Tanzania: Situation of Zanzibaris on the mainland; whether Zanizbaris on mainland Tanzania are discriminated against

There are no specific reports on discrimination against Zanzibaris who live on and travel to mainland Tanzania among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

The Canadian High Commission in Tanzania reported that

[there] is no evidence… that Zanzibaris have in any way been persecuted or discriminated against by the Union Government… Zanzibaris are full citizens of Tanzania and are free to relocate to the mainland if they feel they are being persecuted or their human rights are being abused in Zanzibar (21 June 2000).

In their September 1999 Country Assessment, the UK Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) also writes that there was "no convincing evidence of any organized, systematic persecution by the State of individuals or specific groups in Tanzania." 

With respect to the situation of Zanzibaris on the mainland, the UK Immigration and Nationality Directorate writes:

[s]hort-term domestic travel is not restricted, and there are no entry controls whatsoever for Zanzibar-born Tanzanians onto the mainland. Zanzibaris may travel to live and work freely on the mainland, subject to the same laws that apply to mainlanders, and there is no requirement for mainlanders to show identification to travel to Zanzibar. Mainlanders are allowed to work in the islands but not allowed to own land there. Zanzibaris own property, work and run businesses on the mainland (ibid.).

As well, Amnesty International says that "tens of thousands of Zanzibaris and Pembans" live in exile in Dar es Salaam, the majority of whom fled the islands following the 1964 revolution in Zanzibar (27 Jan. 2000).  According to the same source, "hundreds of CUF supporters" fled to the mainland following the 1995 elections and as recently as 1998 (ibid.). A 26 May 2000 PST article reported that Zanzibaris had started to travel to Dar es Salaam for admittance to mainland hospitals after surgical services were suspended at an island hospital due to lack of supplies.

The islands of Zanzibar are almost 100 per cent Muslim (Europa 1999, 3429; Levinson 1998, 173).  The mainland is comprised of Christians (40 per cent), Muslims (33 per cent) and "traditionalists" (approximately 27 per cent) (ibid., 174).Europa 1999 lists a National Muslim Council of Tanzania which is responsible for supervising Islamic affairs on the mainland (2000, 3430), and the Tanzanian Muslims Professional Association (TAMPRO) aims to complement government efforts and solve problems related to "religious needs and… provide social and economic facilities and services for the welfare and development of all Tanzanians" (TAMPRO n.d.).

According to Levinson and Minorities at Risk, Tanzania has remained relatively free from ethnic-based and religious-based conflict since its independence (Levinson 1998, 174; Minorities at Risk 26 Aug. 1999).The Annual Report on International Religious Freedom for 1999 states that the Government "does not penalize or discriminate against any individual on the basis of religious beliefs or practices, and it does not designate religion on any passports or records of vital statistics" (9 Sept. 1999, Section 1).

Muslims, however, claim to have been "disadvantaged in terms of [their] representation in the civil service, government and parastatals" and allege that fewer Muslim students than Christian are invited to enroll in government schools (ibid., Section II).  The Annual Report on International Religious Freedom for 1999 writes that "there does not appear to be a serious widespread problem of religious discrimination in access to employment or educational opportunities" (ibid.).

Annual Report on International Religious Freedom for 1999 also writes that relations between Christians and Muslims in Tanzania are "fragile" (ibid., Section II).According to Minorities at Risk, the Tanzanian government is increasingly concerned with the growing fundamentalism in Zanzibar (26 Aug. 1999).  In August 2000, the Tanzanian government banned a book which detailed the events of February 1998 when police entered the Mwembechai mosque in Dar es Salaam and accused those in attendance of "blaspheming against Christianity, spreading 'Islamic fundamentalism' and preaching against the government" (AI 1999).Subsequent demonstrations and rioting resulted in arrests a number of deaths and injuries (ibid.; IND Dec. 1998; Annual Report on International Religious Freedom 9 Sept. 1999, Section II; MISA 7 Aug. 2000).Amnesty International writes that those arrested were reportedly "beaten and otherwise tortured," women were strip-searched and others were arbitrarily detained (AI 1999).  Later, Muslim women involved in the arrests reportedly accused Tanzanian human rights organizations of ignoring the police abuses perpetuated against them (Annual Report on International Religious Freedom 9 Sept. 1999, Section II).

In preparation for October 2000 elections, the East African reported that the Zanzibar government had decided to issue residency and election identity cards (10 Aug. 2000).Opposition leaders reportedly fear that residency requirements will lead to the disenfranchisement of mainland voters, including Zanzibaris originally from Pemba "who are businesspeople… scattered all over the country" (ibid.).  According to the East African, residency requirements barred approximately 20,000 voters from voting in the 1995 elections, including Pemban students studying on Unjuga island and the mainland (3 Aug. 2000).

Please consult TZA35322.E of 25 August 2000 for the text of the report on Zanzibar from the Canadian High Commission in Tanzania.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.Please see the list of additional sources consulted in researching this information request.

Amnesty International (AI) [London]. January 2000.Tanzania: Prisoners of Conscience Face Treason Trial in Zanzibar. AFR 56/01/00. [Accessed 1 Aug. 2000]

_____. 1999. Amnesty International Report 1999. [Accessed 4 Aug. 2000]

Annual Report on International Religious Freedom for 1999: Tanzania.9 September 1999.  Department of State.  [Accessed 16 Aug. 2000]

Canadian High Commission [Tanzania].21 June 2000. "Zanzibar." Correspondence received from Refugees Branch, Asylum Division, Citizenship and Immigration Canada.

The Europa World Yearbook 1999. 2000. Vol. II: Kazakhstan-Zimbabwe.  London: Europa Publications.

Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND), Home Office, UK.September 1999. Tanzania Country Assessment.  [Accessed 18 Aug. 2000]

  December 1998. Tanzania Country Assessment.

Levinson, David.1998.  Ethnic Groups Worldwide. London: Oryx Press.

Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA). 7 August 2000. "Government Bans Book." [Accessed 15 Aug. 2000]

Minorities at Risk [London].  26 August 1999.  Anne Pitsch. "Ethnic Conflict in Tanzania: Zanzibaris." [Accessed 15 Aug. 2000]

Press Services Tanzania (PST) [Dar es Salaam]. 26 May 2000. "Mnazi Mmoja Hospital Suspends Surgical Services." [Accessed 16 Aug. 2000]

The East African [Nairobi]. 10 August 2000.  "Fear of Poll Rigging Raises Tension in Zanzibar." [Accessed 15 Aug. 2000]

. 3 August 2000.Salim Said Salim. "Zanzibar Poll Won't be Fair - Opposition." [Accessed 15 Aug. 2000]