Independence Day, Tanzania

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Tanzania celebrates Independence Day on 9th December each year. On this date in 1961, the East African nation of Tanganyika gained independence from Great Britain. In 1964, Tanganyika united with several islands in the Indian Ocean, including Zanzibar and Pemba, to form the United Republic of Tanzania.

The official website (as of February 2007) of the Tanzanian Government gives all the facts: "The United Republic of Tanzania is located in Eastern Africa between longitude 29º and 41º East, Latitude 1º and 12º South."

"The United Republic of Tanzania was formed out of the union of two sovereign states namely Tanganyika and Zanzibar. Tanganyika became a sovereign state on 9th December, 1961 and became a Republic the following year. Zanzibar became independent on 10th December, 1963 and the People's Republic of Zanzibar was established after the revolution of 12th January, 1964. The two sovereign republics formed the United Republic of Tanzania on 26th April, 1964. However, the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania is a unitary republic consisting of the Union Government and the Zanzibar Revolutionary Government."

Tanzania is a country on the East coast of Africa. It is bordered by Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique. To the East it borders the Indian Ocean. Unlike many other African nations, especially in the East of the continent, there was a history of changes in colonial management in what is now Tanzania, with the Belgians and more importantly, the Germans having possession of the mainland prior to World War I, after which it was transferred to a British Mandate.

In Zanzibar the British influence was gradual, with the islands being ruled by the Sultan until the "shortest war in history" (when one Royal Navy bombardment caused a change of mind) ended the slave trade centred on the country and installed a new ruler, Sultan Hamoud, in 1896.

The overthrow of the Sultan of Zanzibar on 12th January 1964 (only 33 days after it had gained independence on 10th December 1963) led directly to the merger between Zanzibar and Tanganyika on 26th April 1964.

The name Tanzania has no historical context, being simply an amalgamation of Tanganyika and Zanzibar, the islands off its east coast. The country has been a member of the Commonwealth since Tanganyika gained independence in 1961.

In 1996, Tanzania's capital was officially moved from Dar es Salaam to Dodoma, although many government offices still remain in the old capital.