Country Profile

Located on the east coast of Africa and south of the equator, Tanzania was home to some of the world’s first human settlements, with fossils dating back as far as 3.6m years. Today, the country comprises mainland Tanganyika and the archipelago of Zanzibar. Dodoma is its official capital, although Dar es Salaam, the largest city and port, has long been the nation’s commercial and administrative centre. Overall, Tanzania’s experience as an independent African nation has been a positive one on the world stage. In its shift from a socialist experiment under Julius Nyerere to a market economy under his successors, the country has fared relatively well in maintaining political stability and economic growth. However, there is work and further collaboration needed to support the continued development of the country’s democratic credentials and foster broad-based socio-economic development. This chapter contains a viewpoint with President John Pombe Joseph Magufuli; and interviews with Libérat Mfumekeko, Secretary-General, EAC; and Stergomena Lawrence Tax, Executive Secretary, South African Development Community.