ZANZIBAR REVOLUTION: Flashback: 2014 and fifty years back

Zanzibar youth display  pictures of some leaders who contributed to shaping the country’s history as they march in Unguja streets yesterday to mark the 50th anniversary of the January 12, 1964’s Zanzibar Revolution. The pictures are (from right to left) of the Father of the Nation Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, President Jakaya Kikwete, President Ali Mohammed Shein and Zanzibar’s first President Sheikh Abeid Aman Karume.  PHOTO | MICHAEL MATEMANGA 

By Zephania Ubwani,The Citizen Bureau Chief

 Saturday, January 4  2014 at  10:45

IN SUMMARY

• As the New Year 2014 ushers in, it’s worthy reflecting upon the history of Tanzania in the last fifty years to recall major events which shaped the country for about half a century

Arusha. 2014, the 14th year of the third millennium, the 21st Century and the fifth year of the current decade is here.

The United Nations has designated it the International Year of Family Farming and Crystallography. The majority of Tanzanians may not bother to know what the proclamations mean.

For Tanzania, which only a few years ago marked 50 years of independence with pomp and colour, it might be wise to recall major events which shaped the country half a century back - to 2014.

That would not only enable Tanzanians to take stock of the achievements made and challenges that have to be addressed but also to prepare bash parties to make the important dates.

The most important year in reference is 1964. There is every indication that major political events which shaped the country’s political future a half a century ago may be replicated this year.

For instance, fifty years later (2014), Tanzania is likely to have a new Constitution. The new mother law must be influenced by the key events which took place in 1964. 

The enigmatic 1964 began with the Zanzibar Revolution on 12th January. The revolution saw the overthrowing of centuries’ old Sultanate oligarchy over the majority Africans.

This was to pave the way for the Union of Tanganyika and Zanzibar which formed the United Republic of Tanzania - the country we live in today - on April 26 in the same year. Ever since, April 26 has been designated an official National Day.

The proclamation of the Union by the then Tanganyika President Mwalimu Julius Nyerere and Zanzibar President Sheikh Abeid Amani Karume, saw the country carry three different officials.

Immediately after the Union, and for some months later, this country was officially known as the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar; too long for official communication.

But there was no way the bureaucrats of those days could skip it. Here were two sovereign states, Tanganyika and Zanzibar, which merged to form a new nation which cannot bear the name of only one side.

As various documents were changed to accommodate the new official name, somebody came with an idea that the country be known as Tanzania by ‘combining’ Tanganyika and Zanzibar names.

It was from October 29, 1964 that the United Republic became officially known as Tanzania. Fifty years later down the road, many are still eager to know how the people responded to the big change on that day.

In the 1980s, during the 20th anniversary of the Union, somebody was fronted as having been instrumental in crafting the new name for the country.

The Union brought with it a change in shape of the national flag and, to some extent, the colours.

Instead of the horizontal green, yellow and black strips which made the Tanganyika flag, the new flag for Tanzania changed with an addition of a blue strip representing the ocean which linked the Mainland the Isles.

As Tanzanians on both sides enjoyed their hard won independence and consolidated their unique union, major events in the neighbouring countries that year somehow influenced the domestic affairs.

The country was still firmly tied to the East African partnership with one currency, customs union and operating the same railway, airways and harbours, research stations and others.

It was in 1964 that the idea of political federation cropped up and one of its proponents was none other than the late Mwalimu Nyerere. The timing was not by accident. By then all countries, had become independent.

Unfortunately the idea of political union did not sail well with some regional leaders. The same year, each country started to kick start a process to establish own central bank and own currency.

Edwin Mtei, then the permanent secretary in the Treasury, led the country’s task force and was soon to land a prestigious job of being the first central bank governor.

But that did not mean the break up of the regional bloc. The East African Common Services Organization (EACSO), with its headquarters in Nairobi ensured the economic bloc remained intact. The East African Community (EAC) was launched three years later.

It was also in 1964 that Tanzania’s closest neighbours, Malawi and Zambia won their independence. But within months, Dr Kamuzu Banda was in trouble with his ministers and Tanzania started receiving refugees from Malawi.

For Mozambicans, who were under the Portuguese rule, independence was still far. It was on September 25th, the same year when Frelimo launched an armed struggle against the colonialists.

On the local front, the Tanzania People’s Defence Forces (TPDF) was formed to address the new challenges of the time, including incursions from countries which were still under colonialism  in southern Africa.

In 1964, Tanzania was also subjected to one of the strongest earthquakes ever recorded in the country’s recent history. The quake killed some people in Mbulu and destroyed property worth millions of shillings, mainly schools and health centres, in the northern regions.

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