Tanganyika African National Union Political Party (TANU) 

The Tanganyika African National Union (TANU) was the main political party in the struggle for independence in the East African nation of Tanganyika (now known as Tanzania). The association was formed in July 1954 from the Tanganyika African Association by Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere when he was teaching at St. Francis College (now known as Pugu Secondary School). From 1964 the party became known as the Tanzania African National Union. In January 1977 TANU joined the ruling Zanzibar party, the ‘Afro Shirazi Party’ (ASP) to form the current National Revolutionary Party known in Swahili language Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM). TANU’s policies were to build and develop a socialist nation aimed at economic self-sufficiency and the eradication of corruption and exploitation, with basic production facilities under the control of farmers and workers.

Julius Nyerere was the first President of Tanzania, ruling from 1960 to 1985. In 1962, Nyerere and the party TANU formed the National Ministry of Culture and Youth. Nyerere felt that building this Ministry was necessary in order to meet the challenges and ambiguities of nation building and national culture after 70 years of colonialism. The Tanzanian government planned to create a space for the public to create innovations where recognizable Tanzanian cultures could be developed and nurtured. By incorporating various cultures and traditions of Tanzania, he hoped to increase prestige, eventually creating a national culture.

Election History

Election of the President

Election	Candidate of the Party	Votes	%	Outcome
1962	Julius Nyerere	1,127,987	99.2%	Elected
1965		2,520,904	96.5%	Elected
1970		3,220,636	96.7%	Elected
1975		4,172,267	93.3%	Elected

Parliamentary Elections

Election	Leader of Party	Votes	%	Seats	+/–	Position	Government
1958–59	Julius Nyerere	47,685	74.4%	30 / 64	30	1st	Supermajority government
1960		100,581	82.8%	70 / 71	40	1st	Supermajority government
1965		2,263,830	100% in alliance with ASP	188 / 188	118	1st	Sole legal party
1970			66.6% in alliance with ASP	106 / 106	82	1st	Sole legal party
1975		4,474,267	100% in alliance with ASP	223 / 223	117	1st	Sole legal party

Important to remember:

Between year 1958-59 TANU got a win on all the remaining 34 seats that were nominated.

The only legal party in Zanzibar which was an independent province at the time was the Afro Shirazi Party.

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