Last modified: 2004-09-10 by jarig bakker
Keywords: tanzania | tanu | afro-shirazi | hoe | masai |
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![[Chama Cha Mapinduzi]](../images/t/tz}ccm.gif)
by Martin Grieve, 5 Apr 2004
I recently visited Tanzania and saw many flags of the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party in evidence. These were mostly home-made flags flying on small poles on street corners, in market stalls and near pavement kiosks. The flag of CCM has a plain green field with the emblem of the party, a crossed hammer and hoe, in yellow in the canton.
Chama Cha Mapinduzi (The Revolutionary Party of Tanzania) was formed in 1977 following the merger of the Tanganyika African National Union (TANU) and the Afro-Shirzai Party of Zanzibar. TANU was formed in 1954 with Julius Nyerere as its leader. The party won the country's first general election, following which Nyerere was asked to form the first government when Tanganyika obtained independence from Britain in 1961. Zanzibar achieved independence in 1963 as a separate and sovereign country, under the al-Busaidy Sultan.
Tanganyika became a republic in December 1962, one year after achieving independence, and the direct presidential election brought TANU's leader, Julius Nyerere, to the presidency. In 1965 the Constitution was changed to establish a one-party system. Meanwhile, in Zanzibar, a revolution had overthrown the Arab Sultan in 12 January 1964, one month after independence and the Constitution was abrogated. Abedi Amani Karume was declared the first African President of the Peoples' Republic of Zanzibar and the country became a one-party state under the Afro-Shirazi Party. On 26 April 1964, Tanganyika and Zanzibar united as the United Republic of Tanzania with Julius Nyerere as President and the head of state with Karume as his Vice President, who also retained at the same time the Presidency of Zanzibar.
In 1977, the two ruling parties, TANU and the Afro Shirazi Party, merged
to form the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM). In 1985 Nyerere stepped down voluntarily
as Head of State and Ali Hassan Mwinyi succeeded him as Head of State.
Constitutional changes allowing the return of a multi-party system were
introduced in 1992. The CCM won the presidential and parliamentary elections
held in 1995. Mwinyi stepped down in 1995, having completed the constitutionally-mandated
maximum of two terms in office and Benjamin William Mkapa of CCM was elected
as Head of State of Tanzania.
Bruce Berry, 5 Apr 2004
![[Chama Cha Mapinduzi variant]](../images/t/tz}ccmv.gif)
by Jaume Ollé, 3 Apr 2004
CCM won the elections in 2000, but opposition reported irregularities. The independentist feeling