The contribution of Julius Nyerere to the history of Tanzania up to 1985

Nyerere was the first president of the Republic of Tanzania and led the country in 1961 to 1985.

ROLES

POLITICAL

Transformed Tanganyika African Association (TAA) in 1954.
Led Tanganyika to independence in 1961.
Promoted multi-racial unity between, ie Arabs and Africans.
Spearheaded the merger between Tanganyika and Zanzibar in 1964.
Promoted socialism in Tanzania under the 1967 Arusha Declaration.
Created a People’s army, ie TPDF in Tanzania.
Promoted mass nationalism / patriotism in Tanzania.
Promoted territorial sovereignty of Tanzania, ie defended the boundaries of Tanzania
especially the Amin’s time in Uganda.
Provided exemplary leadership to the people of Tanzania.
Maintained political stability in Tanzania.
Promoted egalitarianism / equality in Tanzania.

ECONOMIC ROLES / CONTRIBUTION

Promoted agricultural modernization in Tanzania.
Nationalized the major means of production, ie land.
Created the Ujaama villages that promoted / boosted production.
Created co-operative movements which eased the marketing of agricultural products.
Promoted small scale industries, ie processing of agricultural products.
Changed the attitude of people towards work.
Led to infrastructural developments eg roads.
Emphasized rural development through the Ujamaa village.
Promoted income equality which reduced conflicts.
Promoted self-reliance in Tanzania in the initial years of independence to reduce effects of neo-colonialism.
Re-distributed land in Tanzania.

SOCIAL CONTRIBUTION

Created a national language – Kiswahili which consolidated unity and trade.
Promoted education through elementary structure of lower primary.
Provided health services through the setting up of hospitals and other health centres.
Provided clean water in Tanzania.
Re-designed the education system to suit the needs of the people.

NEGATIVE CONTRIBUTION / WEAKNESSES

POLITICAL

ECONOMIC

Failed to increase agricultural production, ie famine struck the country in the 1970’s.
Made Tanzania to register shortage of foreign exchange due to limited exports.
The policy of self-reliance failed under Nyerere.
There was low industrial development or output due to the small scale industries.
Communal farming failed.
Nyerere mismanaged the state enterprises.
Income inequality persisted.
Failed to fully handle the unemployment problem.
Farmers associations offered low prices for the produce.
Nyerere accumulated foreign debts for Tanzania.

SOCIAL

Published by