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Over
the Years
From the archives… Tanzanian Police Force
Shortly
after independence, Tanganyika and Zanzibar merged to form
the nation of Tanzania in 1964. One-party rule came to an
end in 1995 with the first democratic elections held in the
country since 1970.
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Policing
in Tanzania
The
evolution of the police force is closely connected to
the colonial history of the two countries and the conflict
and needs of German and British conquerors. The Tanzanian
police force was created long before Tanzania gained
its independence. The pre-independence police force
can be roughly divided into two categories: under the
German rule and under the British rule.
Tanganyika
German Rule 1886 to 1919
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Tanzania
Police Station
Photo Credit:LHRC
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During
the period of German dominance from 1886 to 1919 there was
really no civilian police force. Law and order were left to
the Army and the Para-military forces, which included a few
conscripted local Africans. The British and South Africans
seeking dominance penetrated the German Settler areas in 1916.
They brought in 31 officers to carry out 'civil police duties'
in German settled areas and that eventually paved the way
for the formation of a regular police force for Tanganyika.
British
Rule 1919 to 1961
Right
after Germany's defeat in World War I, the British took over
Tanganyika and immediately created a regular police force
called the Tanganyika Police Force and Prisons Service in
1919. The new force had strong 'tribal' biases that suited
colonial governance and recruits were selected not for their
academic brilliance but on characteristics of 'toughness',
'courage' and 'brute force'. The command structure was typical
of all colonial police forces, created by the British across
the Commonwealth. The top of the pyramid was predominantly
white and British. Orders flowed downward to the middle ranked
Asians with the local Africans accounting for the lowest cadre.
Most of the locals were illiterate and it was easy to justify
placing them at the bottom. Discipline was rigid and key to
keeping the force in check.
Meanwhile
in Zanzibar…
Prior
to its independence in 1963, two colonial masters ruled Zanzibar
in a system that was considered unique.
The
Omani Arabs who had been traveling frequently to the Island
to deal in ivory, slaves and spices, moved their Sultanate
from Muscat to Zanzibar in the late 1800s. During their era
and due to the scramble for land by the European powers, the
British got involved in Zanzibar. After a period of confusing
lines of control, Zanzibar was officially declared a British
protectorate in 1890, with the Sultan retained for ceremonial
purposes. The British ruled under cover, making it appear
to the local population that the Sultan was in control. The
popular British practice of 'divide and rule' resulted in
ethnic conflicts among the locals of Zanzibar. During, World
War II, Zanzibar continued to be under the rule of the British,
but didn't involve itself in any military action. Following
the war, local people were gradually allowed to take part
in the Zanzibar government and, by 1960, it was granted a
new constitution.
In
1963, Britain granted Zanzibar self-government and the country
became an independent sultanate, and a full member of the
British Commonwealth. However, one year later, the government
was overthrown by a revolution, following which an Act of
Union was signed between Zanzibar and Tanganyika thus forming
the Republic of Tanzania.
Policing
in post-independent Tanzania
Independence
quite naturally saw the Africanisation of the military and
police forces. The first African Commissioner of Police, M
N E Shaidi was appointed in 1962. This was followed by the
replacement of all European Regional Police Commanders in
the regions by Africans. Africans held all the top positions,
while Asians and Europeans held ranks no higher than that
of Superintendent of Police.
Though
there was a shift in leadership, the administration of the
force remained largely the same and retained most of the colonial
features. This can be attributed to the fact that the laws,
which the Police enforced and their enabling legislation (like
the Police Force Ordinance) faced very few amendments.
Sungusungu: The tribal justice system
Besides,
the Tanzanian police force, tribal villages across the
country have their own organised tribal justice organisation
called the Sungusungu. This organisation initially emerged
among the Sukuma tribe as grass-roots law and order
organisation first formed with the goal of controlling
the increasing number of cattle rustlers. As it is with
other informal law enforcing agencies that are unable
to rely on the state law to get justice, Sungusungu
emerged to impart community level justice.
The
organisation has spread to all the tribal regions of
the country and comprise of young persons aged between
14 and 30 who are led by few commanders. The organisation
now looks at apprehending suspected offenders or gathers
witnesses to resolve all kind of criminal cases including
robbery etc.
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