Simple directory > Regional > Tanzania

Country :Tanzania Official name: Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania (United Republic of Tanzania) Head of State: President Jakaya Kikwete (sworn in 21 December 2005) Head of government: Prime Minister Edward Lowassa (since 29 December 2005) Ruling party: Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) (Party of the Revolution) (since 1977; last re-elected 2000) Area: 945,087 square km Population: 36.58 million (2004) Capital: Dodoma (official capital where the legislature is centred); Dar es Salaam (the former capital is the largest city and de facto commercial capital) Official language: KiSwahili and English Currency: Tanzania shilling (Tsh) = 100 senti (convertible with currencies of Kenya and Uganda) Exchange rate: Tsh1,052.50 per US$ (Nov 2004) GDP per capita: US$255 (2003) GDP real growth: 5.20% (2003) Labour force: 18.70 million (2003) Inflation: 4.60% (2003) Balance of trade: -US$911.00 million (2003) Foreign debt: US$6.80 billion (2003)

Historical profile

1832 The increasing importance of Zanzibar as a spice and slave trading centre led the Sultan of Oman to transfer his capital there from Muscat. Around this time, the UK signed a number of agreements with Oman to limit the potential threat to Britain's colonies from France. Meanwhile, Germany signed a number of `friendship' treaties with local chiefs – treaties which formed the basis of the German East Africa Company which was established to exploit and colonise what became Tanganyika.

1886 The UK and Germany signed an agreement which gave Germany control of mainland Tanzania and the UK control of Zanzibar.

1918 After Germany's defeat in the First World War, the League of Nations mandated the territory to Britain.

1961 Tanganyika gained independence under Julius Nyerere and the Tanganyika Africa National Union (TANU).

1964 The United Republic of Tanzania was formed following the union of Tanganyika and Zanzibar.

1965 The constitution established a one-party system for the country, but the state was governed by two different ruling parties, one from the mainland and one from Zanzibar.

1977 The constitution established a real one-party state for the whole of Tanzania after the two parties merged to create Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) (Party of the Revolution).

1979 Tanzania invaded Uganda, forcing its dictator, Idi Amin, to flee to Saudi Arabia.

1985 Nyerere stepped down as president and was replaced by Ali Hassan Mwinyi.

1992 The constitution was amended to allow multi-party politics.

1995 The first multi-party elections took place. Benjamin William Mkapa (CCM) was elected president and the CCM was re-elected to government. The Zanzibar opposition Civil United Front (CUF) refused to accept the election results in Zanzibar.

1999 A conciliation agreement was signed between the CCM and the CUF, bringing an end to four years of hostility. Julius Nyerere, the former president and founder figure of modern Tanzania, died.

2000 President Benjamin Mkapa was re-elected for a second term. The CCM was re-elected in the parliamentary elections. Because of unfair elections in Zanzibar, a re-run was held in 16 of its 50 constituencies; it was won by the ruling party, the CCM.

2001 There were clashes in Zanzibar between supporters of CUF and the police. The CCM and the opposition CUF signed a further agreement aimed at ending hostilities on Zanzibar.

2002 The African Development Bank (ADB) signed an agreement with the Deputy Minister for Finance, Alhaj Adbisalaam Issa Khatibu, for a loan of approximately US$47 million to partially finance the Dar es Salaam water supply and sanitation project.

2003 In July, the government and the IMF reached agreement over a 2003–06 economic programme, which includes further structural reforms to reduce poverty.

2004 In March, the presidents of Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya signed a protocol in Arusha over a proposed customs union.

There's no web links here.