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Tanzania
Area: 945,000 sq km (365,000 sq miles)
Population: 39.1 million
Capital: Dodoma is the official capital and seat of Tanzania's Union Parliament. Dar es Salaam remains home to government ministries and major institutions, including diplomatic missions.
People: Some 120 ethnic groups on the mainland, none exceeding 10% of the population. Larger groups include Sukuma, Nyamwezi, Ha, Chagga, Masai, Haya and Gogo. There are Asian and expatriate minorities.
Languages: The official language is Kiswahili. English is also widely spoken.
Religions: Christianity (40%), Islam (35%) and traditional beliefs (around 20%). (Zanzibar is roughly 98% Muslim).
Currency: Tanzania shilling (Tsh). £1 buys Tsh 2500 (1 February 2007).
Major Political Parties: Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), Civic United Front (CUF), Chama cha Democrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA)
Head of State: President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete (elected December 2005).
President of Zanzibar: Amani Karume (re-elected October 2005)
Prime Minister: Edward Lowassa (appointed December 2005)
Foreign Minister: Bernard Membe
Membership of international groupings/organisations: East Africa Community (EAC) Southern African Development Community (SADC), Commonwealth, World Trade Organisation, African Union (AU), and the United Nations (UN).
GEOGRAPHY
Tanzania lies south of the equator in East Africa. It borders on the Indian Ocean to the east, and has land borders with eight countries, anticlockwise from the north, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo (across Lake Tanganyika), Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique. The climate is temperate on the coast and semi-temperate inland.
HISTORY
The modern Tanzanian state is formed from the former colony of Tanganyika, on the mainland, and the former Protectorate of Zanzibar. Tanganyika was first a German colony, then a League of Nations mandated territory under British administration and later a UN trust territory, remaining under British control. In 1954, Julius Nyerere founded the Tanganyikan African National Union (TANU), which became the focus of African nationalism. Constitutional changes increased the voice of the African population. Elections were held in 1958-59 and 1960 which resulted in overwhelming victory for TANU. Tanganyika achieved independence in 1961 and became a republic in December 1962 with Nyerere as the first President. In 1965 the constitution was changed to establish a one-party system.
Zanzibar became independent from Britain (who had governed in cooperation with the Sultan) in December 1963. In January 1964, a revolution overthrew the government allowing members of the majority black population their first chance to hold political power. The Constitution was annulled. The Sultan (whose family had governed Zanzibar since the eighteenth century) was expelled and many of Zanzibar's Arab population fled the country. Zanzibar was proclaimed a People's Republic. The union of Tanganyika and Zanzibar took place in April 1964. The new country was formally named the United Republic of Tanzania in October 1964. Zanzibar has its own President and a separate Parliament, which is responsible for all issues except for eight “Union competences” which include foreign and defence policy. On 5 February 1977, the ruling parties of the two territories merged to form the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), or 'Movement for the Revolution'.
Nyerere remained President until 1985. He was a pioneer of the African one party state, a leader of the non-aligned movement and an advocate of African socialism. After stepping down he remained an influential figure as Chairman of the CCM. His successor, Ali Hassan Mwinyi, started a gradual process of economic liberalisation and democratic reform. In 1992 the Constitution was changed to allow for multi-party competition. A constitutional two-term Presidency rule has been upheld since 1985.
POLITICS
Despite the large number of different ethnic groups who comprise the population, mainland Tanzania is peaceful and stable with few tribal or regional divisions - a legacy of the Nyerere years. CCM remains the overwhelmingly dominant force in mainland politics. In May 2005 CCM selected the then Foreign Minister Jakaya Kikwete to be the Party's presidential candidate in succession to Mkapa. Kikwete comfortably won the December 2005 election, securing 80% of the vote against a weak and divided opposition. The Civic United Front (CUF), with a strong power base on Zanzibar (most notably the island of Pemba), managed to secure 19 parliamentary seats there. But the hopes of CHADEMA and other smaller parties of gaining more seats in the Union Parliament were not realised - CHADEMA won in five constituencies, with the United Democratic Party and Tanzania Labour Party winning in one seat each. CCM's complete dominance of parliament is set to continue.
The arrival of multi-party competition has proved more problematic in Zanzibar. The 1995 and 2000 elections were very closely contested between CCM and CUF and marred by violence, intimidation and serious allegations of serious rigging. CUF refused to accept the results in 1995. A Commonwealth Agreement brokered in 1999 failed to solve the impasse. Mismanagement and chaos again marred the October 2000 election on Zanzibar. CUF refused to recognise the election of the CCM presidential candidate, Amani Karume, or to take their seats in the House of Representatives. In January 2001, some 30 demonstrators were killed by the security forces during an opposition demonstration on Pemba island.
Zanzibari politics
Reconciliation talks between the CCM and CUF culminated in the signing of the Muafaka (Swahili for Accord) Agreement between CCM and CUF on 10 October 2001. It provided for an inquiry into the January 2001 violence; the dropping of charges against CUF members; by-elections to fill the 16 seats left vacant by CUF and the establishment of a permanent voter register for 2005 and reform of the Zanzibar Electoral Commission (ZEC). In elections held on 30 October 2005, Amani Karume was re-elected President of Zanzibar with 53% of the vote. CCM won 30 seats and CUF took 19 seats in the House of Representatives. An additional seat was re-run and won by CCM in December.
HUMAN RIGHTS
Tanzania's generally positive human rights record has been tarnished by restrictions on the civil and political rights of opposition supporters on Zanzibar and the excesses of the security forces when managing political protest in the Isles. More generally, poor standards of policing are also cause for concern elsewhere in the country.
Human Rights Annual Report 2004
ECONOMY
Basic Economic Facts
GDP: US\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\$ 11.6bn (2006 est.)
GDP per capita: US\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\$ 303
GDP Growth: 5.8% (2006 est.)
Inflation: 6.1% (2006 est.)
Major economic sectors: agriculture, financial and business services, trade and tourism, manufacturing.
Major trading partners: UK, South Africa India, Japan, China, Kenya, and the UAE.
Tanzania's economy relies heavily on agriculture, which accounts for nearly half of GDP and employs 80% of the workforce. Tourism is growing in importance and ranks as the second highest foreign exchange earner after agriculture. Mineral production (gold, diamonds, tanzanite) has grown significantly in the last decade. It represents Tanzania's biggest source of economic growth, provides over 3% of GDP and accounts for half of Tanzania's exports.
Despite enthusiastic privatisation during the 1990s, and annual GDP growth of between 5 and 7%, the Tanzanian economy remains weak. Mkapa's Government saw through a vigorous programme of economic reform, in line with IMF guidelines. President Kikwete has pledged to continue these policies. Tough measures have included tight control of public spending, privatisation of parastatals, reform of the Investment Code, the taxation system and land ownership, steps to improve revenue collection, expenditure control and civil service retrenchment. Corruption is still endemic; Kikwete has said that addressing this will be one of his major priorities.
DEVELOPMENT
Tanzania remains one of the world's poorest countries. Over 12 million people live below the poverty line. The government's Poverty Reduction Strategy is now in its fourth year. There have been successes; primary school enrolment has risen from 53% in 1999 to 96% in 2006. But HIV/AIDS remains a major cause of premature death. Life expectancy is 48 years and falling. Aid flows are a significant part of the economy with over 40% of Tanzania's total budget funded from external sources. To improve the effectiveness of aid delivery in Tanzania the UK is a partner in the Joint Assistance Strategy, signed by Government and development partners in 2006.
United Nations Development Programme World Bank The UK is Tanzania’s largest bilateral donor. Since 2000 DfID has provided £596 million of aid, most of which has been general budget support. The UK’s annual contribution to direct budget support is due to rise to £105m in 2007/08. The balance is directed at enhancing public sector reform and public financial management, deepening democracy, strengthening civil society, and improving the investment environment and access to financial services.
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
The new East African Community (EAC) was formally launched in January 2001. It has a parliament, the East African Legislative Assembly, and a secretariat in Arusha (Tanzania). A Customs Union protocol, signed in 2004, came into effect on 1 January 2005, and the EAC has ambitious plans geared towards forming a political federation.
Great Lakes Regional conflict
Tanzania is affected by the prolonged crisis in the Great Lakes region. Large flows of refugees have had a significant negative impact. UNHCR announced on 30 January 2007 that, for the first time in more than a decade, the population of refugee camps in Tanzania had dropped below 300,000. More than 250,000 refugees have returned to their homes from Tanzania since 2002. Of those that remain, 153,000 are Burundian and 127,000 Congolese. Another 200,000 refugees live in self-supporting settlements in central Tanzania.Voluntary returns to northern Burundi began in 2002, under a tripartite commission (UNHCR, Burundi, Tanzania).
Voluntary returns to northern Burundi began in 2002, under a tripartite commission (UNHCR, Burundi, Tanzania). So far 180,000 people have returned.
SANCTIONS
UN sanctions (UNSCRs 918, 997 and 1011) impose restrictions on the sale or supply of arms and related material to persons in states neighbouring Rwanda, including Tanzania, when the goods in question are intended for use in Rwanda. To implement these measures, the United Nations Arms Embargoes Orders 1993-1998 set out the licensing requirements in the UK for all acts associated with such sale or supply. Corresponding Orders exist for the Dependent Territories and Crown Dependencies.
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