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. Zanzibar's semi-autonomous status and popular opposition have led to two contentious elections since 1995, which the ruling party won despite international observers' claims of voting irregularities.

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

• soil degradation;
• deforestation;
• desertification;
• destruction of coral reefs threatens marine habitats;
• recent droughts affected marginal agriculture;
• wildlife threatened by illegal hunting and trade, especially for ivory

party to:

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified:

none of the selected agreements

at birth:

1.03 male(s)/female

under 15 years:

1 male(s)/female

15-64 years:

0.97 male(s)/female

65 years and over:

0.77 male(s)/female

total population:

0.98 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

degree of risk:

very high

food or waterborne diseases:

bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne diseases:

malaria, Rift Valley fever and plague are high risks in some locations

water contact disease:

schistosomiasis (2004)

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

• Dar es Salaam;
• note - legislative offices have been transferred to Dodoma, which is planned as the new national capital;
• the National Assembly now meets there on regular basis

• 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 Dr. Ali Mohammed SHEIN (since 5 July 2001);
• 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 Dr. Ali Mohammed SHEIN (since 5 July 2001);
• 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; Amani Abeid KARUME was elected to that office on 29 October 2000

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 2000 (next to be held 30 October 2005);
• prime minister appointed by the president

election results:

• Benjamin William MKAPA reelected president;
• percent of vote - Benjamin William MKAPA 71.7%, Ibrahim Haruna LIPUMBA 16.3%, Augustine Lyatonga MREME 7.8%, John Momose CHEYO 4.2%

• 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 2000 (next to be held 30 October 2005)

election results:

• National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA%;
• seats by party - CCM 244, CUF 16, CHADEMA 4, TLP 3, UDP 2, Zanzibar representatives 5;
• Zanzibar House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA%;
• seats by party - CCM 34, CUF 16

• Permanent Commission of Enquiry (official ombudsman);
• Court of Appeal (consists of a chief justice and four judges);
• High Court (consists of a Jaji Kiongozi and 29 judges appointed by the president; holds regular sessions in all regions);
• District Courts;
• Primary Courts (limited jurisdiction and appeals can be made to the higher courts)

• Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Party of Democracy and Development) or CHADEMA [Bob MAKANI];
• Chama Cha Mapinduzi or CCM (Revolutionary Party) [Benjamin William MKAPA];
• Civic United Front or CUF [Ibrahim LIPUMBA];
• Democratic Party (unregistered) [Christopher MTIKLA];
• Tanzania Labor Party or TLP [Augustine Lyatonga MREME];
• United Democratic Party or UDP [John CHEYO]

chief of mission:

Ambassador Andrew Mhando DARAJA

chancery:

2139 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone:

[1] (202) 939-6125

FAX:

[1] (202) 797-7408

chief of mission:

Ambassador Robert V. ROYALL

embassy:

140 Msese Road, Kinondoni District, Dar es Salaam

mailing address:

P. O. Box 9123, Dar es Salaam

telephone:

[255] (22) 2666-010 through 2666-015

FAX:

[255] (22) 2666-701, 2668-501

lowest 10%:

2.8%

highest 10%:

30.1% (1993)

total:

3,690 km

narrow gauge:

969 km 1.067-m gauge; 2,721 km 1.000-m gauge (2004)

total:

88,200 km

paved:

3,704 km

unpaved:

84,496 km (1999 est.)

total:

11 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 25,481 GRT/31,011 DWT

by type:

cargo 2, passenger/cargo 5, petroleum tanker 4

registered in other countries:

1 (2005)

• 15 years of age for voluntary military service;
• 18 years of age for compulsory military service upon graduation from secondary school;
• conscript service obligation - 2 years (2004)