By East African Gazette
Dar es Salaam
Hundreds of people braved the morning downpour as they celebrated 60 years since Tanganyika and Zanzibar united to form the United Republic of Tanzania.
Today April 26, 2024 marks 60 years since Tanganyika and Zanzibar united to form the United Republic of Tanzania.
The founders of this union, the late Julius Kambarage Nyerere on the side of Tanganyika and the late Abeid Amani Karume on the side of Zanzibar who together agreed to unite their countries and form the United Republic of Tanzania where they mixed soil from all sides as a symbol of union.
The two leaders agreed that due to the citizens of both countries being Africans, with geographically close (Geographical closeness), speaking the same Kiswahili language, similar cultures to a large extent, the friendship of Hayati Nyerere and Karume, the ideological similarity of the two parties of Tanganyika African National Union (TANU) on the side of Tanganyika and Afro Shiras Party (ASP) on the side of Zanzibar and similar history, these founders saw it as a good thing to unite.
The celebration that took place in Benjamin Mkapa Stadium Dar es Salaam attracted seven heads of state from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) African nations.
Among them were Azali Assoumani from the Union of the Comoros, Felix Tshisekedi from the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Evariste Ndayishimiye from Burundi, Jessica Alupo Vice President of Uganda
During the festivities, Ndayishimiye hailed the founding fathers of Tanzania, , and then-King of Burundi Ntare V Ndizeye, for their pivotal role in uniting the people.
“We are essentially one people, the borders between our countries were created by colonialists,” he said.
Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan, addressing the nation on this historic occasion, emphasized the enduring strength of the union.
“On behalf of you, the Tanzanian citizens, I sincerely thank the Founders of this Union, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere and (former President of Zanzibar) Sheikh Abeid Amani Karume, as well as the leaders who followed them, for bringing us together and building a free, strong, and hopeful nation,” she said, adding:
“The only gift we can give them is to continue to maintain this Union and honor their vision. In today’s saying, we simply give them their flowers.”
She highlighted the Pan-African Movement of Eastern and Central Africa (PAFMECA), through which Nyerere and Karume advocated for the liberation and unity of East African nations.
The president further underscored the historical ties between Tanganyikans and Zanzibaris, emphasizing their shared heritage and familial connections. The socio-economic integration facilitated by the union has enhanced mobility and cultural exchange, fostering a sense of national unity among Tanzanians.
Moreover, she highlighted Tanzania’s diplomatic influence regionally and globally, attributing it to the “strength of the union” and emphasized the nation’s role in conflict resolution and its commitment to promoting peace and stability in the Great Lakes
Speaking during local interviews recently Abbas Mwalimu, a political analyst and Diplomacy, said the brotherhood of the people of Tanganyika and Zanzibar began in the 12th century, a period when even the founder of the Tanzanian nation, Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere, was not born nor Sheikh Abeid Aman Karume.
“Many countries tried to unite but their union is different from Tanzania’s because Tanzania’s union is between people and not regions and that is why it is not called the United Republic of Tanzania but instead the United Republic of Tanzania.
“The word ‘of’ representing people and not ‘of’ which would represent places.
He explained that Peace and national unity have continued to strengthen in these 60 years of union, Leaders and citizens of all parties have continued to respect each other, protect and ensure the peace established by the founders of this union is fully developed.
He noted that President Dr. Samia Solution Hassan and Dr. Hussein Ali Mwinyi together have been role models in ensuring peace and national unity is developed so that the people continue to benefit from this union.
In addition, the union has continued to be an important resource for strengthening the blood brotherhood for the citizens of both sides. All citizens have become brothers now without discrimination, the union has helped the people get together and thus marry and reproduce.
According Mwalimu, said the intermarriage has also helped completely to eliminate the issue of discrimination making the union not of mixing soil like the former leaders did before but mixed blood.
The union has helped a lot to strengthen security .between the two Countries, saying the founding fathers were determined to help each other in terms of defense and security as security are a major driver of development.
Different people speaks out about Muungano
Dr. Phillip Mpango , the Vice President described Muungano as was major pillar for two countries security saying after Sultan who was ruling Zanzibar was dismissed, there was a rumor of regrouping to return to war and attack Tanganyika and thus the alliance was important for the security of all sides of the alliance. It is in that context, we have witnessed 60 successful years of protection and security.
“Citizens have continued to do their economic activities with great freedom due to the strengthening of defense and security” said Mpango
He noted that defense and security agencies from all sides have been cooperating closely to ensure that protection and security continue to exist at all times.
The union has also been successful in terms of the economy due to the existing freedom of citizens from both sides to conduct economic and commercial activities to increase their income and the country as a whole.
A citizen from mainland Tanzania is free to carry out economic activities in Zanzibar and vice versa as long as he follows the procedures and laws that guide those economic and commercial activities.
The Union has also given freedom to citizens to invest in various economic sectors, for example; agriculture, fishing, breeding, transportation, mining, energy and various social services.
“This freedom has enabled citizens to invest in these activities and grow the economy” he noted
Citizens have also benefited through the union by being free to use the resources found in land and sea in various economic activities they do. The union has helped to develop the tourism, fishing and blue economy sectors on a large scale for both parties.
He advised the citizens of both sides to continue maintaining the union with all our strength.
“We need each other more than at any time in the history of our two countries. The great efforts made by the leaders of both sides to promote development will continue to bear more fruit if we continue to maintain this alliance”
We have certainly stuck together and improved a lot in the 60 years of the union and that is why we have taken great progressive steps that everyone with eyes can see for themselves.
Added information by Dr. Reubeni Lumbagala is a teacher at Mlali Secondary School located in Kongwa district in Dodoma region.
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