Tanzania in transition : From Nyerere to Mkapa

Abstract

This book is the first comprehensive contribution to understanding the character of important societal transitions in Tanzania during Benjamin Mkapa's presidency (1995 - 2005). The analyses of the trajectory of these transitions are conducted against the background of the development model of Tanzanian's first president, Julius Nyerere (1961 - 1985), a model with lasting influence on the country. This approach enables an understanding of continuities and discontinuities in Tanzania over time in areas such as development strategy an ideology, agrarian-land, gender and forestry issues, economic liberalization, development assistance, corruption and political change. The period of Mkapa's presidency is particularly important because it represents the first phase of Tanzania's multi-party political system. Mkapa's government initially faced a gloomy economic situation. Although Mkapa's crusade against corruption lost direction, his presidency was characterised by relatively high growth rates and a stable macro-economy. Rural and agrarian transitions were dominated by diversification rather than productivity growth and transformation. Rural attitudes in favour of land markets emerged only slowly but formal land disputes showed more respect for women's rights. Some space emerged for widening local participation in forest management, but rural dynamics was mainly found in trading settlements feeding on economic liberalization and artisanal mining. The transitions documented and analysed of Mkapa's presidency, however, indicate only limited transformational change. Rural poverty is therefore likely to remain deep and the sustainability of economic development to be at risk in the future. Mkapa was, however, able to protect the legacy of peace and political stability of Nyerere, but there were nevertheless important challenges to the first multiparty elections and governance, and particularly in Zanzibar. The post- script (covering 2005 2010), indicates that the incumbent president, Jakaya Kikwete, has yet to prove that he can change this legacy of Mkapa. The contributions to the eleven chapters of this book are evenly shared between Tanzanian, Nordic and other European researchers with a long-term commitment to Tanzanian development research. The book is dedicated to the youth of Tanzania.

<p>CONTENTS: Chapter 1. Tanzania in Transition – To What?/Kjell Havnevik and Aida C. Isinika - Chapter 2. A Historical Framework For Analysing Current Tanzanian Transitions: The Post-Independence Model, Nyerere’s Ideas and Some Interpretations/Kjell Havnevik - Chapter 3. The Norwegian-Tanzanian Aid Relationship: A Historical Perspective/Jarle Simensen - Chapter 4. Agrarian Fundamentalism or Foresight? Revisiting Nyerere’s Vision for Rural Tanzania/Deborah Fahy Bryceson - Chapter 5. Smallholder Agriculture in Tanzania: Can Economic Liberalisation Keep its Promises?/Rune Skarstein - Chapter 6. Gender Dimensions of Land Conflicts: Examples from Njombe and Maswa Districts in Tanzania/Aida C. Isinika and Khamaldin Mutabazi - Chapter 7. Dynamism of Natural Resource Policies and Impact on Forestry in Tanzania/Gerald C. Monela and Jumanne M. Abdallah - Chapter 8. Trends in Corruption During the Mkapa Era – Who Wants to Know?/Brian Cooksey - Chapter 9. Changing Aid Modalities and Tanzanian Development Assistance Partnerships/Samuel Wangwe - Chapter 10. Challenges to The Democratisation Process in Tanzania/Jonas Ewald - Chapter 11. Postscript: Tanzania in Transition – Summary and Trends 2005 – 2010/Kjell Havnevik</p>