Country regions: Zanzibar - Unguja Zanzibar - Pemba
Situated on the coast of central east Africa, Tanzania is the name given to the mainland (formerly Tanganyika) and the semi-autonomous islands of Zanzibar. After years of colonisation from Germany and Britain, Tanganyika gained its independence in 1961.
Prior to independence, Julius Nyerere led the Tanganyika African National Union (TANU) with the aim to fight for Tanganyika’s right to regulate its own internal affairs. TANU quickly became the leading political organisation in the country after apealing for members and rigorous campaigning. Subsequently, Nyerere was deemed Prime Minister when Tanganyika became officially independent in 1961. Soon after independence, Nyerere's administration adopted African-socialist principals, and became determined not to depend on Western resources to aid Tanzania’s development.
While Nyerere’s rule did boost the literacy rates of the country, his administration led Tanzania into further under-development. Lack of food production and tourism and escalating foreign debt payments enabled Tanzania’s poverty rates to sore. Only in 1985 when Nyerere stepped down, did Tanzania begin the slow process towards reform. Despite this Nyerere is seen as the father of modern Tanzania and is called by the name mwalimu (meaning teacher).
Zanzibar
While mainland Tanzania adopted a socialist regime, Zanzibar became a sultanate once again after its release from British rule. However, In 1964, a violent revolution on Zanzibar, led by the Afro-Shirazi Party (ASP) who represented the majority African population, ousted the Arab rulers and expelled huge numbers of the Arab population from the island. Soon afterwards Zanzibar signed a declaration of unity with Tanganyika, to form the United Republic of Tanzania (hence Tan-zan-ia). Zanzibari people elect their own president who is head of government for matters internal to Zanzibar and the vice president of Tanzania.
Whilst Abeid Amani Karume became the first President of Zanzibar, Nyerere continued to govern Tanzania. Karume’s republic became a one-party state with political parties banned. However, in what many believe to be a revenge attack from dissident Arabs, Karume was assassinated in 1972. Presidents Ali Mwinyi and Salmin Amour of Tanzania and Zanzibar respectively (who had been inaugurated in 1990) ushered in multi-party politics in the 1990s.
More recently, under the leadership of President Amani Abeid Karume (son of the late first president), the Chama Cha Mapinduzi’s (CCM) rule has been problematic. Elections in 2000 and 2005 were deemed fraudulent by the international community and looked particularly bad compared to the fair and peaceful elections on the mainland. That said, there have been recent attempts by the CCM to foster and encourage a calmer political climate.
Although being spared the internal ethnic divisions so common within other African nations, Tanzania remains one of the world’s poorest countries and Zanzibar has suffered political violence recently. Much of the population live below the poverty line and the country relies heavily on foreign aid and credit.
Zanzibar comprises the Zanzibar Archipelago in the Indian Ocean and consist of numerous small islands and two large ones: Unguja and Pemba.
Unguja is the largest and most populated island of Zanzibar. The main settlement on the island is Zanzibar City that serves as capital for Zanzibar and includes the historical city of Stone Town, home to the local Zanziberi government. Unguja remains the island that has the most developed tourism industry that accounts for a substantial part of its economy.
Pemba is situated 50 kilometres north of Unguja. It is famous for its rich fishing grounds, great concentration of clove trees and dive sites with steep drop-offs, untouched coral and very abundant marine life.
Other key facts and figures
- Life Expectancy: 55.9 (World Bank Figure 2009)
- Poverty Rate: Over 50%
- Religions: Zanzibar – mainly Islam; Mainland – Islam, Christianity and other indigenous religions
