The Rise of Nationalistic Claims in the Union of Tanganyika and Zanzibar from 1980s to 2002

This study seeks to find out reasons behind the rise of nationalistic claims for self determination from both parts of the union from 1980s to 2002. The main assumption was that the rise of nationalistic claims depended on the people perceptions of benefits from the union. The study focuses on people’s perceptions and reality of economic political and social benefits of the Union. The study was carried out in Dar es Salaam. Unguja and Pemba region. Surveys face- to –face interviews and documentary material were the major success of data. The findings have broadly confirmed the assumption of the study. They show that the rise of nationalistic claims for self-determination was mainly caused by perceptions of the people of one part that the other part of the Union had been benefiting more economically, politically or socially than their own part. This study concludes that both parts of the Union have perception of gains and losses. In both cases the perceived gains outweighed the perceived losses and therefore both sides wanted to keep the Union. The study makes several recommendations based on the findings. First, the two governments ( URT and RGZ) should ensure that costs and benefits of the Union are distributed equality and proportionally to the two parts of the Union. Second, the two government should conducted public education about the Union. Third, special effort should be make to enhance educational standards of Zanzibaris. Fourth, the issue of union structure should be settled through a referendum.