Country profile
The United Republic of Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania was formed out of the union of two sovereign states namely Tanganyika and Zanzibar. Tanganyika became a sovereign state on 9th December, 1961 and became a Republic the following year. Zanzibar became independent on 10th December, 1963 and the People's Republic of Zanzibar was established after the revolution of 12th January, 1964. The two sovereign republics formed the United Republic of Tanzania on 26th April, 1964. However, the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania is a unitary republic consisting of the Union Government and the Zanzibar Revolutionary Government.
Dar es Salaam
For the political map of Tanzania, click on the link below:
Political system: Multi party democracy
Capital: Dodoma is the official capital and seat of Tanzania's Union Parliament. Dar es Salaam remains home to government ministries and major institutions, including diplomatic missions.
Administration: 26 administrative regions (21 mainland and 5 Zanzibar), 130 administrative districts (Zanzibar has 10 and Mainland has 120 administrative districts).
People: Some 120 ethnic groups on the mainland, none exceeding 10% of the population. Larger groups include Sukuma, Nyamwezi, Ha, Chagga, Masai, Haya and Gogo. There are Asian and expatriate minorities.
Languages: The official language is Kiswahili. English is also widely spoken.
Population:
Estimated at 39.1 million people (www.fco.gov.uk)
- about 51% are women; and
- about 46% are under age 15.
Religions: Christianity (40%), Islam (35%) and traditional beliefs (around 20%). (Zanzibar is roughly 98% Muslim).
Currency: Tanzania shilling (Tsh). £1 buys Tsh 2266 (6 August 2008).
Major Political Parties:
Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), Civic United Front (CUF),
Chama cha Democrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA)
Head of State: President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete (elected December 2005).
Prime Minister: Mr. Mizengo Kayanga Peter Pinda
Membership of international groupings/organisations:
East Africa Community (EAC) Southern African Development Community (SADC), Commonwealth, World Trade Organisation, African Union (AU), and the United Nations (UN).
Land Coverage
| Mainland: | 881,000 km2 |
| Zanzibar: | 2,000 km2 |
| Water: | 62,000 km2 |
| Forest and woodlands: | 3,350 km2 |
| TOTAL Area: | 945,000 km2 |
Tanzania has frontier to the following countries:
| North : | Kenya and Uganda |
| West: | Rwanda, Burundi and Democratic Republic of Congo |
| South: | Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique |
| East: | Indian Ocean |
ECONOMY (www.fco.gov.uk)
Basic Economic Facts
| GDP: | US$ 11.6bn (2006 est.) |
| GDP per capita: | US$ 303 |
| GDP Growth: | 5.8% (2006 est.) |
| Inflation: | 6.1% (2006 est.) |
Major trading partners: UK, South Africa India, Japan, China, Kenya, and the UAE.
Tanzania's economy relies heavily on agriculture, which accounts for nearly half of GDP and employs 80% of the workforce. Tourism is growing in importance and ranks as the second highest foreign exchange earner after agriculture. Mineral production (gold, diamonds, tanzanite) has grown significantly in the last decade. It represents Tanzania's biggest source of economic growth, provides over 3% of GDP and accounts for half of Tanzania's exports.
Despite enthusiastic privatisation during the 1990s, and annual GDP growth of between 5 and 7%, the Tanzanian economy remains weak. Mkapa's Government saw through a vigorous programme of economic reform, in line with IMF guidelines. President Kikwete has pledged to continue these policies. Tough measures have included tight control of public spending, privatisation of parastatals, reform of the Investment Code, the taxation system and land ownership, steps to improve revenue collection, expenditure control and civil service retrenchment. Corruption is still endemic; Kikwete has said that addressing this will be one of his major priorities.
Port facilities at Dar es Salaam
Climate
Tanzania has a tropical type of climate. In the highlands, temperatures range between 100c and 200c.during cold and hot seasons respectively. The rest of the country has temperatures never falling lower than 200c. The hottest period spreads between November and February (250c - 310c) while the coldest period occurs between May and August (150c - 200c).
Two rainfall regimes exist over Tanzania. One is unimodal (December - April) and the other is bimodal (October -December and March - May). The former is experienced in southern, south-west, central and western parts of the country, and the later is found to the north and northern coast.
In the bimodal regime the March - May rains are referred to as the long rains or Masika, whereas the October - December rains are generally known as short rains or Vuli.
Geographical Features
Tanzania is the biggest of the East Africa countries (i.e. Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania). Has a spectacular landscape of mainly three physiographic regions namely the Islands and the coastal plains to the east; the inland saucer-shaped plateau; and the highlands. The Great Rift Valley that runs from north east of Africa through central Tanzania is another landmark that adds to the scenic view of the country. The rift valley runs to south of Tanzania splitting at Lake Nyasa; one branch runs down beyond Lake Nyasa to Mozambique; and another branch to north-west alongside Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania and western part of Uganda. The valley is dotted with unique lakes which include Lakes Rukwa, Tanganyika, Nyasa, Kitangiri, Eyasi and Manyara. The uplands include the famous Kipengere, Udzungwa, Matogoro, Livingstone, and the Fipa plateau forming the southern highlands. The Usambara, Pare, Meru, Kilimanjaro, the Ngorongoro Crater and the Oldonyo Lengai, all form the northern highlands. From these highlands and the central saucer plateau flow the drainage system to the Indian Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea and the inland drainage system.
Natural Resources:
Minerals - gold, diamonds, tanzanite and various other gemstones, natural gas, iron ore, coal, spring water, phosphates, soda ash and salt.
Wildlife and Tourism - 12 National Parks, the Ngorongoro conservation Area, 13 Game reserves, 38 Game Controlled Areas: National Cultural Heritage Sites (about 120 sites).
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Fisheries - three large lakes: Victoria, Tanganyika and Nyasa, the Indian Ocean coastline, rivers and wetlands. Potential yield of fish from natural waters is estimated to be 730,000 metric tons annually, present catch is 350,000 metric tons.
Forestry and Beekeeping Non-reserved forest-land (1,903.8 km2), forest/woodlands with national parks etc (200 km2), and Gazetted forest reserves (1,251.7 km2).
Sources of information:
www.fco.gov.uk
www.tanzania.go.tz
www.bot-tz.org