Factors that contributed to the delay of Tanganyika’s Independence

Tanganyika was colonized by Germany in 1895 through a direct and harsh rule leading to Maji-Maji rebellion of 1905. After the defeat of Germany in World War I, Tanganyika was administered as a British mandate under the League of Nations from 1920 until it gained independence on December 9, 1961. Several factors contributed to the delay of Tanganyika’s self-rule.

Divide and Rule Policy: British prevented formation united nationalistic movements of Tanganyika by promoting ethnic and religious divisions.

Lack of National Unity: Unlike other regions, Tanganyika did not have widespread, common issues that could rally the population towards a nationalist movement. Tanganyika’s diverse ethnic landscape made it difficult to form a cohesive national movement.

The size of the country:  The big size of the country limited the movement and communication of nationalistic idea.

Economic Factors: Tanganyika was economically disadvantaged and people experience extreme poverty, which hindered the formation of political parties and movements. The colonial economy focused on cash crops, keeping many Tanzanians preoccupied with their livelihoods and less focused on political activism.

Illiteracy: High levels of poverty and illiteracy among the population made it difficult to mobilize people for nationalist causes.

Traditional Leadership: Traditional leaders often opposed the formation of nationalist movements, viewing them as a threat to their authority.

Religious Divisions: Religious differences also played a role in delaying nationalism, as various religious groups were often at odds with each other.

Banning of Political Parties: The colonial government banned political parties and arrested nationalist leaders, thereby stifling political activism. For instance, all TANU party branches in the country were closed and Nyerere was stopped from addressing any rallies in 1957.

Lack of a national language: Lack of a widely spoken national language hindered the rise and spread of nationalistic ideologies.

The fear caused by the defeat of Maji-Maji rebellion: In this rebellion African were harshly treated by the Germans that Nyerere feared violence again and thus adopted the more lenient system of mass mobilization.

Employment of educated elites in civil service: This not only enabled the British to appease them but also to monitor their activities.

These factors collectively contributed to the delay for Tanganyika’s independence, making the struggle for self-governance a complex and prolonged process.

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Thanks

Dr. Bbosa Science