Independent Africa: Tanzania
- British colony of Tanganyika became independent in 1961
- In 1964: Tanganyika unites with Zanzibar to form Tanzania
- First president: Julius Nyerere
• Tanganyika African National Union [TANU]
- Tanzania adopted an ambitious & far reaching system of African Socialism
• Political and economic goals for new state
- Significant demographic diversity: 125 ethnic groups & 100 languages & dialects
Origins of African Socialism in Tanzania
- Tanzania did not implement socialist policies for first few years after independence
- It adopted the welfare and development programmes from the colonial era
- Independence was slow
1. British civil servants remained in country to train African replacements
2. Attempts made to expand education [that had been neglected under the British]
& promote indigenous entrepreneurship
3. Co-operatives set up for peasants to control marketing of crops
- Nyerere was critical of capitalism but:
• Tanzania depended on flow of investments from Western countries
• Lack of resources made it an unattractive investment destination
- After 5 years of independence: Nyerere was concerned about the low economic
growth and the direction the country was heading in
- Problems after 5 years:
• Dependence on foreign investment was draining wealth towards industrialised
capitalist world
• Tanzania’s relations with western world deteriorated due to:
- Issues over Rhodesia where Britain failed to prevent white settlers from seizing
control & declaring independence
• Position of majority population [poor rural farmers] had not improved
• Government employees & politicians more concerned about acquiring wealth for
themselves instead of assisting development
- Private greed was increasing class divisions in African society
, • Acquisitive elite was emerging
• Traditional communal values were being eroded
- In 5 years:
• Corruption
• Class divisions
• Unsuccessful
• Elite
- 1965: Constitution amended to make Tanzania a one-party state
Arusha Declaration
- A result of Nyerere’s concerns for Tanzania
- Drew up: 7 February 1967
Nyerere’s vision & aims:
1. Vision:
- Self-reliant, prosperous, classless society [against capitalism]
2. Aim:
- Use of socialist development strategies to achieve nation-building, development
& equality
3. Tanzania would rely on own resources & labour of peasant farmers
- Instead of depending on foreign investment and aid
4. Emphasised need for development to begin at lowest rural levels
5. Asserted state’s right to control means of production & exchange
6. Programme of economic development & nation building combined
- Socialist principles
7. Announced a new leadership code
- Top government officials were no longer allowed to make money by renting
houses, running businesses or being directors of private companies
- AIM: reduce and eradicate corruption and wealthy elite
8. Believed that socialism was rooted in African traditional society
9. Banks and many large industries nationalised
10. To achieve these aims: Nyerere made Tanzania a one-party state
- British colony of Tanganyika became independent in 1961
- In 1964: Tanganyika unites with Zanzibar to form Tanzania
- First president: Julius Nyerere
• Tanganyika African National Union [TANU]
- Tanzania adopted an ambitious & far reaching system of African Socialism
• Political and economic goals for new state
- Significant demographic diversity: 125 ethnic groups & 100 languages & dialects
Origins of African Socialism in Tanzania
- Tanzania did not implement socialist policies for first few years after independence
- It adopted the welfare and development programmes from the colonial era
- Independence was slow
1. British civil servants remained in country to train African replacements
2. Attempts made to expand education [that had been neglected under the British]
& promote indigenous entrepreneurship
3. Co-operatives set up for peasants to control marketing of crops
- Nyerere was critical of capitalism but:
• Tanzania depended on flow of investments from Western countries
• Lack of resources made it an unattractive investment destination
- After 5 years of independence: Nyerere was concerned about the low economic
growth and the direction the country was heading in
- Problems after 5 years:
• Dependence on foreign investment was draining wealth towards industrialised
capitalist world
• Tanzania’s relations with western world deteriorated due to:
- Issues over Rhodesia where Britain failed to prevent white settlers from seizing
control & declaring independence
• Position of majority population [poor rural farmers] had not improved
• Government employees & politicians more concerned about acquiring wealth for
themselves instead of assisting development
- Private greed was increasing class divisions in African society
, • Acquisitive elite was emerging
• Traditional communal values were being eroded
- In 5 years:
• Corruption
• Class divisions
• Unsuccessful
• Elite
- 1965: Constitution amended to make Tanzania a one-party state
Arusha Declaration
- A result of Nyerere’s concerns for Tanzania
- Drew up: 7 February 1967
Nyerere’s vision & aims:
1. Vision:
- Self-reliant, prosperous, classless society [against capitalism]
2. Aim:
- Use of socialist development strategies to achieve nation-building, development
& equality
3. Tanzania would rely on own resources & labour of peasant farmers
- Instead of depending on foreign investment and aid
4. Emphasised need for development to begin at lowest rural levels
5. Asserted state’s right to control means of production & exchange
6. Programme of economic development & nation building combined
- Socialist principles
7. Announced a new leadership code
- Top government officials were no longer allowed to make money by renting
houses, running businesses or being directors of private companies
- AIM: reduce and eradicate corruption and wealthy elite
8. Believed that socialism was rooted in African traditional society
9. Banks and many large industries nationalised
10. To achieve these aims: Nyerere made Tanzania a one-party state
