Abstract:
Co-operatives play an important role in facilitating the dual aspect of economic and social
development. Members have the dual rights to practice and participate democratically in the
decision making on cooperative society’s governance. In Tanzania, the co-operative policy and
legislation highlights democratic ownership and participative democracy in co-operatives; the
elements have remained a blueprint and its practice has remained on the legislation. The study
examined: membership and member fulfilment of participative obligations, participation on
internal democracy in the primary Agricultural Marketing Cooperative Societies (AMCOs),
members engagement in co-operative business, member ownership and decision making in the
primary AMCOs, and primary AMCOs member access to democratic rights. It was guided by the
principal agent theory that explains the relationship between members and management. The study
was based on the evidence from the primary AMCOs of Bukoba and Moshi districts. 400 members
were involved in the household survey. Further, key informant interviews and focus group
discussion were employed. The findings show that members were not following the established
procedures for acquiring memberships. Also, internal democracy was higher in Moshi District
primary AMCOs compared to those in Bukoba. Further, the democratic practice in primary
AMCOs was exercised more at joining the AMCOs and in electing board members. On the other
hand, not all primary AMCOs members were selling their produce in the primary AMCOs. The
Board and Managers should involve members in decision making as the co- operative members
are the principal owners of the co-operative society thus requiring that they practice their
democratic rights in order to own decisions made.
