Event Description

The United Republic of Tanzania was formed on April 26, 1964, as a union of two independent nations, Tanganyika and Zanzibar. The Republic of Tanganyika and the People's Republic of Zanzibar entered into a Union Agreement in 1964, establishing the United Republic of Tanzania. The Union Agreement was signed by the then President of Tanganyika, the late Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, and the then President of Zanzibar, the late Sheikh Abeid Amani Karume, on April 22, 1964, in Zanzibar. The Agreement was ratified by the Tanganyika Parliament and the Revolutionary Council on April 26, 1964. On April 27, 1964, leaders of both countries met at the Karimjee Hall in Dar es Salaam to exchange the Union Documents. The structure of the Union of Tanzania, as outlined in the Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania, includes two executive bodies: the Government of the United Republic and the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar; two judicial bodies: the Judiciary of the United Republic and the Judiciary of Zanzibar; and two legislative bodies: the Parliament of the United Republic of Tanzania and the House of Representatives of Zanzibar. The Government of the United Republic of Tanzania handles all Union matters as specified in the 1977 Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania and non-Union matters for Mainland Tanzania. Additionally, the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar manages all non-Union matters for Zanzibar.