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.
CURRENT GOVERNMENT
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
