Tundu Lissu on the Tanganyika-Zanzibar Union

The Tanganyika-Zanzibar Union remains a thorny political marriage. After failing to address the imbalances of the Union during the constitutional process (2011-2014), the fissures that characterize the Union have further increased. Chadema's luminary Tundu Lissu who is also the MP for Singida East has blown the lid off by claiming that Zanzibar is a colony of Tanganyika. Tanzania Mainland has been used wrongly to refer to Tanganyika - which the Warioba led Constitutional Review Commission recommended its reintroduction. Speaking in Zanzibar during a CUF campaign rally for the Dimani by-election on 11 January, 2017, Tundu remarked:

"Makoloni yananyonywa kiuchumi, yanakandamizwa kisiasa na yanatawaliwa kijeshi. Zanzibar ni koloni la Tanganyika kwa kivuli cha Tanzania." 

Below is a translation of his assertion: 

"Colonies are economically suppressed, politically suppressed and governed militarily. Zanzibar is a colony of Tanganyika under the guise of Tanzania"

The Tanganyika-Zanzibar Union: 49 years of a beleaguered marriage of convenience

Nicodemus Minde

The United Republic of Tanzania today celebrates 49 years of political union between Tanzania mainland and Tanzania Zanzibar. I am explicit in naming Zanzibar as Tanzania Zanzibar and the mainland as Tanzania mainland and not Tanganyika. The nomenclature of the the constituent entities of the union, though not said explicitly, has also led to the antagonism between the two. This is a story for another day. Analysts and political pundits have debated for many years on the constitutionality of the union, the status of the union, and the prospects for the union. 

For more than forty years Tanzania has remained the only Union of independent states in Africa. There has always been much debate on this Union both before the Union took place as well as after its happening. Prof. Issa Shivji describes the union as a pragmatic one born out of caution and not necessity. As he aptly puts it, "The Union between Tanganyika and Zanzibar was determined by two governments for the interests of Africa and African Unity. There was no other reason. Further to this, Nyerere has been quoted saying “...No, I’m not joking … I fear Zanzibar will be a big headache for us." This was before the then Tanganyika gained independence. The union was hurried. The ratification of the articles of the union was hurried and a CIA Intelligence Memo assessing the Union four years after its conception asserted that the union was never popular in Zanzibar and that "it was only Tanganyika's steam-roller tactics that forced the issue." There is no evident to date of a consultation process in the isles and to some degree in the mainland. The negotiations of the union were largely 'informal' and the only 'legal instruments' were the articles of the union which were haphazard and lacked the concrete legal foundations. The so-called Union of Zanzibar and Tanganyika Law, 1964 published in the Government Gazette of the United Republic was also wanting with regard to procedure, legality and constitutionalism. Laying strong legal and constitutional foundations is important for state survival and unity. The union has withstood the tests of fissure and collapse only through Nyerere's leadership and CCM manipulation of election results (after Tanzania became a multiparty state).

The ghosts of shaky foundations of the union need to be exorcised. The marriage between the two was out of convenience. The marriage bore resentment from the people of Zanzibar. The children of the union are disenfranchised. The leaders across the divide politic. Either side of the union has its wishes. There are Tanzanian Zanzibaris who want secession, there are those who want more autonomy, there are those that want unity. The Tanzanians from the mainland also want the status union to be addressed. With the drafting of the new constitution ongoing, there is need for a comprehensive discussion on this matter. The Constitutional Review Committee gave a time frame for people, political parties and other interest groups to give their opinions on matters they would love to be addressed in the new law. There has been a surreal mentality from most Tanzanians that come the next elections, the country shall have a new constitution. Constitutions are not built in five years. They are built on a long time reflection and contemplation of a nation's needs and aspirations. Having been born on shaky foundations, Tanzania has the greatest opportunity to rethink the union. The union started on rather shaky legal and legal foundations. A critical renegotiation of the union ought to be a key priority of the Constitutional Review Committee.

Fifty One Years of Political Independence in Tanzania, Economic Independence remains elusive

Tanzania mainland marks 51 years since it attained independence on 9th December 2012.  At the down of 1960s, many African nations were emerging as sovereign entities in the international system. Others had undergone a protracted struggle under colonial imperialism while others had peacefully negotiated for their independence with their colonial masters. For the first time in modern history, African states had gained global recognition and impetus in world politics and economics.

The African story has been written and authored by a myriad of scholars predominantly Western ones. Tales are told of a ragged and frayed continent, a wrecked continent, a continent of despair, a lost continent, and even the fate of the African continent ravaged by war, disease, ethnicity and underdevelopment has been told. But, despite this hopelessness and despair, apathy and cynicism in the African continent, Africa will forever remain our motherland.

Although independence had come, it had come only in political terms. The most essential element of independence is not political freedom or what we term ‘flag independence’. The continent of Africa was deprived the most precious form of independence; economic independence. As Tanzania mainland marks fifty one years of independence, we should ask ourselves what type of independence we are marking today. It is quite blatant that we are only politically independent and not economically liberated.

Building great nations require selfless leaders who will out of the desire and love for their people mold a nation that will aspire for economic independence and not those who blame their misfortunes on others. The concept of economic independence has elicited sharp academic and political debate. I shall try and contribute to this debate by contextualizing Tanzania. It is quite clear that Tanzania, just like many other African nations, is not economically independent.

As we celebrate this 51^st  anniversary of our independence, we should pose and reflect on the past, present and what lies ahead in terms of economic liberation. As Jenerali Ulimwengu (political commentator) says in one of his recent commentaries that ‘birthdays are a time to give thanks to Providence for having survived the vagaries of a cruel world,’ it is also a time to take stock and reflect.

Reflections should be made towards propelling our nation towards economic independence. In doing so, we should reflect on how we can achieve economic liberation. Dambisa Moyo one of Africa’s contemporary scholars in the field of international economics posits that economic independence can only be attained through debunking the western models which promote economic aid.

Her thesis describes the state of postwar development policy in Africa today and she confronts one of the greatest myths of our time: that billions of dollars in aid sent from wealthy countries to developing African nations has helped to reduce poverty and increase growth. She asserts that, contrary to the opinion that aid benefits the recipients, it actually traps developing nations in a vicious circle of aid dependency, corruption, market distortion, and further poverty, leaving them with nothing but the “need” for more aid. This cycle deprives the countries their economic independence. Tanzania is still regarded as one of the poorest nations on earth. We are still dependent on economic aid for many developmental initiatives in our country. Our budget is still to a large extent financed by external donors. This is not the economic independence we aspired when we gained independence.

Towards Economic Independence

Economic blueprints in many countries are built with the purpose of liberating countries from poverty and stagnation. One of the best blueprints which has yielded immense success is the Singapore story. Under the close guidance of Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore was transformed from third world to first within a generation. Singapore’s extraordinary achievement has transformed the country into an Asian economic giant. Economic independence comes from doing the small things right, with great love and vision. It comes through identifying your strengths and working on your weaknesses. Tanzania can do just this.

Tanzania is a land of great potential, a land of great people, a country blessed with massive wealth and a country of great diversity. We can harness our potential through identifying what we can do best, this way we shall be in a position to strengthen our economy and thus becoming economically independent. 

As we mark this day, fellow Tanzanians, let’s take a moment to reflect on our path forward. Let us rekindle the desire of progress our fore fathers envisioned, let us pursue a better Tanzania in the next fifty years when we shall be celebrating an anniversary of economic independence, let us aspire for greatness because Tanzania is a nation destined for greatness. God bless Tanzania. 

A reflection: Nico Minde, Nairobi.