Tanzania celebrates 60 years of union

By Osoro Nyawangah,  MWANZA Tanzania 

Tanzania is celebrating today the 60th anniversary of the union of the former Republic of Tanganyika and the People's Republic of Zanzibar, which is said to be a symbol of efforts to unite the African continent after the colonial period.

The celebrations officially presided over by the President, Samia Hassan,  at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in the commercial city of Dar es Salaam,  was witnessed with various leaders from eastern,  central and southern Africa. 

In her message to Tanzanians, the president noted that all six presidents who ruled the country since independence,  have contributed to the success achieved. 

"I wish you all the best as we celebrate 60 Years of our Union.  This is the value of all of us, the result of the work of every Tanzanian from our founders until now.  We have built a strong house of Tanzania on the basis of humanity, brotherhood and socialism of Africa step by step, under each phase of leadership." She said.

The President emphasized that only gift the country can give to the founders of this Union is to protect and live their great vision.  

"We are all witnesses to the great strides we have made in the past 60 years. We have every reason to continue to be proud of and protect this unique Union that was born of our own decision."  

In developing it, she said the country have to implement the philosophy of reconciliation, tolerance, reform and rebuilding the country in order to maintain peace and stability, an important pillar for the prosperity and strength of the Nation.

The union of Tanganyika and Zanzibar occurred on April 26, 1964 and became the beginning of the United Republic of Tanzania.  

Until that date there were two independent states of the Republic of Tanganyika and the People's Republic of Zanzibar which entered into a union agreement in 1964 and established the United Republic of Tanzania.

In recent years, politicians especially from the opposition side have been pushing for the reform of the structure of the union founded by the first leader of Tanganyika, Julius Nyerere and the first president of Zanzibar, Abeid Amani Karume

The Union Agreement was signed by the former President of Tanganyika, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere and the former President of Zanzibar, Sheikh Abeid Amani Karume, on April 22, 1964 in Zanzibar.  

The agreement was confirmed by the Tanganyika Parliament and the Revolutionary Council of Zanzibar on April 26, 1964.

On April 27, 1964, the leaders of both countries met at the Karimjee Hall in Dar es Salaam and exchanged the Documents of Union.

The name "United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar" was later changed, on October 28, 1964, to the United Republic of Tanzania through the Law of the United Republic, Law number 61 of 1964.

The union of Tanganyika and Zanzibar has existed due to various reasons such as the existence of close and historical relations between Tanganyika and Zanzibar in various fields such as blood relations, trade, culture, language and close political relations especially between TANU parties  and ASP.

Also, the desire to have an African Union, especially starting with the East African Federation.  

Even before the independence of Tanganyika, Mwalimu Nyerere along with other leaders who were fighting for freedom in the African region had the expectation of having an African Union; the dream is yet to be seen. 

Mwalimu Nyerere personally preferred the existence of the African Union starting with the regional federations.

Basically, there are various reasons that led to this union such as the histories of the two countries, the proximity of these two countries, social interaction, commercial cooperation, effective and long-term political cooperation between TANU and ASP.