African Studies
Utafiti: Journal of African Perspectives
Call for Papers: Utafiti is inviting you to submit your manuscript – any topic in the humanities - for consideration in the next issues.
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President Kikwete and his long-ruling dominant Revolutionary Party (‘Chama cha Mapinduzi’, CCM) were faced by an ever more assertive political opposition and by vocal criticism from civil society organisations, but nevertheless remained fully in control of all state institutions. Rising social and religious tensions led to unrest and demonstrations and raised fears about a possible end of Tanzania’s hitherto typically stable and peaceful political climate. Internal power struggles between various CCM factions were evident as the party tried to regain some of its lost credibility and was already gearing up towards the next elections in 2015. Countrywide public hearings were held to solicit views on the content of an envisaged new constitution, but no firm conclusions had begun to emerge. Highly divergent views on the delicate issue of the structure of the Union between Zanzibar and the mainland were prominently raised and created an element of uncertainty. Tanzania was poised to shoulder more responsibility for various sub-regional conflicts in the near future, while an old border conflict with Malawi escalated into a diplomatic confrontation. Macroeconomic performance remained relatively satisfactory and continued to be commended by international institutions and donors, but the population still saw little concrete progress and was by and large dissatisfied with the services provided by state institutions. Many large infrastructural investments were in the planning stage, and high expectations centred on prospects for Tanzania becoming a major gas producer.