in Southern Africa: Lessons from the South African Experience, Occasional Paper 8. United Nations Research In-stitute for Social Development.
de Kadt, D. and Larreguy, H.A. (2018) Agents of the Regime? Traditional Leaders and Electoral Politics in South Africa. The Journal of Politics, 80, 382-399. https://doi.org/10.1086/694540
Cross, W. and Crysler, J. (2009) Grass-roots Participation and Party Leadership Selection: Examining the British and Canadian cases. In: Activating the Citizen: Dilemmas of Participation in Europe and Canada, Palgrave Macmillan UK, 173-193.
Mwasaga, B.G. (2021) Inter-governmental Rela-tions between Central Government and Local Government Authorities in Tanza-nia. International Journal of Social Science and Human Research, 4, 2905-2913. https://doi.org/10.47191/ijsshr/v4-i10-33
Woltring, C., Constantine, W. and Schwarte, L. (2003) Does Leadership Training Make a Difference? The CDC/UC Public Health Leadership Institute: 1991-1999. Journal of Public Health Management and Practice, 9, 103-122.
Panda, B. (2007) Top down or Bottom up? A Study of Grass-roots NGOs’ Approach. Journal of Health Management, 9, 257-273. https://doi.org/10.1177/097206340700900207
Mdee, A. and Mushi, A. (2020) Untangling Blame and Responsibility for Service Delivery and Local Governance Performance: Testing a Grounded Social Accountability Approach in Tanzania. Local Government Studies, 47, 993-1013. https://doi.org/10.1080/03003930.2020.1842735
Fjeldstad, O. and Challiga, A. (2007) Local Government Reform in Tanzania 2002-2005: Summary of Research Findings on Governance. Finance and Service Delivery.
Ndikwiki, E. (2017) An Investigation on People’s Participation in Village Assembly: A Case of Biharamulo District Coun-cil, Tanzania. Doctoral Dissertation, Mzumbe University.
Ash-shidiqqi, E.A. and Wibisono, H. (2018) Corruption and Village: Accountability of Village Fund Management on Preventing Corruption (Problems and Challenges). Journal of Indonesian Legal Studies, 3, 195-212. https://doi.org/10.15294/jils.v3i02.27524
Downe, J., Cowell, R. and Morgan, K. (2016) What Determines Ethical Behavior in Public Organizations: Is It Rules or Leadership? Public Administration Review, 76, 898-909. https://doi.org/10.1111/puar.12562
Ciulla, J.B. (2020) Ethics and Effec-tiveness: The Nature of Good leadership. In: The search for ethics in leadership, business, and beyond (pp. 3-32). Springer International Publish-ing.
Norman, A.S. (2009) The Strength of Political Parties in Tanzania-A Focus on Local Government Councilor’s By-Elections. African Journal of History and Culture, 1, 44.
Podsakoff, P.M., MacKenzie, S.B., Ahearne, M. and Bommer, W.H. (1995) Searching for a Needle in a Haystack: Trying to Identify the Illusive Moderators of Leadership Behaviors. Journal of Management, 21, 422-470. https://doi.org/10.1177/014920639502100303
Valler, D., Wood, A. and North, P. (2000) Local Governance and Local Business Interests: A Critical Review. Progress in Human Geography, 24, 409-428. https://doi.org/10.1191/030913200701540492
Kayuni, H.M. (2005) The Role of Party Politics in Local Participation and Representation: Challenges and Prospects in Malawi’s Local Assemblies. Doctoral Dissertation, University of Stellenbosch.
