TANZANIA

      Keys events

1961 (9 December)

Proclamation of the independence of Tanganyika.

1962 (November)

Presidential election. J. K. Nyerere elected.

1962 (9 December)

Proclamation of the Republic on the occasion of the first anniversary of independence.

1963 (10 December)

Declaration of the independence of Zanzibar and Pemba.

1964 (24 April)

Constitution of the Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar.

1964 (29 October)

The Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar takes the name of United Republic of Tanzania. Julius Nyerere is President and S. A. Karumé (President of Zanzibar) Vice President.

1965 (5 July)

Adoption of a new Provisional Constitution instituting the single party: the TANU (Tanganyika African National Union) for the mainland and the Afro-Shirazi party in Zanzibar.

1965 (23 September)

Presidential and general elections. Julius Nyerere, invested by the TANU and supported by the Zanzibar Afro-Shirazi party,, is elected with 97% of the votes.

1967 (5 February)

Arusha Declaration, setting up a socialist State with a predominant role being attributed to the local authorities, the “ujamaas”.

1967 (December)

Creation of an East African Economic Community with Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.

1970 (30 October)

Presidential and general elections. Julius Nyerere re-elected.

1971 (July-October)

Clashes on the border between Tanzania and Uganda. Tanzania did not recognise the regime of Idi Amin Dada (coup d’état of 25 January 1971) and gave asylum to the former Ugandan President Milton Oboté).

1972 (17 February)

Creation of the post of Prime Minister. Occupied by Rachid Kawawa, second Vice President.

1972 (7 April)

Sheikh Abeid Karumé, President of the Zanzibar Revolutionary Council and First Vice President of Tanzania, is assassinated. Aboud Jumbe succeeds him.

1972 (September)

Conflict between Tanzania and Uganda.

1972 (5 October)

Signature of an agreement between Tanzania and Uganda in Mogadiscio.

1973 (July)

Dispute between Tanzania and Burundi. Mr Nyerere denounces massacres of Hutus. Thousands of Hutus seek refuge in Tanzania.

1973 (1 October)

The TANU decides to transfer the capital Dar-Es-Salaam to Dodoma.

1975 (26 October)

Presidential and general elections. Julius Nyerere re-elected with 92% of the votes.

1977 (5 February)

Birth of a new single party, the CCM (Chama cha Mapinduzi – Revolutionary Party).

1977 (13 February)

Eduardo Moringe Sokoine promoted to the post of Prime Minister.

1977 (26 April)

New Constitution.

1978 (Oct. - Nov.)

Hostilities resume between Uganda and Tanzania. Uganda annexes part of the territory of Tanzania.

1979 (March)

The Tanzanian army penetrates into Uganda. In April, these troops take part in the overthrow of Idi Amin.

1979 (28 December)

Zanzibar adopts a Constitution.

1980 (12 July)

Attempted coup d’état in Zanzibar.

1980 (26 October)

Presidential and general elections. Julius Nyerere re-elected with 93% of the votes, Aboud Jume, elected President of Zanzibar, remains Vice-President of Tanzania. Cleopha Msuya becomes Prime Minister.

1981 (May)

Withdrawal of Tanzanian troops from Uganda.

1982 (30 October)

Julius Nyerere re-elected President of the CCM and Aboud Jumbe Vice-President.

1983 (January)

Arrest of 600 soldiers and about a thousand civilians after the discovery of a plot against the regime.

1983 (23 February)

Edward Sokoine becomes Prime Minister again after three years out of office for health reasons.

1983 (16 November)

The border between Kenya and Tanzania is reopened.

1984 (January)

Arrival of refugees from Rwanda.

1984 (1 February)

Aboud Jumbe resigns from all his functions. The ongoing Constitutional reforms give rise to separatist demands in Zanzibar.

1984 (12 April)

Edward Sokoine, Prime Minister, dies in a road accident.

1984 (19 April)

Ali Hassan Mwinyi, interim President, is elected President of Zanzibar and Pemba.

1984 (24 April)

Salim Ahmed Salim appointed Prime Minister.

1985 (13 October)

Idris Abdul Wakil elected President of the Zanzibar revolutionary Council in place of Mr Mwinyi who is to succeed Nyerere as President of Tanzania.

1985 (27 October)

Ali Hassan Mwinyi elected President of the Tanzanian Republic. Joseph Warioba appointed prime Minister and Vice President.

1987 (April)

Thousands of Tanzanian soldiers provide support for the government of Mozambique in its fight against rebellion.

1987 (31 October)

Mr Nyerere re-elected President of the CCM.

1988 (13 May)

Violent demonstrations by Muslims in Zanzibar.

1990 (20 July)

Parliament dissolved.

1990 (17 August)

Mr Nyerere gives up his position as President of the CCM, handing over to Mr Mwinyi.

1990 (21 October)

Saldim Amour elected President of Zanzibar.

1990 (28 October)

Presidential and general elections. Ali Hasn Mwinyi re-elected with 95.5% of the votes.

1990 (9 November)

John Malecela becomes the new Prime Minister.

1992 (19 February)

Multiparty system established at the end of the CCM congress. Legalised by Parliament on 1 May.

1994 (April)

Mass arrival of refugees from Rwanda in the wake of the massacres being perpetrated in their country.

1994 (5 December)

Cleopa Msuya appointed Prime Minister.

1995 (April)

Frontier closed with Burundi in the face of the Rwandan Hutu refugees pouring in.

1995 (26 October)

Saldim Amour re-elected President of Zanzibar.

1995 (29 October)

Presidential and general elections. Cancelled for irregularities.

1995 (20 November)

New elections. Benjamin William Mkapa, CCM candidate, elected. Frederick Sumaye appointed Prime Minister (29 November).

1996 (December)

Rwandan refugees flood out of Tanzania.

1997 (Aug. – Oct.)

Severe tension between Burundi and Tanzania.

1998 (7 August)

Bomb attacks on two US Embassies – in Kenya and Tanzania. An Islamic organisation the “Islamic Army for the Liberation of the Muslim Holy Places” claims the attacks.

1999 (14 October)

Death of Julius Nyerere.

2000 (10 February)

Adoption of a project to reform the Constitution – denounced by the opposition.

2000 (29 Oct/ 5 Nov)

General elections. The ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) Party way ahead of the rest. Benjamin Mkapa re-elected President with 71.7% of the votes.

2000 (17 November)

Prime Minister Frederick Sumaye kept in office.

Update currently in preparation.

Sources used

Afrique contemporaine, quarterly review (La Documentation Française)

AFP Afrique: daily news bulletin from Africa –Agence France Presse

Press Files from the CEAN Document Centre.

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