WHY THE REVOLUTION WAS SUCCESSFUL?
The disunity within the ruling party of Z.N.P gave the revolutionists to capitalize on it and managed to attain easy success
The poor political organization and weak military, structures of the Arabs also paved way for the revolution to occur.
The good organization and plan of the leaders of the revolution who kept their secret without breaching it that caught the Arab government by surprise.
The role played by general Okello a man with great determination skilled tactician this helped him to organize the revolution with few ill equipped military men that managed to over throw the Arab government
The taking by storm of the Zinawi armory and police station at Mtoni also accelerated the revolution to success
The fact that the revolution took place took place when the government officials and leaders of the regime were busy with Ramadan festival it enabled the revolution to be successful
SIGNIFICANCE/IMPACTS/CONSOLIDATION OF THE REVOLUTION
Sample question
Elaborate six ways in which Zanzibar revolution brought positive changes in the living conditions of the people in the Isles (Necta, 2011. Qno. 07)
Show the extent to which the people of Zanzibar have benefited from the 1964 Zanzibar revolution.NECTA, 2002.
Having seized power with an astonishing (surprising) ease, Okello and his associate were confronted with the task of forming a government. They decided to form a “revolutionary council” made up of prominent members not only from the Afro-Shiraz party but also of the Umma the recently founded, partly Arab party which was emphatically Marxist in its policy statements. Soon afterwards Okello disappeared from the scene and Abedi Karume, the veteran leader of the ASP, who was to die at the hands of mysterious assassins eight years later, emerged as the dominant personality in the island. The revolutionary government rapidly announced the number of progressive measures which included the following.
Three months after the revolution the revolutionary council agreed to the establishment of a union government with the neighboring Tanganyika to be known as the United Republic of Tanzania.
The nationalization of land and the distribution of three acre plot to the Africans. The Arab land owners were forcibly asked to surrender African land for distribution it to the majority blacks. About 10,000 Arabs more than one-fifth were expelled from the island. To this each household got three acres of the land.
It brought dignity to Africans. As a result of the revolution the ruling class of Zanzibaris ceased to exist in the island, Africans were treated as equal citizens with all rights like the of Arabs.
Free education and health care to all the people without segregation posts in government civil service previously monopolized by Arabs or Asians were opened up to Africans; and the wages of the lowest-paid workers were increased sometimes as much as three times. This resulted to the establishment of standardized social services such as schools, hospitals, clubs and shops that were to benefit the majority Africans in Zanzibar
Scientific socialism was introduced in Zanzibar which brought some social development. The revolutionary council turned to communist countries particularly to East Germany and China. Problem of development were tackled more vigorously than they had been under the easy regime of British.
The formation of parastatal enterprises e.g., The peoples’ Bank of Zanzibar, The state fuel and power corporation, BIZANJE-The corporation which had the responsibility of managing the import trade and distribution of essential commodities such as food textile building materials and other capital and commerce goods, The Zanzibar state trading corporation [ZSTCJ which had the responsibility of managing the export trade in cloves, coconuts, and other primary products.
It brought majority rule in Zanzibar where by the majority Africans were able to take over the political control of the island as opposed in previous where Africans had no such autonomy.
Racial segregation ended and brought unity to all the masses without any sort of segregation.
After the revolution the Arabs regime led by Mohammed Shamte was over thrown and replaced by the revolutionary government ruled by their fellow Africans i.e. Abeid Karume therefore that were for a long time being under Arabs were no longer.
The revolutionary government built many houses in a form of flats and distributed to the poor people free of change, this aimed at reducing the gap between rich and poor people such houses were built in areas like Michenzani, kilimani, kikwajuni and chake chake.
The revolutionary government improved transportation system more especially water transport so as to simplify the transportation between the two islands, this was the case due to improvement of Mr. Mandela and Mr. Mapinduzi that served between islands.
Africans were in turn retained their citizenship which was confiscated for a long time by Arab rule thus started to have their self determination and sovereignty.
Generally, the revolution of 1964 in Zanzibar has been as a driving factor to the Zanzibar in a sense that it created equality among races; Africans became respected as human beings rather than commodities as done during slave trade.
THE UNION BETWEEN ZANZIBAR AND TANGANYIKA.
Sample question. Necta 2009 (Private Candidates)
Explain the historical significance for the Union between Tanganyika and Zanzibar in 1964.
OR
What were the reasons behind for the 1964 Union between Tanganyika and Zanzibar? OR
The amalgamation between Tanganyika and Zanzibar was a historical phenomenon. Discuss.
Introduction. The Union between Zanzibar and Tanganyika was an incidence in which the leaders of these countries joined together to have one country (Tanzania). This was done by J.K Nyerere of Tanganyika and Abeid Aman Karume of Zanzibar. It was formed from 26th April 1964 where the members (leaders) agreed to share among other things like defense, police, state of emergence and external affairs. However the reasons behind the Union can be grouped into internal and external factors in a sense that there were some forces within and that from outside Africans, these can be well explained as follows:-
Due to the rule played by Pan- Africanism in a since that panafricanism had for a long period been motivating all Africans to unite in order that they can fight for colonial injustices, oppression and exploitation in that case Nyerere and Karume being inspired with this idea of Pan – Africanism, they decided to be the first African countries unite.
Due to the influence of western countries like USA, British and France. This is because the countries regarded Zanzibar as Cuba because she bought the idea of communism which was a danger to the western Brock to be free from communism spread they decided to pressurize the president of Tanganyika to find the way out by conversing Abeid Aman Karume to Unite
Besides the spread of communism also Nyerere and Karume had a very long historical friend ship in a sense that Nyerere influenced the formation of ASP and Zanzibar Revolution thus to cement their friendship Union became to be very important.
On the other hand, there was internal opposition within Zanzibar after the revolution done by a group of radicals who in a sense spread opposed and challenged Karume as Karume became unsecured it later precipitated for the Union in order to contain over these radicals.
e) Likewise TANU and ASP as major political parties in this two countries had a very close relationship due to the fact that they all had common interests to unite Africans since ZAA and TAA in Zanzibar and Tanganyika respectively in this case the Union would further their close tie they had.
Proximity / closeness of the two countries played significant role to the Union simply because Zanzibar and Tanganyika geographically are too closer and it is said that the distance from Dar-es-Salaam to Unguja is shorter than the distance from Unguja to Pemba this significant that that people used to leave regular contact in trading activities, therefore Union to them was not a now thing.
Zanzibar and Tanganyika experienced same colonialism because they were all under British rule being under the same rule; they experienced the same burden and administration this eventually made them to unite together so that they can keep on adopting same experience they had.
Other reasons that drove out for the Union between these countries were close relationship that the people of Tanganyika and Zanzibar had this are because most of the people in Zanzibar came from Tanganyika as they were taken by Arabs during the slave trade. Thus the Union would help people of these countries to enjoy much with former brothers and sisters whom they separated each other.
Generally, It should be put in mind that the Union between Zanzibar and Tanganyika brought much benefits to the people concerned because people are free to move from one place to another they also share many aspects such as social, political and even economic matters through to some extent there are many changes resulting from such Union to the extent that other members decide even to pull out from the Union.
LIBERATION BY ARMED STRUGGLE.
This was the technique commonly used in all settler colonies where as such Africans had to resort into armed struggle as the last solution. This method was adopted in British colonies like Kenya and Zimbabwe as well as to the Portuguese colonies like Angola, Mozambique and Guinea Bissau.
WHY AFRICAN STATES RESORTED TO ARMED STRUGGLE AFTER 1945?
It’s true that armed struggle became dominant after 1945 especially in Zimbabwe, Kenya’ Angola and South Africa etc as compared to other forms of liberation this was due to the following facts that accelerated the application of armed struggle among such factors include the following.
Military assistance from USSR. After 1945 USSR consolidated her strength to the zenith it was ant-colonialism and a sympathizers to African ant-colonial struggles .It was ready to provide military support and moral to liberate the Africans from colonialism, thus military struggle due to military assistance of USSR.
Manchester conference. During the Manchester the major agenda of the conference was to liberate Africans by all means peaceful or force, this gave courage to the Africans to use force where the colonialists became reluctant to grant independence.
Role and influence of the ex soldiers. The war veterans of Second World War came back with military skills which they had acquired during the war it were these skills that encouraged very many African nationalists to apply force to overthrow the colonialists who were not ready to grant independence to Africans.
The support from U.N Under U.S.A and USSR were ant-colonialism and supported the African nationalist struggle to use all means to get rid of colonialism.
Failures of other methods. Other methods like peaceful means and constitutional failed, the armed struggle became as the last resort for getting independence from the colonialists.
Impact of India and Pakistan independence. The independence of Asian countries especially Pakistan and India was a big challenge for the Africans to emulate, they used all means including armed struggle to get independence.
Influence of pan Africanism. Especially after shifting her headquarters from the new world to Africa .The plan of action of pan Africanism was to liberate African nations by all means.
Un- willingness of the colonial power to grant independence. Especially Portugal and British colonies that, were not willing to grant independence. The Africans resorted the use of force.
Influence of front line states. That provided military and man power support to the ant-colonial struggles in Africa e.g. Tanganyika during the struggle in South Africa and Zimbabwe
Intensive exploitation after world war two. It awakened Africans against the colonialists who had increased exploitation of Africa resources as to revamp their ruined economies; this made Africans to use all means to liberate themselves.
Emergence of cold war after 1945. This was the struggle between USSR and USA, every bloc wanted to win more countries in Africa as to spread their political ideologies of socialism or capitalism, this witnessed the giving up of weapons to fight the colonialists.
ARMED STRUGGLE IN THE PORTUGUESE COLONIES.
Portugal had three colonies in Africa which included; Angola, Guinea Bissau and Cape Verde, and Mozambique. These countries attained their independence late as compared to other African countries; the Portuguese government was therefore determined not to give independence to these nations because were seen as vital props to the Portuguese economy. It should however be noted that, the Portuguese had stayed in the colonies for about 50 years even before the Berlin Conference of 1884 – 1885 more especially along the coastal area, later occupied and colonized the interior parts.
Also the Africans in the Portuguese colonies were equally determined to win their independence
thus prolonged guerrilla struggle began throughout the Portuguese colonies the lead was taken by a smallest colony of Guinea Bissau and Cape Verde, led by Amilcar Cabral, he founded the (P.I.G.C) Portido Africano, da independence da Guinea Cabo Verde in 1956 but He was assassinated in January 1976 only two years after the independence of 1974.
In Angola Agustino Netto led guerrilla struggle against the Portuguese after founding M.P.L.A (Movemento popular de libertagao de Angola) in December 1956 in Luanda among the working class, and were able to get their independence in 1975. The struggle for Mozambique was led by Eduardo Mondlane and his deputy Samora Machel after founding FRELIMO (Frente de Libertacao de Mozambique) found in 1962 in the capital of Tanzania Dar- es- salaam they declared war officially in September 1964.
WHY LATE INDEPENDENCE FOR PORTUGUESE COLONIES?
Sample questions, Necta 2005
Why did the Portuguese colonies in Africa engage in armed struggle to liberate themselves?
Approach:
Armed struggle refers to the technique / method adopted by African countries as a means to literate themselves especially in those colonies where colonial states were reluctant to grant independence (settler colonies). The case to Portuguese colonies in Africa like Mozambique, Guinea Bissau and Angola used armed struggle to liberate themselves because of the following:-
Poor/weak economic base of Portugal. She was the poorest country among the colonialists, she had not Under gone industrial revolution, therefore she regarded the heavily depended on her colonies for economic prosperity at home that is why she was very reluctant at granting independence to her colonies, which she viewed like committing economic suicide.
The Portugal colonial policy Portugal regarded her colonies as overseas provinces since Portugal was a small nation, she was very interested to acquiring more oversea land whereby they could stay forever and obtains raw materials exploit market for their goods and settlement of surplus population.
Settlers opposed the granting of independence to the Africans because of heavy investment in the colonies. The numbers of settlers were in big in numbers in many Portuguese colonies with high investment in agriculture and other economic ventures in the colonies. They therefore feared economic losses once the black majority takes over power.
The Portuguese exploited the Africa maximally as to support their economy in the metro pole such as, imposed harsh taxes like dog, tax poll tax, this was great economically to them that’s why they hesitated to grant independence to the African early like other European nation.
Land alienation .All African fertile land was taken and known as crown land, it was confiscated for the construction of infrastructures, establishment of colonial economies establishment of white plantation, and this was too precious to them to give independence to the African easily.
Mass illiteracy. Many Portuguese were illiterate and hence conservative and ignorant of what was taking place outside world .Other European nations had changed their way of exploitation to neo-colonialism. Since Portuguese were short sighted they never dreamt of granting independence to their colonies soon, such situation prompted the use of armed struggle for the African as a means to get their independence.
Furthermore, burning of political parties in the colonies this event made African nationalistic decide to have their centers in other independent African countries like Tanzania so as to mobilize their military struggle.
Portugal was a fascist state by natures, with no democracy. This was because through their dictatorial leadership of Salazar Africans were in turn oppressed, exploited as well as humiliated, this was followed due to the fact that, Portuguese believed to have ever lasting civilizing mission to Africans.
Due to wrong concept the Portuguese had to Africans of under estimating the strength of the colonial subjects (Africans) in their nationalist demands and struggles she expected that being a NATO member her subjects would always be suppressed and ruled forever, this wrong concept made Africans to be angry over it.
Generally with all attempts made by Africans through their political parties such as FRELIMO in Mozambique, UNITA and MPLA in Angola and PAIGC in Guinea Bissau, Portuguese colonies eventually managed to attain their independence, this is because Guinea Bissau got its independence in 1974, whereas Angola and Mozambique in 1975 attained their independence.
THE CASE TO THE BRITISH COLONIES.
Sample question.
Taking an example from one of the British colonies, explain why Africans attained their independence through armed means. OR, armed struggle was the only way to some African countries support the above question sitting an example from the British colonies.
To respond to the above question you need to historic back ground of these colonies.
British had colonies like Kenya and Zimbabwe; all these countries attained their independence through armed struggle.