History

Tanzania as it is now came into being with the union of Tanganyika and Zanzibar in 1964. Tanganyika had been administered by the British since 1919, under a mandate by the League of Nations after previously becoming part of German East Africa after the colonial carving up of the continent.

In foreign policy, Tanzania used to turn to China but has always had good relations with the West, which have since flourished. Moreover, Tanzania has proved itself an active player in regional politics, having given consistent support to anti-colonial guerrilla movements in Southern Africa. It intervened militarily in Uganda in 1979, to overthrow the Amin regime. Relations with the post-apartheid government in South Africa have been good. Tanzania was a founder member of the Southern African Development Co-ordination Conference and has been a prominent participant in the Organisation of African Unity.

In 1985, Ali Hassan Mwinyi, former President of Zanzibar, became president of Tanzania, replacing Nyerere who retured. Under Mwinyi economic reform proceeded slowly in the face of a large and fairly corrupt state bureaucracy.

Meanwhile there was major discontent in Zanzibar, where relations with the mainland were already strained over the conduct of the previous election. In 1993, Zanzibar became a member the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (the island has a large population descended from Arab traders). The island has also experienced strong economic growth in recent years, in contrast with the stagnation of the mainland economy. Both factors are symptomatic of the growing distance between the two parts of Tanzania, although there is no immediate prospect of a separation.

With widespread vote rigging, violence and intimidation, recent electoral processes have been consistently shambolic. This has only served to underscore Zanzibar’s increasing dislocation from the rest of Tanzania and what many perceive as a drive for autonomy amongst some islanders.

The Rwandan genocide had a major impact on the Tanzania, not least in the form of thousands of Rwandan refugees who crossed the border to seek help from their neighbour. Tanzania is also hosting the trials of some of the major perpetrators, who have been extradited from elsewhere in Africa (Kenya and Gabon, for example), in parallel with those in Rwanda itself.

As one of Africa’s poorest countries, Tanzania has benefited greatly from a recently-inaugurated programme of debt relief. As a result, an estimated £2 billion owed by Tanzania was written off at the end of 2001.

Tanzania has remained enviably untouched by the tribal rivalries and political upheavals that plague many of its neighbours, and this – combined with a booming tourism industry – makes it an ideal choice for both first-time visitors and Africa old hands, as all its treasures are tantalisingly accessible. The country is home to over 120 different ethnic groups and takes much pride in its multicultural heritage.