Omar Bennett
Tanzania and Zanzibar have two constitutions because they are two separate regions with their own governments. In 1964, Tanganyika and Zanzibar merged to form the United Republic of Tanzania, with a new constitution based on Tanganyika's 1962 Republican Constitution. However, Zanzibar retained a semi-autonomous status with its own government, including a Parliament and President. The President of Zanzibar also serves as the vice president of the United Republic of Tanzania. The relationship between the two governments has been defined by several amendments to the original constitution, with the most recent constitution being passed in 1977.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Constitutions | 2 |
| Reason for 2 Constitutions | The United Republic of Tanzania consists of mainland Tanganyika and the island of Zanzibar. |
| History | In 1885, Germany established control over mainland Tanzania as German East Africa. |
| Great Britain took control over Zanzibar in 1890. | |
| Following World War I, Great Britain governed the mainland as Tanganyika, with Zanzibar remaining a separate jurisdiction. | |
| Tanganyika gained independence from Great Britain in 1961. | |
| Zanzibar gained independence from Great Britain in 1963. | |
| In 1964, Tanganyika and Zanzibar merged into the United Republic of Tanzania. | |
| Government Structure | The government of the United Republic of Tanzania has authority over all matters relating to the Union, as well as other matters on Mainland Tanzania. |
| Zanzibar has a semi-autonomous region with its own government, the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar, which has authority over non-Union matters. | |
| Latest Amendments | The Eleventh Amendment established the President of Zanzibar and the Union vice president as two different, independent roles. |
| The Thirteenth Constitutional Amendment reduced the percentage of votes required to be declared president from 50% to a simple majority. |
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What You'll Learn
The United Republic of Tanzania was formed in 1964
The Acts of Union established a double government structure, which remains in place today. This structure included one central government for the Union and one largely autonomous government for Zanzibar. The government of the United Republic of Tanzania has authority over all matters relating to the Union, as well as other matters on Mainland Tanzania. Zanzibar, on the other hand, has its own semi-autonomous government, the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar, which has authority over non-Union matters in Zanzibar. The President of Zanzibar also serves as the vice president of the Union.
Following the union in 1964, two interim constitutions were passed: the Interim Constitution of the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar in 1964, and the Interim Constitution of Tanzania in 1965. The latter identified two government parties, TANU for the Union and ASP for Zanzibar, and formalised the one-party nature of the Tanzanian government. This constitution lasted for 12 years, during which several amendments were made, reducing the autonomy of Zanzibar and strengthening the one-party state.
The current constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania, also known as the Permanent Constitution, was ratified on 16 March 1977. Since then, several amendments have been made, many of which relate to the relationship between the central government and the Zanzibar government.
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Tanganyika and Zanzibar had separate histories
In the 1800s, the region that would become Tanzania was part of the Sultanate of Oman. In 1885, Germany established control over mainland Tanzania as German East Africa, which they called Tanganyika. In 1890, Great Britain took control of Zanzibar, which became a British protectorate. Following Germany's defeat in World War I, the mainland became a British territory and was governed as Tanganyika.
Tanganyika gained independence from Britain in 1961 and joined the British Commonwealth, becoming a democratic republic in December 1962. The country negotiated a constitution with Britain, based on the Westminster Model, which defined a Governor-General as the head of state, with an executive led by a First Minister or Prime Minister.
Zanzibar, on the other hand, gained independence from Britain in 1963 as a constitutional monarchy. Thus, at the time of their union, both Tanganyika and Zanzibar were already independent nations with their own constitutions and governments.
In 1964, the two nations merged to form the United Republic of Tanzania. The constitution of the new nation was based on Tanganyika's 1962 Republican Constitution, but it was modified to accommodate the agreements between the ruling parties of the two former nations. This resulted in a double government structure, with one government for the Union and a semi-autonomous government for Zanzibar, including its own Parliament and President.
Since the union, there have been several amendments to the constitution, many of which relate to the relationship between the united government and the Zanzibar government, and the transition to a multi-party political system.
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The Acts of Union established a double government structure
The United Republic of Tanzania consists of mainland Tanganyika and the island of Zanzibar. In 1964, Tanganyika and Zanzibar united to become one sovereign republic, adopting two laws that constituted the Union: the Union of Tanganyika and Zanzibar Act (1964) and the Union of Zanzibar and Tanganyika Law (1964). These laws are together known as the Acts of Union.
The constitution of the newly formed United Republic of Tanzania in 1964 was based on Tanganyika's 1962 Republican Constitution, modified according to the agreements between TANU (Tanganyika African National Union) and Zanzibar's majority party, the Afro-Shirazi Party (ASP). These agreements were ratified under the name "Articles of Union" and became part of the new constitution as "Acts of Union". The 1965 Constitution identified two government parties, TANU for the Union and ASP for Zanzibar.
Since 1977, several amendments have been made to the original Constitution, many of which relate to the relationship between the united government and the Zanzibar government. The Eleventh Amendment, for example, established the President of Zanzibar and the Union vice president as two different, independent roles.
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The Permanent Constitution was ratified in 1977
The Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania, also known as the Permanent Constitution, was ratified on 16 March 1977. The Permanent Constitution was the fourth constitution in Tanzania's history, following the Independence Constitution (1961), the Republican Constitution (1962), and the Interim Constitution of the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar (1964).
The Permanent Constitution was formed after the former ruling parties of Tanganyika and Zanzibar, TANU and ASP, merged to form the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party in 1977. One month after the CCM was founded, the Permanent Constitution was approved. This constitution confirmed the main principles of the previous constitutions, including a strong presidency, a dual government structure, and a one-party state.
The dual government structure established by the Permanent Constitution included one government for the Union and one largely autonomous independent government for Zanzibar. Zanzibar's government included its own parliament and president, who also served as the vice president of the Union. This structure was first defined in the Acts of Union, which were ratified in 1964 when Tanganyika and Zanzibar merged to form the United Republic of Tanzania.
Since 1977, several amendments have been made to the Permanent Constitution, many of which relate to the relationship between the united government and the Zanzibar government. Notable amendments include the Eighth Amendment (1992), which allowed members of any registered political party to run for any political seat, and the Ninth Amendment, which introduced the possibility of impeachment by parliament and separated the functions of president and prime minister.
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Amendments have been made to the relationship between the two governments
The United Republic of Tanzania was formed in 1964 when Tanganyika and Zanzibar merged. The constitution of the newly formed nation was based on Tanganyika's 1962 Republican Constitution, with modifications agreed upon by the two former ruling parties, TANU and ASP, under the "Acts of Union". This established a double government structure, with one government for the Union and one largely autonomous independent government for Zanzibar.
Since 1977, several amendments have been made to the original Constitution, many of which relate to the relationship between the United Republic government and the Zanzibar government. For example, the Eleventh Amendment established the President of Zanzibar and the Union vice president as two different, independent roles. The Eighth Amendment (1992) allowed members of any registered political party to run for any political seat, and the Ninth Amendment introduced the possibility of impeachment by the Parliament.
In the early 1990s, President of the Union Ali Hassan Mwinyi launched a program of liberal reforms, nominating a commission (the Nyalali Commission) to prepare for a transition to a multi-party political system. Based on the commission's work, several amendments were made, including new rules governing the registration of political parties.
The Thirteenth Constitutional Amendment in 2000 changed the requirement for a candidate to be declared president from 50% of votes to a simple majority. It also allowed the President to nominate up to 10 members of parliament, whereas previously the President had no power to nominate any members of parliament.
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Frequently asked questions
They don't, Tanzania is one country with one constitution, but it has a two-government structure. One government for the Union and one semi-autonomous government for Zanzibar.
The Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania, also known as the Permanent Constitution.
16 March 1977.
The Interim Constitution of the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar.
1964.
