Despite the country’s reputation for stability, peace and recent economic growth, widespread poverty persists in Tanzania.
The country of Tanzania was created in 1964 after Tanganyika gained independence from British rule and merged with Zanzibar.
First president Julius Nyerere encouraged self-reliance and equality through cooperative farming villages and nationalisation policies.
A sense of national identity and altruism was forged, promoting peace and stability. But underpinned by repression and forced relocation of communities, Nyerere’s blueprint also led to poverty, corruption and dependency.
Despite recent economic growth and higher government investment in services, grinding poverty is still the norm for many Tanzanians – especially subsistence farmers who rely on semi-arid marginal land for survival.
Influenced by entrenched traditional beliefs and lack of education, they face the additional challenges of desertification and low levels of access to credit, fertiliser and markets.