Geography

Location

The United Republic of Tanzania is located in Eastern Africa between longitude 290 and 410 East and Latitude 10 and 120 South. It shares its borders with Burundi, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Uganda, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Its natural eastern border is the Indian Ocean with a coastline length of 1,424 km. Tanzania is the largest nation in the East Africa, both in land area and population.

The United Republic of Tanzania has a population of about 36.2 Million (2004 est.) covering a total area of 945,087 sq.km including 61,000 of water. Tanzania’s population has been growing at a rate of 2.9% annually.

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 also over 61,000sq. km (23,500sq.miles) of inland water. The Zanzibar Islands, 36km from Mainland, are fertile, hilly, and densely populated on their western sides, low and thinly populated on their eastern sides.

Climate

Tanzania is essentially divided into four main climatic zones namely: hot humid coastal plain; hot, semi-arid zone of the central plateau; high-moist lake regions; and temperate highland areas. Generally, the country has a tropical type of climate.

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History

Tanzania’s history is as old as the history of mankind. Since the discovery of the remains and footprints of what was believed to be the nearest kin to mankind- homo habilis (Zinjanthropus) and homo sapiens – in 1959 and 1979 in the Olduvai Gorge and Laetoli Footprints respectively, within the world-famous Ngorongoro Crater by the late Dr. Louis Leakey and his wife, the country has been considered as the cradle of mankind. Over the past 2000 years, the country has seen various influences on its population beginning with Phoenicians, Persian/Arab merchants, Portuguese explorers, slave traders from various parts of the world and finally colonisers. Tanzania has been a scene of colonisation wars between major European powers and struggles for independence with some - like the Majimaji War of the heroic Hehe tribe-becoming bloody.

Arab merchants established settlements along the country’s coast as early as in the 7th/8th century. These were followed by the Portuguese in the 16th century who were taken-over by the Omanis in the 17th century. The short reign of the Portuguese resulted in the coming of European missionaries and explorers beginning in the late 18th century after which the Germans took over the mainland and gave it the name “Deutsche Ost Afrika” while Zanzibar became a British protectorate under the agreement with the Oman sultan. When Britain conquered Germany at the end of the First World War, the mainland was ruled by Her Majesty’s reign and renamed Tanganyika.

Britain continued ruling the country as a UN Trust territory until 1961 when Tanganyika achieved her independence under the late Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere. Following the revolution on Zanzibar island led by Abeid Amani Karume in January 1964, the two merged in April the same year to form what has since then been known as the United Republic of Tanzania. Since independence, the then Tanganyika African National Union (TANU) has ruled the country until 1977 when a merger between TANU and Afro-Shiraz parties resulted in the formation of Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), under a single party constitution.

Tanzania is the only country in Africa to have sacrificed its independence for the liberation of other African countries to the south of its boarder. This sacrifice was in the form of monetary contribution, military training and logistical support, accommodation of military training facilities in various parts of the country as well as the life of its citizens killed mostly by Portuguese invading forces in the southern regions in the country. Tanzania-which was considered a safe heaven for freedom fighters from countries that were still under the yoke of colonialism in the sixties, seventies and early eighties-played a pivotal role in the liberation struggle of Mozambique, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Angola and Namibia. Political parties in both Malawi and Zambia, at one time or another, had their offices in the country.

Multi-partyism in Tanzania has the highest degree of political tolerance compared to many emerging democracies. Apart from their political differences, Tanzanians have learnt to live together and participate in various activities as people of one nation.

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Culture

Culturally, Tanzania has been described as one of the most diverse countries in Africa and this is reflected in the fact that there are more than 120 local languages spoken in the country. Swahili is the national language that is widely spoken while English is the official language of education; administration and business.

Local people are native African 99% (of which 95% are Bantu consisting of more than 120 tribes) and the remaining 1% consisting of Asians, Europeans, and Arabs. The present population of Tanzania was well over 36.2 million, growing at an annual rate of 2.9%. (2005)

Most of the population belong to Christianity and Moslem religions though there is a small number of Hindus and atheists.

Generally, Tanzania culture is a product of African, Arab, European and Indian influences. Traditional African values are being consciously adapted to modern life, although at a much slower pace among the Maasai.

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Politics

The constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania provides for a Multi Party political system. Currently there are about eighteen (18) registered political parties which also participated in the 2005 Presidential and Parliamentary elections. (www.nec.go.tz)

For purposes of conducting Multi-Party elections, there is an independent National Electoral Commission (NEC) whose main functions are: Supervision and coordination of registration of voters; Conducting the election of the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Union Parliamentarians, and councilors in Tanzania Mainland; Review and demarcation of electoral districts in the United Republic of Tanzania for purposes of Parliamentary and Councilors elections.

Since 1992, when the Multi-Party Political System was introduced in Tanzania, there have been three successful Presidential and Parliamentary elections. The first such election was conducted in 1995, followed by the 2000, and the 2005 elections. In all cases, the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) won the election by a landslide.

In the international arena, Tanzania’s history of stability and peaceful political transition makes it a strong candidate for political transition mediation and a broker of peace negotiations, particularly in the Great Lakes region.