Tanzania 

Key facts

POPULATION (Census 2002): 34,443,603
AREA2: 945,087 sq km
CAPITAL: Dodoma
LOCAL GOVERNMENT CONTRIBUTION TO GDP: -
CURRENCY: Tanzanian shilling (TZS)
HEAD OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT: President Jakaya Kikwete
FORM OF GOVERNMENT: democratic republic
PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEM: unicameral
STATE STRUCTURE: unitary
LANGUAGES: Swahili (official), English
NATIONAL ELECTIONS: last: 31 October 2010;  next: 2015
LOCAL ELECTIONS: last: December 2010;  next: 2014

Summary

Tanzania is a democratic unitary republic with a central government and a devolved government of Zanzibar which has autonomy for non-union matters. There is local government in both Tanzania and Zanzibar, totalling 133 local authorities. Article 145 of the constitution gives recognition for local government and is supported by the Local Government (District Authorities) Act 1982 and the Local Government (Urban Authorities) Act 1982. The Ministry for Regional Administration and Local Government is responsible for local government in mainland Tanzania and is currently within the Prime Minister’s Office. On the mainland, there are three types of urban authority: city, municipal and town councils. In rural areas there are two levels of authority: firstly district councils and secondly village council and township authorities. On Zanzibar, urban authorities are either town councils or municipalities, while all rural authorities are district councils. Local government authorities (LGAs) have the ability to levy taxes, fees and charges; however the majority of local authority revenue comes in the form of sectorspecific conditional transfers from central government. Each LGA is responsible in its area of jurisdiction for maintenance and facilitation of peace, order and good government; for the promotion of the social welfare and economic wellbeing of the people; and for the furtherance of social and economic development.

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