[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 73 (Thursday, May 4, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6188-S6189]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                         DEMOCRACY IN TANZANIA

 Mr. SIMON. Mr. President, I speak to you today about an 
African country that could, this year, take another major step on the 
path toward democracy.
  The Republic of Tanzania was formed in 1964 through the merger of two 
independent States: the East African State, Tanganyika, and the 
independent island, Zanzibar. From 1965 until his retirement in 1985, 
President Julius Nyere, one of the greatest of African statesman, 
headed the Tanzanian Government.
  For most of its history, the Republic of Tanzania has had a single 
party political system. In 1985, President Nyere was succeeded by their 
current leader, President Ali Hassan Mwinyi in a single party election. 
President Mwinyi won that election with no opposition and 96 percent of 
the vote. In 1990, President Mwinyi was again the sole candidate in the 
Presidential elections. Again, he won with 95.5 percent of the votes.
  In 1992, Tanzania formally adopted constitutional amendments 
providing for a multiparty system. This constitutional change was not 
forced on the Government by a popular uprising. Instead, it was 
recommended by a Presidential commission and adopted by the ruling 
party, the Chama Cha Mapinduzi [CCM] party. I commend
 President Mwinyi for his leadership in moving Tanzania a step forward 
on the road to greater democracy and freedom.

  Since mid-1992, numerous opposition parties have been registered in 
Tanzania and multiparty elections have been held at local and the 
parliamentary by 
[[Page S6189]] election levels. Yet, as of the results available at the 
end of 1994, new political parties won only 7 percent of the seats in 
contested elections. Half of the elections were uncontested. While the 
Constitution recognizes a multi-party system, the electoral policies 
and practices of Tanzania continue to support a single-party 
government.
  Clearly, a decision to hold multi-party elections does not mean that 
democracy, political rights and civil liberties have been fully 
embraced. Freedom House, a highly respected non-profit organization 
that monitors political rights and civil liberties worldwide, rates 
Tanzania as not free. Likewise the Carter Center describes Tanzania as 
being moderately democratic, reflecting that while the Government of 
Tanzania makes formal commitments to a democratic transition, their 
deeds are not yet commensurate with their pledges.
  In October 1995, Tanzania will hold its first national multiparty 
election. This could be, given transparent and unbiased election 
practices, a major achievement in the political life of Tanzania. But 
now is the time for the Government of Tanzania to match the rhetoric of 
democracy with the tangible actions needed for real democracy to 
blossom and flourish.
  Constitutional adoption of multi-party elections has provided an 
opportunity for greater democracy. Freedom of the press, equal access 
to the public media--particularly the national radio--for all political 
parties, and a politically independent election commission will move 
democracy closer to a reality. Tanzania has made some progress in 
recent months. It can make significantly more in the months ahead. I 
encourage Tanzania's leaders to move forward to provide a level playing 
field for all political parties for their upcoming national 
elections.


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