JULIUS NYERERE One of the most important African leaders. He established the political and economic structure that still remains in Tanzania. Nyerere was the longest-serving leader from 1960 until his retirement in 1985.

BIOGRAPHY - Julius Kambarage Nyerere (13 April 1922 – 14 October 1999) was a Tanzanian politician who served as the first President of Tanzania and previously Tanganyika, from the country's founding in 1961 until his retirement in Nyerere received his higher education at Makerere University in Kampala and the University of Edinburgh. After he returned to Tanganyika, he worked as a teacher. In 1954, he helped form the Tanganyika African National Union (TANU). - In 1961, Nyerere was elected Tanganyika's first Prime Minister, and following independence, in 1962, the country's first President. In 1964, Tanganyika became politically united with Zanzibar and was renamed to Tanzania. In 1965, a one-party election returned Nyerere to power. During the first years Nyerere created a single-party system and used "preventive detention" to eliminate trade unions and opposition.

POLITICAL BACKGROUND ­ In 1885, as a consequence of the Berlin Conference, the colony of German East Africa was established. In 1891 Germany took over direct administration and set up a governor in its largest city. ­ As a result of the Treaty of Versailles after WWI, German East Africa was taken away from Germany and put under the control of Britain under the auspices of the League of Nations, and renamed Tanganyika. ­ After WWII, Tanganyika became a trusteeship under the UN and continued to be a British colony. ­ The Colonial Office recognized the fact that eventually there would be a demand for self-government by African colonial states and recommended that moves be taken to allow Africans more authority within these territories to enable a smooth transition to power.

- In East Africa, however, the policies pursued by the colonial government were aimed at the exact opposite – to prevent Africans from increasing their power in the territories. - Despite strong opposition from the colonial government in Tanganyika, the UN trusteeship council encouraged the move towards a constitutional government and began to pressure Britain to invest more in Tanganyika. - One of the results was to raise the political awareness of Tanganyikans, who began to campaign for more equitable form of government. - The majority worked in agriculture and felt they were overburdened with taxation and had little or no political representation. - After WWII, Nyerere became active in local politics as a member of the TAA (Tanganyikan African Association), a step that began his steady political rise.

­ TANU received tacit support from the UN as an apolitical party that would help to move Tanganyika towards national self-determination. ­ By 1955, both the UN and the British government had indicated it was time for elections for LEGCO. (Legislative Council) Anticipating these elections, Governor Edward Twining encouraged a group of Asians and Europeans to form the United Tanganyika Party in order to provide TANU with organized electoral opposition.

- The UTP favored the continuation of British colonial rule and ran a campaign that would elect equal numbers of Asians, Europeans and Africans to LEGCO. - Nyerere and TANU decided to compete nationally and campaigned energetically against UTP. The result was an overwhelming victory. TANU received massive African support, it won 15 seats inthe LEGCO, demonstrating that the British multi-racial policies were unacceptable for Tanganyikans. Twining was replaced quickly for a new governor, Richard Turnbull. Under Turnbull, Tanganyika moved fast towards independence.

­ New elections were held in 1960 and TANU won easily. Tanganyika was granted self-government with Nyerere as Chief Minister. ­ Finally, on December, 9 th /1961, Tanganyika became fully independent with Nyerere as its Prime Minister. ­ The motto was “uhuru na zaki” (freedom and work). ­ The transition from British Colony to an African-dominated, self-governing, independent Tanganyika took place smoothly without any violence, no conflicts between the tribal, ethnic or religious groups within its borders.

POLITICAL STRUCTURE AND FOREIGN POLICY DEVELOPMENTS - Tanganyika adopted the political system of the United Kingdom, there would be a Prime Minister, the elected party would have more seats in the parliament, and there would be a multi-party system (that would include parliamentary opposition). - Nyerere realized soon that type of system might not be the best for Tanganyika. He strongly believed in socialist principles, and argued democracy did not need a multi-party system. - He resigned as a Prime Minister in early 1962, aiming to restructure TANU and change the Tanganyikan constitution.

­ In 1962 a new constitution was introduced, making Tanganyika a republic and replacing the positions of Prime Minister with President. ­ Nyerere ran for president, winning 97% of the votes and intending to establish a single-party state. Julius Nyerere in his first visit to the White House. (1963)

UNITY WITH ZANZIBAR - In December 1963, Zanzibar became independent from Britain, with the Arab-led Zanzibar Nationalist Party (ZNP). After a month the ZNP was overthrown and an African nationalist and member of the Afro-Shirazi Party (ASP), took control. - The USSR and China wanted to establish a foothold in Africa. The new government was quickly recognized by a number of communist countries. - Nyerere saw the danger for Tanganyika if foreing powers gained a foothold on an island so close to the mainland. He moved rapidly to set an alliance with the president of Zanzibar. - In April 1964, Nyerere announced the creation of the United Republic of Tanzania with Nyerere as its President and Karume as Vice-President (the two states retained considerable internal autonomy).

TANGANYIKA ZANZIBAR UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA