Foreign policy challenges for Tanzania in a post apartheid period

This study attempted to assess and reflect on the impact of the regional changes particularly the ending of colonialism and apartheid problem in Southern Africa on Tanzania’s foreign policy. The big question is whether Tanzania has readjusted the main thrust of her foreign policy to match the changing regional context or whether it has remained the same. The study also looked at the effects of the coming of the new Republic of South Africa on Tanzania. Further, it attempted to find out whether the end of confrontational relations has eliminated all threats to the security of Tanzania and all Southern African states. The study employed a combination of approaches to study the Foreign Policy challenges for Tanzania in a post apartheid period. The study findings have established that Tanzania has changed the main thrust of her foreign policy from focus on political to economic diplomacy. As regards relations with the new Republic of South Africa the study findings show that it has given Tanzania an opportunity to diversify her sources of investments and trade. However, this has not reduced Tanzania’s dependence on her traditional trade partners of Europe, America and Japan. As for security it has been established that the end of apartheid has reduced fear of conventional attack in the region but it has not eliminated all other threats to the Southern African states. The study concluded that there are several challenges and opportunities in the present regional environment and hence recommends that Tanzania must readjust her foreign policy with outmost care in order to get the best out of the new regional setting.