views and opinions expressed by Tanzanians as collected by the CRM during stakeholder meetings, data from government reports, as well as the CRM’s own analysis of the state of governance in Tanzania. 2. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND xvi. The United Republic of Tanzania (URT) is a large, peaceful and stable country. Boasting coverage of an area that is often referred to as ‘The Cradle of Mankind’, the country has successfully built a strong national identity in the midst of great ethnic, regional, and religious diversity. Since the formation of the Union in 1964, the country, enviably, remained unscathed by the ethnic rivalries and political upheavals that plague many countries on the African continent and, the neighbouring countries. Tanzania is home to over 120 ethnic groups that have co-existed harmoniously, on the whole, earning the country the distinction of being a model of stability on a continent where tribalism and civil strife are rife. xvii. On 9 December 2011, Mainland Tanzania - formerly Tanganyika - celebrated its 50th independence anniversary. The month-long celebrations were both a symbolic demonstration of the country’s progress since attaining political independence from Britain in 1961, and a reflection on the challenges ahead. In the course of its five decades of uhuru (independence), Tanzania has, without any doubt, made significant progress in eliminating poverty, ignorance and disease. xviii. Tanzania has a proud and long history. Whilst not much is known about the hinterland during the pre-colonial era, historical accounts suggest that a dynamic interface always existed between the societies of both the interior and the coast, including Zanzibar and the surrounding islands, long before colonialism (Kimambo and Temu, 1997). German colonisation of Tanzania can be traced to the period when European missionaries and explorers visited various parts of pre-colonial Tanzania. xix. After World War II, Tanganyika became a UN territory under British control. Over subsequent years, the territory moving gradually toward self-government and independence. The movement for independence was led by a group of people representing various ethnic groups under the leadership of the founding President of Tanzania, the late Julius Kambarage Nyerere. Soon after his return from studies abroad, Nyerere, fondly known as ‘Mwalimu’ (‘teacher’ in Swahili), transformed the Tanganyika African Association (founded in 1929) into the more politically-oriented Tanganyika African National Union (TANU). xx. In 1961, Britain agreed that Tanganyika would become an independent state. TANU easily won the general elections of 1958–60. In May 1961, Tanganyika became a self-governing territory under a new constitution, with Nyerere elected as President. The country became a Republic within the Commonwealth a year after independence. Tanganyika was the first East African state to gain independence. xxi. Whereas Tanganyika achieved independence peacefully, Zanzibar’s road to independence was littered with a long period of confrontation between the Arab-led Sultanate and the majority of the African peoples on the island (known as Shirazis), confrontations which continue to impact on the politics of the island to this day. xxii. Zanzibar became independent from Britain (who had governed in cooperation with the Sultan) in December 1963. In January 1964, a revolution overthrew the sultanate post-independence government allowing members of the majority black population their first chance to hold political power, and the Government of Zanzibar proclaimed a Revolutionary Government. Sheikh Abeid Amani Karume became the President of Zanzibar and Chairman of the Zanzibar Revolutionary Council. xxiii. The union of Tanganyika and Zanzibar was established on 26 April 1964 and the new country was formally named the United Republic of Tanzania (URT), in October 1964, when the Interim Constitution was adopted. The Union Agreement granted wide-ranging autonomy for Zanzibar. xxiv. Julius Nyerere, the Founding Father of Tanzania, is widely regarded as a visionary nationalist, a pioneer of the African one-party state, and an advocate of African socialism who was committed to unity, peace and development. To further his aim for national unity, Nyerere merged TANU with the Zanzibar ruling Afro Shirazi Party (ASP) to form the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) or the Revolutionary Party on 5 February 1977. He also established ki-Swahili as the national language. 3