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United Republic of Tanzania

History

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Country Facts

Modern-day Tanzania's historical roots date back to the formative centuries of the Christian era (C.E.). Between 500 and 1000 C.E. Bantu migrants, Nilotes and various migrants from the north joined the region’s indigenous inhabitants. During the eighth century Tanzania's coastal areas came into contact with Arab traders, who were primarily interested in obtaining slaves and eventually established a highly developed slave trading network along the East African coast. Traders and immigrants from areas such as Persia and India soon joined them. By the end of the fifteenth century, the Portuguese had arrived on the region's shores and attempted to claim the coastal area for themselves. Their power, however, was extremely limited and by the beginning of the nineteenth century, a collaborative effort, between the Omani and the indigenous inhabitants, successfully ended the Portuguese presence on the coast. Shortly thereafter the Omani Sultan, Seyyid Said, declared the coastal areas his and in 1841 relocated his capital to Zanzibar. It was at this time that European explorers began to penetrate the region's hinterland. Forty years later Germany began the process of colonizing the area and through a series of Anglo-German treaties demarcated their territorial boundaries with Britain. Having assumed power over the area controlled by Sultan Said, the Germans moved their colonial headquarters to Dar es Salaam in 1891.

Resistance to colonialism came early on. The Maji-Maji rebellion of 1905-1907 was a unified attempt on the part of Tanganyika's indigenous inhabitants to regain control of their independence. Their efforts, however, were met with a violent response on the part of the Germans. Approximately 120,000 Africans died during the rebellion. German colonial control was brought to an end after WWI and subsequently replaced by British rule under a League of Nations mandate. In the years, following WWII the push towards independence was forcefully underway.

In 1954, the Honorable Julius Nyerere organized the Tanganyika African National Union (TANU). By 1960, the colony had attained internal self-government; by 1961, it achieved full independence and in 1962, it became a republic with Nyerere serving as its first president. In 1964, Tanganyika united with Zanzibar and their union took the name of the United Republic of Tanzania. Nyerere held the presidency until 1985, when his vice-president, Ali Hassan Mwinyi, replaced him. Before 1990, Tanzania had functioned under a one party political system. By 1992, however, significant strides towards democracy were underway with the legalization of opposition parties. In 1995, the first multiparty elections were held, during which Tanzania's current chief of state, President Mkapa was elected. Tanzania currently has no less than 13 registered political parties.

Chairman's Statement:

Nearly 70 % of diamonds in Tanzania are of gem quality. The Williamson mine, located in Mwadui, is Tanzania's only operating mine and produces some high quality pink and green diamonds. It has been in production since the 1930's and is one of the world's largest diamondiferous kimberlite pipes. While its annual production has in the past peaked at a high of nearly 2 million carats a year, recent output fell to 320 000 carats in 2000. In light of the mines' inevitable exhaustion, exploration is currently underway to locate other potentially lucrative kimberlite pipes throughout Tanzania. Thus far, 60 out of the 300 kimberlite pipes discovered have been deemed diamondiferous.

President: His Excellency Jakaya Mrisho KIKWETE

Minister for Energy and Minerals: William Mganga NGELEJE

Mineral Resources Department (MRD)

P.O. Box 903

Dodoma, Tanzania

Telephone: +255 61 24943

Fax: +255 61 24943

Population: 41,892,895

Capital: Dodoma

Major languages: English and KiSwahili (both are official languages), Arabic

Major religions: Christianity, Islam, Indigenous Belief Systems

Life expectancy: 51 years (men), 53 years (women)

Monetary unit: 1 Tanzanian shilling = 100 cents

Main exports: Sisal, cloves, coffee, cotton, cashew nuts, minerals, tobacco

Average annual income: US $280

Internet domain: .tz

International dialing code: +255