Va-PoReg Country Report Tanganyika 1900–2025

The former British-ruled territories of Tanganyika and Zanzibar developed along separate lines until their union in 1964. Tanganyika was occupied by Germany in 1884 and then incorporated into the Protectorate German East Africa (GEA) on 02/27/1885 (Lansford 2021: 1631).¹ LIED’s and V-Dem’s data start from the year 1914. The scores indicates that no legislative elections were held. Political liberties were absent according to LIED and not really present according to our interpretation of V-Dem’s PCLI. Since 1914, V-Dem's JCE indicates that judicial constraints on the executive are moderate. Simultaneously, V-Dem's LCE shows no value, which, with appropriate caution, can be interpreted as an absence of legislative constraints on the executive.

After WWI, German East Africa was divided among several powers under the Treaty of Versailles. Apart from Ruanda-Urundi (assigned to Belgium) and the small Kionga Triangle (assigned to Portuguese Mozambique), the territory was transferred to British control. "Tanganyika" was adopted by the British as the name for its part of the former German East Africa.¹ No elections were held during this period (LIED). For that period, LIED identifies political liberties as absent, while V-Dem's PCLI is classified by us as indicating that political liberties were not really present. For the given timeframe, V-Dem's JCE indicates that judicial constraints on the executive are moderate. Simultaneously, V-Dem's LCE shows no value, which, with appropriate caution, can be interpreted as an absence of legislative constraints on the executive.

Tanganyika became a British-administered mandate under the League of Nations and continued under British administration as a United Nations trust territory after World War II on 12/13/1946 (Lansford 2021: 1631). According to LIED, no multiparty executive or legislative elections were held during this period. Political liberties were absent according to LIED and not really present according to our interpretation of V-Dem’s PCLI until 1957. For 1958 we interpret the PCLI data as political liberties being in an ambiguous state. Until 1925, V-Dem's JCE indicates that judicial constraints on the executive are moderate. Simultaneously, V-Dem's LCE shows no value, which, with appropriate caution, can be interpreted as an absence of legislative constraints on the executive. From 1926 to 1956, V-Dem's JCE is interpreted by us as indicating that judicial constraints on the executive were moderate, while V-Dem's LCE is classified by us as indicating that legislative constraints on the executive were absent. From 1957 onwards, V-Dem's JCE is classified by us as indicating that judicial constraints on the executive were moderate, whereas V-Dem's LCE is classified by us as indicating that legislative constraints on the executive were limited.

09/08[&09/12]/1958 End Direct Rule Colonial Regime [as International Mandate of United Kingdom, Liberal Democracy under League of Nations]/Start Indirect Rule Colonial Regime [as International Mandate of United Kingdom, (Monarchical) Liberal Democracy under League of Nations]: General elections took place in Tanganyika in September 1958 and February 1959.² Universal suffrage was introduced in 1959.³ LIED outcomes confirm the presence of multiparty legislative election and the presence of universal suffrage. Political liberties were absent according to LIED and ambiguous according to our interpretation of V-Dem’s PCLI. For the given timeframe, V-Dem's JCE is classified by us as indicating that judicial constraints on the executive were moderate, whereas V-Dem's LCE is classified by us as indicating that legislative constraints on the executive were limited.

Tanganyika became independent under the leadership of the Tanganyika African National Union (TANU), which won the August 1960 pre-independence elections. Although TANU won every seat in pre-independence elections, opposition was unfettered, and observers considered the election free and fair (Lansford 2021: 1631). We code this regime change as a voluntary exit, since the move toward independence would not have been possible without the consent of the United Kingdom, and there was no significant pressure on the colonizers. Queen Elizabeth was the head of state for one year until 12/09/1962. As per Polity5's classification, the executive's authority was subject to minor institutional constraints during this time. LIED identifies political liberties as absent, and V-Dem‘s PCLI is classified by us as ambiguous regarding the status of political liberties.

On this date the monarchy ended in Tanganyika, and it became a republic. With a new interim constitution, the position of a president was established. The former prime minister Julius Kambarage Nyerere became President of Tanganyika who was a supporter of the Pan-Africanist idea of unifying Africa.⁴ On 04/22/1964, Nyerere signed the Articles of Union, an agreement to unify with Zanzibar. The National Assembly passed the agreement on 04/25/1964.⁵ Based on our observations, multiparty executive and legislative elections were held during this period, which aligns with the observations of LIED. According to the LIED indicator, elections during this regime period are not competitive. V-Dem’s CEI classifies the electoral cleanliness as ambiguous. However, V-Dem’s EF&FI indicator suggests that the election conditions were free and fair. Based on Polity5's assessment, the executive faced slight limitations on power during this period. In this time frame, LIED identifies political liberties as absent and V-Dem’s PCLI is classified by us as an indication for an ambiguous state of political liberties. Since 1962, V-Dem's JCE is interpreted by us as indicating that judicial constraints on the executive were comprehensive, while V-Dem's LCE is classified by us as indicating that legislative constraints on the executive were robust.

For the time after 04/26/1964, see Tanzania.