Tanzania

Shortly after independence, Tanganyika and Zanzibar merged to form the nation of Tanzania in 1964. One-party rule came to an end in 1995 with the first democratic elections held in the country since the 1970s.

• plains along coast;
• central plateau;
• highlands in north, south

• the tsetse fly;
• flooding on the central plateau during the rainy season;
• drought

• soil degradation;
• deforestation;
• desertification;
• destruction of coral reefs threatens marine habitats;
• recent droughts affected marginal agriculture

party to:

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection

signed, but not ratified:

none of the selected agreements

0-14 years:

45% (male 7,970,453; female 7,883,442)

15-64 years:

52% (male 9,110,501; female 9,325,726)

65 years and over:

3% (male 463,889; female 552,115) (2000 est.)

at birth:

1.03 male(s)/female

under 15 years:

1.01 male(s)/female

15-64 years:

0.98 male(s)/female

65 years and over:

0.84 male(s)/female

total population:

0.99 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

noun:

Tanzanian(s)

adjective:

Tanzanian

• mainland - native African 99% (of which 95% are Bantu consisting of more than 130 tribes), other 1% (consisting of Asian, European, and Arab);
• Zanzibar - Arab, native African, mixed Arab and native African

conventional long form:

United Republic of Tanzania

conventional short form:

Tanzania

former:

United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar

• 26 April 1964;
• Tanganyika became independent 9 December 1961 (from UK-administered UN trusteeship);
• Zanzibar became independent 19 December 1963 (from UK);
• Tanganyika united with Zanzibar 26 April 1964 to form the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar;
• renamed United Republic of Tanzania 29 October 1964

• based on English common law;
• judicial review of legislative acts limited to matters of interpretation;
• has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

chief of state:

• President Benjamin William MKAPA (since 23 November 1995);
• Vice President Omar Ali JUMA (since 23 November 1995);
• note - the president is both chief of state and head of government

head of government:

• President Benjamin William MKAPA (since 23 November 1995);
• Vice President Omar Ali JUMA (since 23 November 1995);
• note - the president is both chief of state and head of government

note: Zanzibar elects a president who is head of government for matters internal to Zanzibar; Dr. Salmin AMOUR was elected to that office on 22 October 1995

cabinet:

Cabinet ministers, including the prime minister, are appointed by the president from among the members of the National Assembly

elections:

• president and vice president elected on the same ballot by popular vote for five-year terms;
• election last held 29 October-19 November 1995 (next to be held 29 October 2000);
• prime minister appointed by the president

election results:

percent of vote - Benjamin William MKAPA 61.8%, Augustine Lyatonga MREMA 27.8%, Ibrahim Haruna LIPUMBA 6.4%, John Momose CHEYO 4%

• unicameral National Assembly or Bunge (274 seats - 232 elected by popular vote, 37 allocated to women nominated by the president, five to members of the Zanzibar House of Representatives; members serve five-year terms);
• note - in addition to enacting laws that apply to the entire United Republic of Tanzania, the Assembly enacts laws that apply only to the mainland;
• Zanzibar has its own House of Representatives to make laws especially for Zanzibar (the Zanzibar House of Representatives has 50 seats, directly elected by universal suffrage to serve five-year terms)

elections:

last held 29 October-19 November 1995 (next to be held NA October 2000)

election results:

• National Assembly: percent of vote by party - NA;
• seats by party - CCM 186, CUF 24, NCCR-Mageuzi 16, CHADEMA 3, UDP 3;
• Zanzibar House of Representatives: percent of vote by party - NA;
• seats by party - CCM 26, CUF 24

• Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo or CHADEMA [Bob MGKANI, chairman];
• Chama Cha Mapinduzi or CCM (Revolutionary Party) [Benjamin William MKAPA];
• Civic United Front or CUF [Seif Sharif HAMAD];
• Democratic Party (unregistered) [Reverend MTIKLA];
• National Convention for Construction and Reform or NCCR [Mabere MARANDO];
• Tanzania Labor Party or TLP [Augustine Lyatonga MREMA];
• Union for Multiparty Democracy or UMD [Abdullah FUNDIKIRA];
• United Democratic Party or UDP [John CHEYO]

chief of mission:

Ambassador Mustafa Salim NYANG'ANYI

chancery:

2139 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone:

[1] (202) 939-6125

FAX:

[1] (202) 797-7408

chief of mission:

Ambassador Charles R. STITH

embassy:

285 Toure Drive, Dar es Salaam (temporary location)

mailing address:

P. O. Box 9123, Dar es Salaam

telephone:

[255] (51) 666010 through 666015

FAX:

[255] (51) 666701

lowest 10%:

2.9%

highest 10%:

30.2% (1993)

total:

88,200 km

paved:

3,704 km

unpaved:

84,496 km (1996 est.)

total:

7 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 20,618 GRT/26,321 DWT

ships by type:

cargo 2, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 2, roll-on/roll-off 1 (1999 est.)