flag — Tanzania
Nation by Nation
Tanzania
Government
Government
Type: Republic.
Independence: Tanganyika 1961, Zanzibar 1963. Union formed 1964.
Constitution: 1982.
Branches: Executive--president (chief of state and commander in chief), vice president, and prime minister. Legislative--unicameral National Assembly (for the Union), House of Representatives (for Zanzibar only). Judicial--Mainland: Court of Appeals, High Courts, Resident Magistrate Courts, district courts, and primary courts; Zanzibar: High Court, people's district courts, kadhis court (Islamic courts).
Political parties: 1. Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM), 2. The Civic United Front (CUF), 3. Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA), 4. Union for Multiparty Democracy (UMD), 5. National Convention for Construction and Reform (NCCR-Mageuzi), 6. National League for Democracy (NLD), 7. National Reconstruction for Alliance (NRA) 8. Tanzania Democratic Alliance Party (TADEA), 9. Tanzania Labour Party (TLP), 10. United Democratic Party (UDP), 11. Demokrasia Makini (MAKINI), 12. United Peoples’ Democratic Party (UPDP), 13. Chama cha Haki na Ustawi (CHAUSTA), 14. The Forum for Restoration of Democracy (FORD), 15. Democratic Party (DP), 16. Progressive Party of Tanzania (PPT-Maendeleo), 17. Jahazi Asilia.
Suffrage: Universal at 18.
Administrative subdivisions: 26 regions (21 on mainland, 3 on Zanzibar, 2 on Pemba).
Tanzania's president, vice president, and National Assembly members are elected concurrently by direct popular vote for 5-year terms. The president appoints a prime minister who serves as the government's leader in the National Assembly. The president also selects his cabinet from among National Assembly members.
The unicameral National Assembly has 275 members, 232 of whom are elected from the mainland and Zanzibar. There are 37 appointed seats for women, and each political party receives a proportion of appointed seats commensurate with the number of constituency seats won. Also, five members are elected by the Zanzibar House of Representatives to participate in the National Assembly.
| Office | Holder |
|---|---|
| President | Mkapa, Benjamin William |
| Vice President | Sheni, Mohamed Ali, Dr. |
| Prime Minister | Sumaye, Frederick |
| Pres. of Zanzibar | Karume, Amani Abeid |
| Min. of Agriculture & Food | Kennja, Charles |
| Min. of Communications & Transport | Mwandosya, Mark |
| Min. of Community Development, Women's Affairs, & Children | Migiro, Asha Rose |
| Min. of Cooperatives & Marketing | Kahama, George |
| Min. of Defense | Sarungi, Philemon |
| Min. of Education | Mungai, James |
| Min. of Energy & Mineral Resources | Yona, Daniel |
| Min. of Finance | Mramba, Basil |
| Min. of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation | Kikwete, Jakay Mrisho |
| Min. of Health | Abdalla, Anna |
| Min. of Home Affairs | Mapuri, Omar Ramadhani |
| Min. of Industries & Trade | Ngasongwa, Juma |
| Min. of Justice & Constitutional Affairs | Mwapachu, Harish Bakari |
| Min. of Labor, Youth Development, & Sports | Kapuya, Juma |
| Min. of Lands & Human Settelement | Cheyo, Gideon |
| Min. of Regional Administration & Local Government | Nigwilizi, Hassan, Brig. Gen. |
| Min. of Science, Technology, & Higher Education | Pius, Ng'wandu |
| Min. of Tourism, Natural Resources, & Environment | Meghji, Zakhia |
| Min. of Water & Livestock Development | Lowassa, Edward |
| Min. of Works | Magufuli, John |
| Min. of State for Information & Public Affairs, Prime Minister's Office | Khatib, Mohammed Seif |
| Governor, Central Bank | Ballali, Daudi |
| Ambassador to the US | Daraja, Andrew Mhando |
| Permanent Representative to the UN, New York | Mwakawago, Daudi Ngelautwa |