GOVERNMENT OF TANZANIA

  1. A Government

Government is a group of people within the society with the power and authority to perform administrative functions, i.e., planning, implementing policies, and making decisions.

OR

Government is a system or organizational machinery of ruling a society and can be obtained either through elections, force, or hereditary means.

TYPES OF GOVERNMENT

There are mainly two types of government:

  1. Democratic government
  2. Non-democratic government

DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT

A democratic government is a form of government whose political powers are determined by popular elections. It takes into consideration the consent of people in decision making and also acquires its legitimacy from the people through free and fair elections. Examples of democratic governments are the governments of Tanzania, Kenya, and the USA.

CHARACTERISTICS OF DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT

  1. There is separation of power.
  2. Rule of law.
  3. Free and fair elections.
  4. Leaders are accountable and responsible to the people.
  5. Citizen participation.

NON-DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT (Dictatorial Government)

This is a type of government which is not determined by popular elections. The government enters into power through force without majority will or gaining people’s legitimacy.

In most cases, non-democratic governments result from coup d’état and manipulation of the election process.

Therefore, dictatorial government is a system of ruling whereby a single person or group of people holds power and determines the political directions. Examples of dictatorial governments include those of Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, Mobutu Sese Seko, and Idi Amin Dada.

CHARACTERISTICS OF DICTATORSHIP OR NON-DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT

  1. They are not answerable to the people.
  2. Those who rule are not chosen by the people.
  3. Those in power make sure that their decisions are final.
  4. Come to power by force.
  5. Abuse their power.
  6. Do not honor the constitution.
  7. Elections are not free and fair.

FORMS OF GOVERNMENT

I. Republican Government

A Republican Government is a form of government whereby the head of the government is the president. The president is elected by the people and exercises power on behalf of the people.

Examples of republic governments are D.R.C, Kenya, Uganda, etc.

II. Union Government

This form of government is formed when two or more nations join together. The joined governments totally surrender their authority, power, and sovereignty to the central government or unitary government.

Example: The United Republic of Tanzania was formed when Tanganyika united with Zanzibar.

The United Kingdom is the union of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.

III. Monarchy Government

This is a form of government whereby power is concentrated in an individual person, such as a king. Monarchy can be divided into two forms:

  • Constitutional Monarchy
    In a constitutional monarchy, a King or Queen heads the state. The king or queen is a ceremonial leader. The state does not have any executive power, and his/her roles and places are bound under a set of rules and conventions. The prime minister is the executive head of the government. Democracy and human rights are guaranteed. Examples include Britain, Japan, and the Netherlands.
  • Absolute Monarchy
    The King or Queen exercises state power without being bound by rules. Examples include the rulers of Saudi Arabia and former King Louis of France.

IV. Federal Government

This is a form of government whereby the joined local governments share some powers with the central government. The governments surrender some of their power to the central government while retaining some authority. Examples include the governments of India, the United States of America, and Nigeria.

ecolebooks.com

V. Totalitarian Government

This is a country with only one political party. People are forced to do what the government orders.

Example: Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini governments.

VI. Communist Government

It is a form of government in a communist society whereby the government owns the means of production. It provides people’s healthcare, education, and welfare.

Example: A good example of communist government is the former USSR.

VII. Anarchy Government (No Government)

It is a situation whereby there is no government. This can happen after a civil war in a country, whereby the government is destroyed and rival groups are fighting to take its place.

VIII. Revolutionary Government

It is a system of government which is formed after a complete overthrow of the existing oppressive government by the majority people who were previously governed and oppressed by it.

Example: Zanzibar Revolutionary Government.

IX. Transitional Government

It is a form of government which is created temporarily by the people and mediators in a country to oversee the formation of a permanent government through free and fair elections.

IMPORTANCE OF THE GOVERNMENT

  1. It provides citizens with social services like healthcare, education, and safe water.
  2. The government constructs and maintains infrastructure like roads, schools, buildings, and hospitals.
  3. Maintenance of peace and order in the country is also the role of the government.
  4. Government initiates and maintains relationships with other countries.
  5. The government collects revenue for the development of the country.
  6. It guides the country by preparing and implementing good policies.
  7. Individual rights of citizens are protected by the government.

B: THE CONSTITUTION

The Meaning and Structure of the National Constitution

A constitution is a system, often codified in a written document, which establishes the fundamental rules and principles by which an organization is governed.

It is the fundamental law in one or more documents which constitutes state power and defines the relationship between organs of the state and citizens. The constitution establishes and defines roles, power, legitimacy, and limits the exercise of power by ensuring basic rights of citizens.

TYPES OF CONSTITUTIONS

There are two types of constitutions, namely Written Constitution and Unwritten Constitution.

Written Constitution

It refers to basic laws or principles described in a document. It acts as a standard reference to which government activities reflect upon and minimizes chances of wrong interpretation. Many countries have adopted this type of constitution. For example, Tanzania, Kenya, USA, etc.

Unwritten Constitution

This is one in which basic principles are not written in a single document but rely on various documents and other points of reference. A good example is Britain, where its constitution is based on statutes, customs, precedents, and conventional practices.

The National Constitution

It is the fundamental law found in one or more documents which constitutes state power and defines the relationship between organs of the state and citizens.

The constitution provides the framework of the country and creates the principal organization of the state, their power, and their limitations.

Structure of the National Constitution in Tanzania

  1. There are five constitutions adopted by Tanzania since its independence:

1. The Independence Constitution of 1961

2. The Republic Constitution of 1962

3. The Constitution of Tanzania of 1965 (One-party constitution)

4. Interim Constitution of Tanzania of 1965 (One-party constitution)

5. The Permanent Constitution of 1977

Structure of the 1977 Tanzania Constitution

The Constitution is divided into ten chapters, and each chapter is divided into several parts. These chapters are:

CHAPTER ONE:

Includes three parts. Part one declares the United Republic as a single country and its territory. The United Republic is proclaimed to be democratic, multiparty, and socialist. Part two states the fundamental objectives and directive principles of state policy. Part three describes basic rights and duties.

CHAPTER TWO:

Deals with the executive of the United Republic. It has three parts: Part one deals with the Presidency, Part two with the Vice President, and Part three with the Prime Minister.

CHAPTER THREE:

Deals with the legislature of the United Republic of Tanzania. It has three parts: one about the Parliament, another about members, constituencies, and election of members, and the third about procedures, powers, and privileges of the Parliament.

CHAPTER FOUR:

Describes the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar, the Revolutionary Council, and the House of Representatives of Zanzibar. Part one deals specifically with the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar and the President of Zanzibar; Part two is about the Revolutionary Council, while Part three is about the House of Representatives of Zanzibar.

CHAPTER FIVE:

Has six parts, which give descriptions about the High Court of the United Republic, the Judicial Service Commission for Mainland Tanzania, the High Court of Zanzibar, and the High Court of the United Republic of Tanzania.

CHAPTER SIX:

Has two parts, which deal with the Parliament, Commission of Inquiry, and Public Leaders.

CHAPTER SEVEN:

This chapter has two parts. Part one deals with the contribution and allocation of revenue in the United Republic of Tanzania, while part two is about the consolidated fund and the finances of the United Republic of Tanzania.

CHAPTER EIGHT:

This chapter deals with the establishment and functions of local government authorities, such as district and municipal councils.

CHAPTER NINE:

Gives explanation of armed forces and also describes the power of the commander-in-chief of the armed forces.

CHAPTER TEN:

This chapter has miscellaneous provisions which include interpretation of terms in the constitution, union matters, etc.

MAKING THE CONSTITUTION

Historical background of Tanzania constitution

  • Tanzania constitution has undergone several major changes since 1961 as follows:
  1. The Independence Constitution of 1961
    It was made by the British colonialists. It was used when Tanganyika got her independence and when Mwalimu Nyerere was prime minister.
  2. The Republican Constitution
    It was made by the Constitution Assembly when Tanganyika proposed to make the country a republic. Mwalimu Nyerere was elected to be the first president of the republic of Tanganyika.
  3. The Interim Constitution of the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar of 1964
    It was made by the president of Tanzania after the union of Tanganyika and Zanzibar.
  4. The Interim Constitution of Tanzania 1965
    It was made by the parliament of the United Republic of Tanzania. This constitution declared Tanzania a single-party state whereby TANU of Tanzania mainland and ASP of Zanzibar were the only political parties recognized by the constitution.
  5. The Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania of 1977
    It was made by the Constitution Assembly (BUNGE) when TANU and ASP formed Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM).

CONSTITUTION AMENDMENT

This is the process of improving or changing the laws in the constitution. The 1977 constitution has the following major amendments that cater for changing needs of the society:

  1. The introduction of a Bill of Rights (1984).
  2. Introduction of the multi-party system (1992).
  3. Introduction of the Vice President as the president’s running mate in the election and the president of Zanzibar as a member of the Union cabinet (1995).
  4. Change in mode of electing the president (2000).

a. The president to be elected by highest votes.

b. The number of seats allocated to women in parliament was increased to thirty percent.

c. The establishment of independence of the Judiciary and its power on legal matters.

d. The establishment of the Human Rights and Good Governance Commission.

IMPORTANCE OF A NATIONAL CONSTITUTION

The constitution is very important to the country for the following reasons:

  1. The constitution protects the rights of individuals.
  2. It ensures that the government is fair and just to its citizens.
  3. It describes the form of government that is used in the country.
  4. It defines the limits of the power of leaders.
  5. It shows how leaders are to be chosen.

Relationship between the Constitution and the Government of Tanzania

  1. The constitution defines the form of government to be used in our country. For example, the constitution states that our government is the United Republic.
  2. The government has to be based on principles of democracy, human rights, social justice, and observance of sovereignty of the state as the constitution.
  3. It is the constitution that establishes the organs of the state as the constitution prescribes.
  4. The constitution states the terms of the leaders and how they are elected.
  5. The elected leaders take action to defend the constitution.
  6. Leaders of the government are supposed to rule according to the constitution.

Ways of Protecting the Constitution

  1. The existing constitution was made by a body which dissolved after finishing its task.
  2. All laws of the country are derived from the constitution, and no one can make laws which contradict the constitution.
  3. The courts protect the constitution by ensuring that all people are allowed to enjoy their rights.
  4. The government and non-government organizations educate the society so that they can understand and protect their constitutional rights.
  5. Mass media educate people about their rights so that when these rights are abused, they can demand them at the courts of law.
  6. Every citizen must honour the constitution.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Meaning of Local Government

Local government is the system of administration in which elected representatives are in charge of the administration of regions, districts, urban centers, and villages. The members of this authority are elected by the residents of these areas. The local government authorities were established in 1982.

Reasons for the Establishment of Local Government

  1. To give more power to the people in the localities.
  2. To widen the system of democratic leadership.

Structure of Local Government

There are two categories of local government authorities:

  1. Rural authorities, which are known as district councils.
  2. Urban authorities.
  • The district councils range from the village level to the district level.
  • The urban authorities are responsible for the administration and development of townships, municipalities, and cities.

Structure of Local Government

District Authorities

The Village Government

The village government is the smallest unit in the local government. It is formed by 250 households. The area with the number mentioned above is likely to be declared to have a village government.

Village government works through their major organs which are the Village Assembly, Village Council, and Village Committees.

Structure of the Village Government

Village Government Structure

A. The Village Assembly

It is composed of the entire adult population living in the village. The head of the assembly is the village chairperson who is elected by the village assembly. Functions of the village assembly include:

  1. Adopting by-laws of the village.
  2. Electing the village chairperson.
  3. Electing the village council.
B. The Village Committees

There are different committees in the village including planning, finance, economic affairs, social services, security, forest production, and water resources.

The committees perform different roles in the village according to their specialized categories.

C. The Village Council

Members of the village council are twenty-five in number. They are elected by the village assembly.

Their head is the village chairperson. The village council is the executive arm of the village assembly.

  • It performs the day-to-day government activities of the village under the supervision of the Village Executive Officer (VEO) who is appointed by the district council.
Functions of the Village Council
  1. Planning and coordinating village activities.
  2. Giving assistance and advising the villagers on development matters like agriculture and industry.
  3. Encouraging village residents to undertake and participate in communal enterprises.
  4. Proposing by-laws for the village.

2. The Ward Government

The structure of ward government is divided into three main parts: the Ward Committee, Ward Executive Officer, and the departments (which include several departments).

Ward Government Structure

Ward Development Committee

It is the highest organ under the chairperson who is the ward councillor elected by the citizens during general elections every five years.

Ward Executive Officer

He or she is the leader and coordinator of all development activities within the ward. He or she is an employee of the district council.

Ward Departments

Wards have several departments as seen in the structure above.

Some of the Roles and Functions of the Ward Development Council Include:
  1. Developing general plans for the ward.
  2. Managing disasters and other environment-related activities within the ward.
  3. Reviewing proposals for village council projects and passing them on for further approval at the district level.

The District Councils

The district council is composed of:

  1. Chairperson who is elected from among the councillors.
  2. Councillor from each ward in a district.
  3. Chairpersons of Village Councils elected by the district council.
  4. Three members appointed by the minister for Local Government Authorities.
  5. Members of parliament from constituencies within the district.

District Council Structure

The District Executive Director (DED) is appointed by the president. He or she is the secretary to the district council.

The district council has the following committees:

  1. District Development Committees.
  2. Finance, Administration, and Planning Committee.
  3. Economic, Construction, and Environment Committee.
  4. Education, Health, and Water Committee.
  5. Ethics Committee.

The Roles and Functions of District Council Include:

  1. Supervising the implementation of all plans for economic, commercial, industrial, and social development in the district.
  2. Approving by-laws made by the village council.
  3. Coordinating plans, projects, and programmes for the villages in the district.
  4. Providing environment protection and management in the district.
  5. Promoting the social welfare and economic well-being of residents.
  6. Passing by-laws applicable in the district.
  7. Submitting by-laws to the regional officer for comments and submitting the by-laws to the minister for Local Government Authorities for approval.

Urban Authorities

Urban authorities include town councils, municipal councils, and city councils.

TOWN COUNCIL

The town council is found at the town level. Usually, it is independent from the district council. The structure of the council constitutes councillors elected from each ward, members of parliament representing constituencies within the town, other members of parliament who reside in town, and five members appointed by the minister responsible for local government. The township has a Chairman and a Town Director who is the chief executive.

MUNICIPAL COUNCIL

These are found in towns with a population of over 80,000 residents. Tanzania’s municipal councils include Dodoma, Morogoro, Kinondoni, Ilala, and Temeke.

Members of the municipal council are the same as those of the town council and headed by a mayor.

Officials in Municipal Councils Are:
  1. The mayor, who is the head of the municipal council and is assisted by the deputy mayor. These two are elected among councillors.
  2. A municipal executive director. He or she is a secretary to the municipal council.
CITY COUNCILS

Tanzania currently has five cities, namely Dar es Salaam, Mwanza, Arusha, Tanga, and Mbeya. The city councils are composed of:

  1. Councillors, one from each ward in the city.
  2. Members of parliament representing constituencies within the city.
  3. Six members appointed by the minister for Local Government Authorities from among the city residents.
Officers in the City Council Are:
  • The mayor – elected among members in the city council.
  • The city director – appointed by the president.
Urban Authorities Have Committees Which Are:
  1. Economic affairs, health, education, and environment.
  2. Finance and administration.
The Role of Urban Authorities Includes:
  1. Facilitating the maintenance of peace, order, and good governance.
  2. Promoting social welfare and the economic well-being of the local community.
  3. Furthering social and economic development of their areas.
  4. Taking necessary measures to suppress crime and protect public and private properties.
  5. Regulating and improving agriculture, trade, economy, and industry.
  6. Enhancing the health, education, social well-being, and recreational life of the people.
  7. Eradicating poverty.
Functions of Urban Authorities

Taking and requiring the taking of measures for conservation of natural resources, prevention of soil erosion, and prohibition of improper cultivation.

  1. Keeping the environment clean.
  2. Taking measures aimed at preventing injury to public health.

Functions of Local Government

The local government authorities have three main functions: administration, maintenance of law and order, and economic and development planning. In order to fulfill these functions, the Local Government Authorities:

  1. Hold public resources in trust.
  2. Initiate, plan, and perform development activities in the civic areas.
  3. Provide social services, for instance, road maintenance, primary health care services, primary education, and adult education.
  4. Legislate or debate and adopt by-laws.
  5. Maintain law, peace, order, and good governance in their localities.
  6. Charge fees for services and licenses.

Each council operates like the national government council and has three arms. These are:

  1. The legislative arm composed of elected and nominated councillors.
  2. An executive arm composed of permanent staff headed by the clerk to the council.
  3. A judicial arm generally known as the municipal or city courts.

Small councils have their judicial matters referred to the nearest magistrate courts.

Council OrganFunction
1. Legislature a) Makes by-laws.
b) Approves council policies.
c) Approves the council budget for onward transmission to the minister.
d) Represents residents in the council.
2. Executive a) Provides social services like water and roads.
b) Enforces by-laws.
c) Initiates council policies.
d) Does council budgeting and internal auditing.
3. Courts The council does not have magistrates of their own but gets magistrates seconded from the central government judiciary.
These courts interpret the council by-laws.

Student Participation in School and Local Government Authorities

Students have a duty to participate actively in the functions of their school as well as local government authorities.

A. In School

Students can participate actively in school functions in the following ways:

  1. Working hard in school in order to achieve the school’s academic goals as well as their personal academic goals.
  2. Debating matters relating to their school’s development and coming up with ideas.
  3. Electing their student council or government.
  4. Enforcing laws enacted by the school authority to bring peace and harmony in the school.
  5. Participating in school development projects.
  6. Taking part in activities to protect the school environment.
  7. Visiting people with special needs in the community like children’s homes and old people’s homes.

B. In Local Government Authorities

Students can participate in the functions of the local government in the following ways:

  1. Planting trees in the local area.
  2. Volunteering in development projects such as construction of schools, dispensaries, and road maintenance.
  3. Demonstrating to their parents or guardians what they are taught in school for the improvement of their locality.

Important Effects of Local Government on People’s Lives

Local authorities are very important in people’s lives since among the six allocation schemes of local government in the central budget, five focus on the well-being of the people. These five schemes are:

  • Education
  • Health
  • Water
  • Agriculture

The six schemes focus on local administration.

The functions of local government have positive effects on people’s lives. These effects are:

  1. Peace, order, and harmony prevail in their localities.
  2. Production is conducted without any interference.
  3. Local government encourages democratic participation.
  4. People benefit from what they contribute to the local government.

Source of Local Government Revenue

Revenue is also called income.

Sources of income/revenue for local government are:

1. Rent

Examples of rent are:

  1. House rent from council houses.
  2. Rent from market stalls.
  3. Land rent and service charges.

2. Licenses

A license is a permit from an authority to carry out an activity, own, or use something. A person can apply for a license for things such as:

  1. Auctioning
  2. Driving
  3. Retail trading
  4. Entertainment
  5. Fishing

3. Duties

Duties are fees paid for certain goods and services. Examples include:

  1. Customs duties, paid on goods brought into the country.
  2. Stamp duty, paid for some legal documents.
  3. Excise duties, paid for some goods made, sold, or used within the country.

4. Contributions

Residents living in an area contribute to their local authority through:

  1. Fees under by-laws.
  2. Court fines.
  3. Paying for the use of community centers.
  4. Holding fund-raising for community projects.

5. Grants and Loans

These are funds given by the central government and various local and international agencies to the local government authorities.

EXPENDITURE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES

Expenditure is the act of spending or using money.

The local government spends money in the following ways:

  1. Salaries, wages, and allowances paid to the local authority’s officials and employees.
  2. Operation costs, for instance, telephone, water, and electricity bills.
  3. Maintenance of assets, e.g., painting council houses and updating computer software.
  4. Paying consolidated fund services, constitutional officers, and debts.
  5. Development expenditure, for instance, road construction and maintenance, building schools and clinics.

CONTROL OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Local government falls under the Prime Minister’s Office, where there is a ministry responsible for local government and regional administration.

The regional commissioner is the assistant proper officer for the district council, town council, and village council established within his or her district.

The minister for Local Government Authorities and the Regional Commissioners are empowered to approve annual budgets of their respective authorities.

In the district, town, municipal, and city councils, there are directors. These directors are accountable for the council’s funds.

CENTRAL GOVERNMENT

  1. Meaning and Structure of Central Government

The central government is a national or state government.

It is concerned with national affairs and has authority over the entire territory of the country.

The Structure of Central Government

  1. Executive
  2. Judiciary
  3. Legislature

Reason for Separation of the Three Arms:

They have been separated so as to:

  1. Promote transparency and accountability.
  2. Eliminate corruption.
  3. Serve the people better.
  4. Enhance efficiency and smooth operation of the government.
  5. Make coordination and administration easy.
  6. Facilitate division of labor; roles and duties have been separated to reduce concentration of power.
  7. Promote the principle of checks and balances to prevent misuse of power.

The Three Arms of the Central Government

  1. The Executive

This is the arm responsible for putting law into effect.

The Structure of the Executive

The Executive consists of:

  1. The president.
  2. The cabinet.

The President

The president of the United Republic of Tanzania is:

  • The head of state.
  • Head of government.
  • The commander-in-chief of the armed forces.
  • Represents Tanzania abroad.
  • Signs treaties with foreign countries.
  • Is a symbol of national unity.
  • Assents or disapproves parliamentary bills.
  • Can declare a state of emergency.
  • Has special power to give respite to criminals convicted in court.

As Head of Government, He/She:

  1. Is the chairperson of the Cabinet.
  2. Can dissolve the Parliament.
  3. Takes last responsibility for all government decisions.
  4. Appoints ministers, the Chief Justice, judges of the High Court and Court of Appeal, and Regional Commissioners.

The Cabinet

It is the president’s main advisory organ. It is composed of:

  • The president.
  • Vice president.
  • President of Zanzibar.
  • Prime minister.
  • Ministers.
  • Attorney General.

The Civil Service

This is government service provided by civil servants or government workers, e.g., Regional and District Commissioners.

It consists of:

  • Permanent secretaries in the ministries.
  • Commissioners.
  • Heads of departments in the ministries and directors.

2. The Legislature

This is the law-making organ of the government.

It is made up of the National Assembly and the president.

The National Assembly of Parliament

This is the organ that makes the laws of the country on behalf of Tanzania. It is made up of the following:

  1. Members who represent their constituencies.
  2. Five members who represent the House of Representatives of Zanzibar.
  3. Ten members nominated by the president.
  4. Women members who represent the political parties that participate in general elections.
  5. The Attorney General who is appointed by the president.

The President

The president is said to be part of the parliament in parliamentary terms.

He/she is not a member of parliament because he/she does not participate in parliamentary matters such as:

  • Signing the bills to become laws during the process of law-making.
  • Dissolving the parliament; thus, the National Assembly consists only of members of parliament (MPs) and parliament works.

The difference between the National Assembly and the parliament is that when members meet with the president, it is parliament; and National Assembly when it involves only the members of parliament.

The Parliament of the United Republic of Tanzania is made up of the following leaders/officers:

  1. The Speaker: Is a person in charge of the National Assembly.

The speaker is elected from among members of the parliament.

His or her roles are:

  1. To control the house/parliament.
  2. Overseeing discipline in the parliament.
  3. To represent the parliament in all other organs and sittings outside the National Assembly.

2. The Deputy Speaker

  • She/he is also elected from among the members of parliament.
  • He/she is assistant to the speaker.
  • He/she can act as a speaker when the speaker is absent.

3. The Prime Minister

The prime minister is the head of government business in the parliament.

4. The Clerk of the National Assembly

  1. He/she is appointed by the president from among lawyers holding high office in the service of the United Republic.
  2. He/she is a chief executive on the administration heads of the National Assembly.
  3. He/she is responsible for the efficient working of the parliamentary machinery.

Thus, the Clerk is responsible for the efficient working of the parliamentary machinery. Apart from those officers, there are also:

  • The Management/Administrative Committee.
  • The Financial and Economic Committee, which deals with financial affairs and works with the Ministry of Finance.
  • The Political Affairs Committee.
  • The Public Accounts Committee.
  • The Constitutional and Legal Affairs Committee.
  • The Foreign Affairs Committee, which deals with matters concerning foreign affairs and works with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Relations.
  • The Parastatal Organization Committee.
  • The Social Services Committee.
  • The Defence and Security Committee.

Function of Parliament

The main functions of parliament are:

  1. Approving money allocated for running the administration of the country.
  2. Overseeing government programmes and plans.
  3. Making laws.
  4. Overseeing the actions of the executive.
  5. Debating issues tabled before it.

The Existence of the National Assembly

The life of the National Assembly is 5 years from the time it is addressed by the president after the members of the legislature begin by presenting agenda to the speaker’s office through the clerk to the National Assembly.

The items include bills, national petitions, and questions.

A Bill

A bill is a proposal for a new law or for the amendment of an existing law.

A Motion

A motion is a policy suggestion which has to be transformed into a bill before it.

A Petition

A petition is a call for an official ministerial response to an urgent matter of national interest.

A Question

A question is a call on ministers to respond to specified matters in their respective ministries.

Sources of Bills or Agenda Items

Bills or agenda can come from the president, Attorney General, ministers (ministries), and other members of the parliament except:

  • The speaker.
  • Other administrative officials.

Bills are shortlisted and published in the Government Gazette.

Steps in Making a Bill a Law

  1. The bill is presented by the clerk to members of parliament. This is the first reading. There is no discussion held on the bill.
  2. The bill is introduced to the members of parliament by the standing committee that is constitutional, legal, and public administration. The bill is discussed and changes or contributions are made.
  3. The bill is debated and approved or rejected by voting.
  4. If the bill has been approved by parliament, it is sent to the president for assent. If the president signs it, then it becomes an Act or Law. If he/she disapproves, then it goes back to parliament for further discussion.

Other agenda items such as petitions and questions are directed to the ministers who in turn respond to them.

3. THE JUDICIARY

The judiciary is an organ or arm of the government/state which interprets the laws and also solves disputes in the society.

It is required to be free from political pressure and also has two branches.

STRUCTURE OF THE JUDICIARY

The Tanzania Judiciary structure has five levels, namely:

  1. Primary court
  2. District court
  3. Resident magistrate court
  4. High court
  5. Court of Appeal

All these courts deal with matters depending on their complexity. For example, a major case is a big problem; it cannot be discussed or decided by a primary court because it is the lowest level of court which deals with small and minor problems such as conflicts among farmers and livestock keepers.

Big cases are decided upon by other courts such as the High Court and Court of Appeal because they are responsible for hearing big cases and also hearing cases referred to them by lower courts.

FUNCTION OF THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT

  1. Interpreting laws.
  2. Enforcing laws made by the parliament.
  3. Settling disputes between people and other organs.
  4. Championing the wishes, values, and aspirations of the citizens.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT

CENTRAL GOVERNMENTLOCAL GOVERNMENT
  1. The central government has overall power in the country.
  2. The officials of the central government are not very close to the citizens.
  3. In the central government, there are president, vice president, prime minister, ministers, members of parliament, and judges.
  4. The central government provides funds for the local government.
  1. The local government powers are limited to certain areas in the country.
  2. The officials are always available to the citizens.
  3. In the local government, there are mayors, deputy mayors, council chairpersons, councillors, and village chairpersons.
  4. Local government receives funds from the central government.

THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT SOURCE OF REVENUE

The central government gets money from:

  1. Taxes

There are two types of taxes: Direct tax and Indirect tax. Direct tax is deducted straight from the person who pays it, i.e., income tax deducted from employees’ salaries. Indirect tax is usually paid as an amount added to the price of goods and services.

  1. User Charges

These are taxes on a service provided to the public, e.g., charges on licenses and court fees.

  1. Borrowing

The government borrows money through the sale of treasury bills and treasury bonds. It also borrows from outside the country, e.g., from other states or national organizations like the World Bank.

  1. Grants

These are funds that are donated and do not need repayment. The government collects these funds through the Tanzanian Revenue Authority and the treasury.

CENTRAL GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE

The central government spends its money in two ways:

  1. Capital or Development Expenditure

This money is spent on expenses that do not occur regularly. Examples are money spent on building schools, railways, and government offices.

  1. Recurrent Expenditure

Recurrent expenses have to be paid regularly, for example, monthly or annually. Examples are paying civil servants’ salaries and buying medicine for hospitals.

PARTICIPATION IN CENTRAL GOVERNMENT

It is important for a student to participate in central government activities.

  1. Voting if they have the required qualifications.
  2. Debating issues of national interest.
  3. Attending community or civic meetings.
  4. Paying taxes through purchases of goods and services like books, pens, and paying bus fare.
  5. Obeying the laws of the land and reporting those people who do not.
  6. Making proper use of the facilities provided by the government, e.g., schools, health centers, and social halls.

IMPORTANCE OF CITIZEN PARTICIPATION IN GOVERNMENT ACTIVITIES

Citizen participation in government activities is important because it helps to:

  1. Ensure that the leaders do not misuse their power.
  2. Keep the government informed on the wishes of society.
  3. Involve citizens in the governing of their country.
  4. Bring personal satisfaction.
  5. Protect their rights and promote the common good.
  6. Improve the quality of life in the communities.

THE UNION OF TANGANYIKA AND ZANZIBAR

Tanganyika got her independence from Britain on 9th December 1961. Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere became the prime minister. In 1962, Tanganyika became a republic and Mwalimu Julius was elected president.

On 12th January 1964, a revolution was staged in Zanzibar and Sheikh Abeid Amani Karume became president. Then on 22nd April 1964, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere and Sheikh Karume signed an agreement to unite these countries. The National Assembly approved the agreement to unite Tanganyika and Zanzibar on 25th April 1964. On 26th April 1964, Tanganyika and Zanzibar united to form the United Republic of Tanzania.

REASONS FOR THE UNION

  1. Common Historical Background

The people of Tanganyika and Zanzibar were colonized by the British. Tanganyika was ruled by the British from 1919 until 1961. The British ruled Zanzibar through a sultan until 10th December 1963.

  1. Common Language

Kiswahili is the medium of communication in both Tanganyika and Zanzibar. This language helped the leaders and their people to meet and discuss the unification of the states.

  1. Similar Political Objectives

After independence of these two sovereign states, their governments thought to introduce socialism. This was because the leaders realized that the independence obtained did not benefit the majority because all major means of production were in the hands of a few people. Socialism is the economic system whereby all major means of production are owned by the public.

  1. Enhancing African Unity

When African countries began getting their independence, there were calls to unite the countries. As a result, the countries have formed unions such as the East African Community. The union of Tanganyika and Zanzibar also helped towards this goal.

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE UNION

  1. It defends the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence of its citizens.
  2. The union accelerates political and socio-economic development.
  3. The union promotes peace, security, and stability of the country.
  4. Through the union, democratic principles are promoted.
  5. It promotes and protects human rights.
  6. The union promotes and defends common positions on issues of interest to Tanzanians.
  7. The union advances the development of the country.

ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE UNION OF TANGANYIKA AND ZANZIBAR

  1. The union has remained strong from 1964 to the present.
  2. A uniform currency is used in both mainland and Zanzibar.
  3. Economic integration is greater between the two partners.
  4. There is greater social interaction.
  5. There is peace and prosperity in the country.

UNION AFFAIRS IN THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT

The following are the affairs placed under the union government:

  1. External affairs and interaction with other countries.
  2. Defense and security.
  3. The police force.
  4. Citizenship.
  5. Power to declare a state of emergency.
  6. Immigration.
  7. Industrial licensing.
  8. Higher education.
  9. Research.
  10. Meteorology.
  11. Statistics.
  12. Aviation and air transport.
  13. External borrowing.
  14. The Court of Appeal of the United Republic.
  15. Income tax, customs, and excise duties.
  16. Financial matters, legal traders, and currency.
  17. Harbors, air transport, ports, and telegraphs.
  18. The public services of the United Republic.
  19. The constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania.
  20. Mineral resources including petroleum and natural gas.
  21. Registration of political parties and other matters related to political parties.
  22. The National Examination Council and all matters relating to the council.

STRATEGIES FOR IMPROVING THE STABILITY OF THE UNION

  1. Free movement of people from Zanzibar to Tanzania mainland and vice versa without passports.
  2. The establishment of the ministry in the president’s office to deal with union affairs.
  3. Encouraging trade between the people of Zanzibar and Tanzania mainland.
  4. Leaders of both sides of the union meet and discuss different issues regarding the central government.



');}
Tags:
Bc0138c3d2dab0944d91d638547c2715

subscriber

2 Comments

  • E40144184a9831bebb53c86b0f342a59

    Abubakari, November 9, 2025 @ 2:26 pmReply

    Good subject

  • D96363edb3b1d3261a15df354bd194d5

    Alberto Bagela, May 14, 2025 @ 5:14 pmReply

    Separate the topics

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Accept Our Privacy Terms.*

BIOLOGY O LEVEL(FORM ONE) NOTES - SAFETY IN OUR ENVIRONMENT

WATER SUPPLY, IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Related Posts

Kiswahili Kidato Cha 2 Ufahamu 4960

KISWAHILI KIDATO CHA 2 – UFAHAMU

By
Mathematics O Levelform Two Notes Logarithms 313x400

MATHEMATICS O LEVEL(FORM TWO) NOTES – LOGARITHMS

By
Geography O Levelform Two Tourism 772

GEOGRAPHY O LEVEL(FORM TWO) NOTES – TOURISM

By
Commerce O Levelform Two Notes Stock Administration 400x400

COMMERCE O LEVEL(FORM TWO) NOTES – STOCK ADMINISTRATION

By