1.0 Geography
The United Republic of Tanzania is located in the Eastern African Continent between longitude 290 and 410. East: Latitude 10 and 120 South; Most Northerly point: Bukoba 10South latitude; Most Southerly point: Mtalika 120South Latitude; Most Westerly point Kigoma 290East of Greenwich and Most Easterly point: Mtwara 410East of Greenwich.
It borders on the Indian Ocean to the east, and has land borders with eight countries: anti-clockwise from the north, Kenya 796km, Uganda 396km, Rwanda 217km, Burundi 451km, the Democratic Republic of Congo (across Lake Tanganyika)478km, Zambia 338km, Malawi 475km and Mozambique 750km, making a total of 3900 km. The country includes Zanzibar (consisting of the main island Unguja and Pemba; see below).
Area:
Total area, including inland water and Zanzibar, is 945.234 sq. km. (365,000 sq. miles), of which 886,040 sq. km is land and 62,050 sq. km is water. The coastline is 1,424 km of which over 500 miles is of pure white sandy and unspoiled beaches.
Topography:
The country comprises several distinct zones: a fertile coastal belt, the Masai Steppe and mountain ranges to the north, with Mt. Kilimanjaro rising to 5,895m and Mount Meru 4,566m, and a high plateau in the central and southern regions. There are over 61,000sq. km (23.500sq. miles) of inland water. Unguja Island, 36km from the Mainland, is fertile, hilly, and densely populated on the west side, low and thinly peopled in the east.
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2.0 History
Britain was, at the time, concerned with the islands of Zanzibar and Pemba , which were declared a British Protectorate in 1890. In 1919, the League of Nations gave Britain a mandate to administer part of German East Africa, now known as Tanganyika (Belgium, with a similar mandate, took over the administration of Ruanda and Urundi = Rwanda and Burundi). In 1946 Tanganyika became a UN trust territory.
A legislative council was set up in 1926, it was enlarged in 1945 and restructured in 1955 to give equal representation to Africans, Asians and Europeans, sitting as 30 "'unofficials" with the 31 "officials". In 1954, a schoolteacher, Julius Nyerere, founded the Tanganyika African National Union (TANU), which promoted African nationalism and won a large public following. The colonial authorities responded with constitutional changes increasing the voice of the African population while reserving seats for minority communities.
Elections were held in 1958-9 and again in 1960. The result was overwhelming victory for TANU, which was by this period campaigning for independence as well as majority rule. The new government and British Government agreed at a constitutional conference in London to full independence for Tanganyika in December 1961. Zanzibar achieved independence in 1963 as a separate and sovereign country, under the al-Busaidy Sultan.
Tanganyika became a republic in December 1962, one year after achieving independence, and the direct presidential election brought TANU's leader, Julius Nyerere, to the presidency. In 1965 the Constitution was changed to establish a one-party system. Meanwhile, in Zanzibar, a revolution had overthrown the Arab Sultan in 12 th January 1964, one month since independence: the Constitution was abrogated: Abedi Amani Karume was declared the first African President of Peoples' Republic of Zanzibar and the country became a one-party state under the Afro-Shirazi Party.
In 26 th April 1964 Tanganyika and Zanzibar united as the United Republic of Tanzania, Julius Nyerere as President and the head of state, while Karume as his Vice President, retaining at the same time Presidency of Zanzibar. In 1971 Karume was assassinated in Zanzibar and Aboud Jumbe succeeded him as President of Zanzibar and Vice President of Tanzania.
In 1977, the two ruling parties: TANU and Afro Shirazi Party, merged to form the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM).
Presidential elections, for the Union , are held every five years from 1965 with, under the one-party system, the electorate voting yes or no to a single presidential candidate. In general elections (held at the same time as the presidential elections) the choice was between two candidates put forward by the CCM. Pressure for reform grew within Tanzania and among international donors. The government of Ali Hassan Mwinyi responded with constitutional changes which permitted opposition parties from 1992 and so brought in a multiparty system under which parliamentary and presidential elections were held in October 1995 and contested by 13 political parties
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3.0 Culture
Population :
Tanzania 's population was estimated at 29,646,753 (July 1997 est.), giving a rate of population growth 1985-95 period of 3.0% pa. , and 1.6% (1997 est.) Outside the urban areas, most of the country is sparsely populated. The birth rate is 46.0 per 1,000 populations (1997) and death rate: 15.0 deaths per 1,000 (1997 est.). Life expectancy is 49 years, 47 for men and 50 for women (1996).
Age structure :
0-14 years: 47.1% (male 6,597,703; female 6,638,333); 15-64 years: 52% (male 7,496,133; female 7,868,581) and 65 years and over: 3% (male 399,747; female 460,256) (July 1997 est.) Most of the people are of Bantu origin representing 95%, with some 120 tribes on the mainland, none of which exceeds 10% of the population, others are of Asian, Arab and Afro-Arab and European. The biggest African group is the Sukuma: others include Masai, Haya, Gogo, Nyamwezi. Chagga. There are people of mix blood in the coastal area known as Swahilis as well as Asian, Arabs and expatriate minorities.
Religion :
Traditional beliefs (30%), Islam (35%) and Christianity (35%) est.
Language :
The official language is Kiswahili, which is universally spoken, in addition to various local languages, and is the medium of instruction in all primary schools. English is second official language, the country's commercial language and also the main teaching language for all scientific subjects in secondary schools and higher education institutions, Arabic (widely spoken in coastal areas, particularly Zanzibar ).
Enrolment in primary school education rose from 34% of the relevant age group in 1970 to 68% in I 992, but is still far from the national goal of compulsory universal primary education. Secondary enrolment figures have been low, at 5.5% of primary school leavers in 1985, but strong emphasis on secondary education increased this proportion to 14.5% by 1995 (186,246 pupils in total).
Culture:
Tanzania culture is a product of African, Arab, European and Indian influences. Traditional African values are being consciously adapted to modern life.
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4.0 National politics
Presidential and parliamentary elections under the multiparty system were held on 29 October 1995, and contested by 13 registered Political Parties. These were Tanzania’s first multiparty elections in 30 years. At Tanzania’s request, a team of Commonwealth observers attended. The elections were not completed on schedule, as the National Electoral Commission found irregularities at certain polling stations. As a result, it annulled the vote in seven Dar-es-Salaam constituencies and arranged for these to be re-run on 17 November. The Commonwealth observers concurred with the view of the Commission. On 13 November, ten opposition parties announced that they would boycott the repeat elections, and all the opposition presidential candidates withdrew.
After the re-run elections on 17 November, the CCM emerged with a substantial majority (approximately 75% of the vote) in the parliamentary elections. The presidential election held at the same time brought to power CCM leader Benjamin Mkapa. (Mwinyi, who had served two terms as President, was not eligible to stand again and had retired before the election.) Mkapa was duly inaugurated as President of Tanzania.
In Zanzibar, the election returns were strongly disputed by the opposition. The CUF (Civic United Front), which enjoys strong support on Pemba, claimed -contrary to the result legally declared by the Electoral Commission- that its leader Seif Shariff Hamad was returned as President; it therefore refused to recognise the officially returned President, Dr. Salmin Amour of the CCM. The CUF, with 48% of seats in the Zanzibar House of Representatives, decided to boycott the house and refused to recognise the dully elected President of Zanzibar. Political tension followed ever since, where some CUF’s supporters with the encouragement from few members of leadership vied to make the Island ungovernable. Verbal political skirmishes between active supporters of both parties increased. Mwalimu Nyerere (with the backing of the Organisation of African Unity) called on Zanzibar leadership to resolve the "impasse" by forming a coalition government of CCM and CUF. However, due to CUF’s behaviour in addition to their demand for presidency for Hamad , Amour could not accept the advice and hence there has been an "impasse". Although the presidential election result remained disputed by CUF, its leader Hamad had become increasingly marginalised by spring 1997.
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5.0 Economy
The economy is heavily dependent on agriculture, which accounts for 57% of DGP, provides 85% of exports, and employs 90% of the total work force. Topography and dependence on climatic conditions, however, limit cultivated crops to only 4% of the land area. Industry accounts for 17% of GDP and is mainly limited to processing agricultural products and light consumer goods. The economic recovery program announced in mid-1986 has generated notable increases in agricultural production and financial support for the program by bilateral donors. The World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and bilateral donors have provided funds to rehabilitate Tanzania’s weak economic infrastructure. Growth in 1991-96 has featured a pickup in industrial production and a substantial increase in output of mineral, led by gold. Recent banking reform have helped increase private sector growth and investment.
Tanzanian shilling, valued at TShs. 616=US$ on 5 December 1997, having fallen from TShs. 195=US$ in 1990. The currency became convertible within the East African region in 1996. GNP:
Tanzania was classified by the World Bank as the world's second-poorest country, in 1993, but has since risen by two positions and there are more positive indications. It is a low income country with per capita GNP at US$90 in 1993 and $120 in 1995. (GNP figures for mainland Tanzania only.) Total GNP was US$3,703m in 1995, when GDP (at market prices) was TShs.788bn. and real growth 4%. Growth for 1996 is estimated at 5.0%. Real per capita GNP growth in the period 1985-95 averaged 1.0% pa.
Inflation:
In 1994, mainland inflation was running at 33%, having crept up through the 1990s: it then fell to 28.4% in 1995 and to 15% in 1996 and to around 13% 1997. The current trend is still downward fall.
Investment:
Liberalisation measures are being taken and legislation for a stock exchange has been passed. The World Bank’s soft-loan arm, IDA, has provided US$13m to finance a five-year plan for mining development. This has helped to attract a number of international companies which began new operations in Tanzania in 1995 and1996 (see "Mining" below).
Trade:
The principal exports are coffee, cotton, manufactures, cashew nuts, minerals, tea, sisal, tobacco and pyrethrum; the main imports are machinery and transport equipment, textiles and clothing, petroleum products and food and drink. Main export partners are Germany, Japan, India, Belgium-Luxembourg and Britain. Main import partners are Britain, Kenya, Japan, Saudi Arabia, India and China. Total exports were valued at US$683m in 1995 and imports $1,397m. Although production of export commodities is increasing, many of Tanzania’s main exports such as tea, tobacco and gold are suffering from falling world prices.
Currency restrictions:
Import and export of local currency is prohibited. Under the new financial liberalisation policy, free import of foreign currency is allowed; export is limited to US$ 10,000 or the amount declared on arrival, except for approved investment enterprises which are allowed free transfer of currency in business matters.
Regional affiliations:
Tanzania is a member of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA). In March 1996 Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda set up the East African Co-operation Secretariat, reviving the old economic ties of the defunct: East African Community, with the object of assisting mutual trade and investment co-operation between the three countries (see below East African Co-operation).
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6.0 Climate
Varies with geographical zones: tropical on the coast, where it is hot and humid (rainy season March-May): semi-temperate in the mountains (with the Short Rains (Masika) in November - December and the Long Rains (Vuli) in February - May): and drier (Kiangazi) in the plateau region with considerable seasonal variations in temperature. Total rainfall increases towards the north around lake Victoria. Rainfall is well distributed throughout the year reaching peak during the period of March and May
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The United Republic of Tanzania is located in the Eastern African Continent between longitude 290 and 410. East: Latitude 10 and 120 South; Most Northerly point: Bukoba 10South latitude; Most Southerly point: Mtalika 120South Latitude; Most Westerly point Kigoma 290East of Greenwich and Most Easterly point: Mtwara 410East of Greenwich.
It borders on the Indian Ocean to the east, and has land borders with eight countries: anti-clockwise from the north, Kenya 796km, Uganda 396km, Rwanda 217km, Burundi 451km, the Democratic Republic of Congo (across Lake Tanganyika)478km, Zambia 338km, Malawi 475km and Mozambique 750km, making a total of 3900 km. The country includes Zanzibar (consisting of the main island Unguja and Pemba; see below).
Area:
Total area, including inland water and Zanzibar, is 945.234 sq. km. (365,000 sq. miles), of which 886,040 sq. km is land and 62,050 sq. km is water. The coastline is 1,424 km of which over 500 miles is of pure white sandy and unspoiled beaches.
Topography:
The country comprises several distinct zones: a fertile coastal belt, the Masai Steppe and mountain ranges to the north, with Mt. Kilimanjaro rising to 5,895m and Mount Meru 4,566m, and a high plateau in the central and southern regions. There are over 61,000sq. km (23.500sq. miles) of inland water. Unguja Island, 36km from the Mainland, is fertile, hilly, and densely populated on the west side, low and thinly peopled in the east.
2.0 History
Britain was, at the time, concerned with the islands of Zanzibar and Pemba , which were declared a British Protectorate in 1890. In 1919, the League of Nations gave Britain a mandate to administer part of German East Africa, now known as Tanganyika (Belgium, with a similar mandate, took over the administration of Ruanda and Urundi = Rwanda and Burundi). In 1946 Tanganyika became a UN trust territory.
A legislative council was set up in 1926, it was enlarged in 1945 and restructured in 1955 to give equal representation to Africans, Asians and Europeans, sitting as 30 "'unofficials" with the 31 "officials". In 1954, a schoolteacher, Julius Nyerere, founded the Tanganyika African National Union (TANU), which promoted African nationalism and won a large public following. The colonial authorities responded with constitutional changes increasing the voice of the African population while reserving seats for minority communities.
Elections were held in 1958-9 and again in 1960. The result was overwhelming victory for TANU, which was by this period campaigning for independence as well as majority rule. The new government and British Government agreed at a constitutional conference in London to full independence for Tanganyika in December 1961. Zanzibar achieved independence in 1963 as a separate and sovereign country, under the al-Busaidy Sultan.
Tanganyika became a republic in December 1962, one year after achieving independence, and the direct presidential election brought TANU's leader, Julius Nyerere, to the presidency. In 1965 the Constitution was changed to establish a one-party system. Meanwhile, in Zanzibar, a revolution had overthrown the Arab Sultan in 12 th January 1964, one month since independence: the Constitution was abrogated: Abedi Amani Karume was declared the first African President of Peoples' Republic of Zanzibar and the country became a one-party state under the Afro-Shirazi Party.
In 26 th April 1964 Tanganyika and Zanzibar united as the United Republic of Tanzania, Julius Nyerere as President and the head of state, while Karume as his Vice President, retaining at the same time Presidency of Zanzibar. In 1971 Karume was assassinated in Zanzibar and Aboud Jumbe succeeded him as President of Zanzibar and Vice President of Tanzania.
In 1977, the two ruling parties: TANU and Afro Shirazi Party, merged to form the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM).
Presidential elections, for the Union , are held every five years from 1965 with, under the one-party system, the electorate voting yes or no to a single presidential candidate. In general elections (held at the same time as the presidential elections) the choice was between two candidates put forward by the CCM. Pressure for reform grew within Tanzania and among international donors. The government of Ali Hassan Mwinyi responded with constitutional changes which permitted opposition parties from 1992 and so brought in a multiparty system under which parliamentary and presidential elections were held in October 1995 and contested by 13 political parties
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3.0 Culture
Population :
Tanzania 's population was estimated at 29,646,753 (July 1997 est.), giving a rate of population growth 1985-95 period of 3.0% pa. , and 1.6% (1997 est.) Outside the urban areas, most of the country is sparsely populated. The birth rate is 46.0 per 1,000 populations (1997) and death rate: 15.0 deaths per 1,000 (1997 est.). Life expectancy is 49 years, 47 for men and 50 for women (1996).
Age structure :
0-14 years: 47.1% (male 6,597,703; female 6,638,333); 15-64 years: 52% (male 7,496,133; female 7,868,581) and 65 years and over: 3% (male 399,747; female 460,256) (July 1997 est.) Most of the people are of Bantu origin representing 95%, with some 120 tribes on the mainland, none of which exceeds 10% of the population, others are of Asian, Arab and Afro-Arab and European. The biggest African group is the Sukuma: others include Masai, Haya, Gogo, Nyamwezi. Chagga. There are people of mix blood in the coastal area known as Swahilis as well as Asian, Arabs and expatriate minorities.
Religion :
Traditional beliefs (30%), Islam (35%) and Christianity (35%) est.
Language :
The official language is Kiswahili, which is universally spoken, in addition to various local languages, and is the medium of instruction in all primary schools. English is second official language, the country's commercial language and also the main teaching language for all scientific subjects in secondary schools and higher education institutions, Arabic (widely spoken in coastal areas, particularly Zanzibar ).
Enrolment in primary school education rose from 34% of the relevant age group in 1970 to 68% in I 992, but is still far from the national goal of compulsory universal primary education. Secondary enrolment figures have been low, at 5.5% of primary school leavers in 1985, but strong emphasis on secondary education increased this proportion to 14.5% by 1995 (186,246 pupils in total).
Culture:
Tanzania culture is a product of African, Arab, European and Indian influences. Traditional African values are being consciously adapted to modern life.
4.0 National politics
Presidential and parliamentary elections under the multiparty system were held on 29 October 1995, and contested by 13 registered Political Parties. These were Tanzania’s first multiparty elections in 30 years. At Tanzania’s request, a team of Commonwealth observers attended. The elections were not completed on schedule, as the National Electoral Commission found irregularities at certain polling stations. As a result, it annulled the vote in seven Dar-es-Salaam constituencies and arranged for these to be re-run on 17 November. The Commonwealth observers concurred with the view of the Commission. On 13 November, ten opposition parties announced that they would boycott the repeat elections, and all the opposition presidential candidates withdrew.
After the re-run elections on 17 November, the CCM emerged with a substantial majority (approximately 75% of the vote) in the parliamentary elections. The presidential election held at the same time brought to power CCM leader Benjamin Mkapa. (Mwinyi, who had served two terms as President, was not eligible to stand again and had retired before the election.) Mkapa was duly inaugurated as President of Tanzania.
In Zanzibar, the election returns were strongly disputed by the opposition. The CUF (Civic United Front), which enjoys strong support on Pemba, claimed -contrary to the result legally declared by the Electoral Commission- that its leader Seif Shariff Hamad was returned as President; it therefore refused to recognise the officially returned President, Dr. Salmin Amour of the CCM. The CUF, with 48% of seats in the Zanzibar House of Representatives, decided to boycott the house and refused to recognise the dully elected President of Zanzibar. Political tension followed ever since, where some CUF’s supporters with the encouragement from few members of leadership vied to make the Island ungovernable. Verbal political skirmishes between active supporters of both parties increased. Mwalimu Nyerere (with the backing of the Organisation of African Unity) called on Zanzibar leadership to resolve the "impasse" by forming a coalition government of CCM and CUF. However, due to CUF’s behaviour in addition to their demand for presidency for Hamad , Amour could not accept the advice and hence there has been an "impasse". Although the presidential election result remained disputed by CUF, its leader Hamad had become increasingly marginalised by spring 1997.
5.0 Economy
The economy is heavily dependent on agriculture, which accounts for 57% of DGP, provides 85% of exports, and employs 90% of the total work force. Topography and dependence on climatic conditions, however, limit cultivated crops to only 4% of the land area. Industry accounts for 17% of GDP and is mainly limited to processing agricultural products and light consumer goods. The economic recovery program announced in mid-1986 has generated notable increases in agricultural production and financial support for the program by bilateral donors. The World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and bilateral donors have provided funds to rehabilitate Tanzania’s weak economic infrastructure. Growth in 1991-96 has featured a pickup in industrial production and a substantial increase in output of mineral, led by gold. Recent banking reform have helped increase private sector growth and investment.
- GDP- purchasing power parity: $18.9 billion (1995 est.)
- GDP -real growth rate: 4.2% (1996)
- GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity: $ 650 (1995 est.)
- GDP-composition by sector: agriculture: 57%; industry: 17% and services: 26% (1994 est.)
Tanzanian shilling, valued at TShs. 616=US$ on 5 December 1997, having fallen from TShs. 195=US$ in 1990. The currency became convertible within the East African region in 1996. GNP:
Tanzania was classified by the World Bank as the world's second-poorest country, in 1993, but has since risen by two positions and there are more positive indications. It is a low income country with per capita GNP at US$90 in 1993 and $120 in 1995. (GNP figures for mainland Tanzania only.) Total GNP was US$3,703m in 1995, when GDP (at market prices) was TShs.788bn. and real growth 4%. Growth for 1996 is estimated at 5.0%. Real per capita GNP growth in the period 1985-95 averaged 1.0% pa.
Inflation:
In 1994, mainland inflation was running at 33%, having crept up through the 1990s: it then fell to 28.4% in 1995 and to 15% in 1996 and to around 13% 1997. The current trend is still downward fall.
Investment:
Liberalisation measures are being taken and legislation for a stock exchange has been passed. The World Bank’s soft-loan arm, IDA, has provided US$13m to finance a five-year plan for mining development. This has helped to attract a number of international companies which began new operations in Tanzania in 1995 and1996 (see "Mining" below).
Trade:
The principal exports are coffee, cotton, manufactures, cashew nuts, minerals, tea, sisal, tobacco and pyrethrum; the main imports are machinery and transport equipment, textiles and clothing, petroleum products and food and drink. Main export partners are Germany, Japan, India, Belgium-Luxembourg and Britain. Main import partners are Britain, Kenya, Japan, Saudi Arabia, India and China. Total exports were valued at US$683m in 1995 and imports $1,397m. Although production of export commodities is increasing, many of Tanzania’s main exports such as tea, tobacco and gold are suffering from falling world prices.
Currency restrictions:
Import and export of local currency is prohibited. Under the new financial liberalisation policy, free import of foreign currency is allowed; export is limited to US$ 10,000 or the amount declared on arrival, except for approved investment enterprises which are allowed free transfer of currency in business matters.
Regional affiliations:
Tanzania is a member of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA). In March 1996 Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda set up the East African Co-operation Secretariat, reviving the old economic ties of the defunct: East African Community, with the object of assisting mutual trade and investment co-operation between the three countries (see below East African Co-operation).
6.0 Climate
Varies with geographical zones: tropical on the coast, where it is hot and humid (rainy season March-May): semi-temperate in the mountains (with the Short Rains (Masika) in November - December and the Long Rains (Vuli) in February - May): and drier (Kiangazi) in the plateau region with considerable seasonal variations in temperature. Total rainfall increases towards the north around lake Victoria. Rainfall is well distributed throughout the year reaching peak during the period of March and May