Research Library: Tanzania
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Last Updated Nov 10, 2009
Country Information
Government
- A republic consisting of the Tanzanian mainland and the semi-autonomous Zanzibar. The Tanzanian President (chief of state and head of government) and the Vice President are elected on the same ballot to serve a five-year term (eligible for a second). The President appoints the Prime Minister. The unicameral National Assembly has 274 members who serve a five-year term. 232 are elected by popular vote, 37 are reserved for women nominated by the President and five are reserved for members of the Zanzibar House. Zanzibar has it own government consisting of a President (and a House of Representatives with 50 members who are elected by universal suffrage to serve a five-year term.
- President Jakaya Kikwete and Vice President Dr. Ali Mohammed Shein took office in December 2005. Vice President Shein also served as Vice President in the previous administration. The Prime Minister is Mizengo Kayanza Peter Pinda. The Chama Cha Mapinduzi or CCM (Revolutionary Party) holds the majority in the National Assembly with 206 seats. The President of Zanzibar, Amani Abeid Karume, was reelected in 2005. The CCM also holds the majority in the Zanzibar House of Representatives with 30 seats. The next Tanzanian presidential and parliamentary elections will be in December 2010.
Political Stability
- Tanganyika gained independence from Britain in 1961 and Zanzibar later in 1963. They joined to form one nation called Tanzania in 1964. From 1961 until 1995, Tanzania was a one-party state under the CCM. In the late 1980s, Tanzania underwent political and economic reforms, and multiparty democracy was adopted in 1992. The first democratic election was held in 1995. Zanzibar held its first multi-party elections in 1995 and it was marked by widespread irregularities and violence. The 2000 election also suffered from widespread irregularities.
- Tanzania is currently politically stable. When President Kikwete took office, he revamped his cabinet to get rid of corruption within his administration.
Current Government Policies
- President Jakaya Kikwete is focused on continuing the economic work of outgoing President Benjamin Mkapa. While inflation has dropped and the economy appears to be growing, his critics point out that many Tanzanians remain improvised.
International Reputation
- Tanzania's first president, Julius Nyerere, was one of the founding members of the Non-Aligned Movement, and Tanzania has played an important role in regional and international organizations. It is a member of the UN, AU, WTO and IMF. Tanzania has actively participated in promoting the peaceful resolution of conflict, especially in Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Tanzania is home to thousands of refugees fleeing conflict in the Great Lakes region. Tanzania is the only East African country that is a member of the Southern African Development Community. Tanzania has good relations with the U.S. and cooperates with the U.S. in antiterrorism campaigns.
Economics
- Tanzania posses few exportable minerals and the population is heavily dependent on farming. President Julius Nyerere instituted a program of self-reliance in 1967, opening up cooperative farms and nationalizing many sectors. This program was plagued by corruption and inefficiencies despite help from international donors. Tanzania's military involvement in Uganda from 1979-1981 only worsened the situation. In 1985, the Nyerere administration loosened the government's control over the economy. Under President Mwinyi and Mkapa, further efforts were made to remove the government from the economy and increase foreign investment. Tourism remains an important sector for Tanzania which is home to Mount Kilimanjaro and the Serengeti national park.
- Tanzania remains in the bottom ten percent of the world's economies. Despite employing 80% of the population and accounting for 40% of the GDP, agriculture is limited to only four percent of the land due to the climate and topography. Tanzania is working with the World Bank, the IMF and other donors to improve infrastructure and address poverty. Banking reforms helped increase private sector growth and investment.
Foreign Aid
Statistics
Click on statistic name for source information.
Web Resources
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