Role Of Socialism In Tanzania

Introduction

The East African country of Tanzania which was known as Tanganyika, formally gained its independence from great Britain on 9 December 1961, under the former president Mwalimu Julius K. Nyerere. Who made his support well known throughout the world. He felt socialism in Tanzania would bring about equal rights for all of Tanzania’s residence, and he saw his plan as a way for Tanzanians to become self-reliant. During the late 1960s, Tanzania was poverty stricken, lack of infrastructure and poor education systems, and Nyerere saw socialism as a way out for the country. Socialism is a range of economic and social systems characterized by social ownership and democratic control of the means of production; as well as the political ideologies,

Social ownership may refer to forms of public, cooperative, or collective ownership; to citizen ownership of equity; or to any combination of these. Socialism can be divided into both non-market and market forms. During the socialist movement started by Nyerere, rural development was primary focus. People worked hard to extend traditional roles and values while also raising the basic living standards. After the implementation of socialism, Julious Nyerere introduced the policy of Ujaama. The aims of ujaama were to bring about changes in Tanzania. Even though Tanzania was able to achieve the highest literacy rate in Africa, improvement in health care and distribution of wealth, however it experienced challenges that led to its failures.

The foundation of African socialism in Tanzania

The British colony of Tanganyika become independence in 1961, and in 1964 it united with another former British

Banks, insurance companies and large foreign-owned companies were nationalized. Only small companies remained under private ownership, but they were controlled by the state corporations. Civil servants and party officials were banned from involvement in any capitalist activities. The government drew up a ‘Leadership Code’ to prevent corruption amongst government employees and party officials. They were prevented from using their position to gain wealth, and their fringe benefits were cut. They could not own company shares or houses for rent. They could not hold private directorships, or receive more than one salary. As a result, historians considered Tanzania under Nyerere’s leadership to be one of least corrupt counties of Africa. But the main focus of African socialism in Tanzania was on the development of rural areas. Large, collectivized villages-called ujamaa (A Swahili word which Nyerere defined as a ‘family hood/ brotherhood’) – were established, in which land was communally- owned, resources were shared and leaders were elected. Nyerere hoped that the Ujamaa villages would increase productivity and result in greater prosperity in rural areas. The replaced individual farmers living in scattered settlements. This would make it easier for the government to provide roads, markets and agricultural services for