Geography and Climate
Tanzania is a vast country (945,090 square km) with a low density population (approximately 44 million).  Although principal cities are well linked many areas, especially in the West of Tanzania, are inaccessible. The geography is varied, with a wide variety of beaches, plains, swamps, uplands, mountains and forests.

History
Tanganyika gained independence from Britain in 1961 and merged with Zanzibar in 1964 to form the United Republic of Tanzania. The first President (and Prime Minister) Julius Kambarage Nyerere, who died in 2000, is still revered as the founding father or teacher (Mwalimu) of the nation. He instigated a form of socialism, introducing in 1965 a new constitution and a one party system of Government. In 1977 the ruling party political party in Zanzibar merged with the ruling party on the mainland to form Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), which remains the ruling party to this day. Nyerere stepped down in 1984 and was replaced by Ali Hassan Mwinyi as President.  Mwinyi began the dismantlement of the socialist apparatus of the state.

Multiparty elections were first held in 1995 with further elections in 2000. CCM won both elections with its candidate Benjamin William Mkapa elected President on each occasion. Tanzania’s third multiparty elections took place in December 2005. CCM won again by a landslide, and the former Foreign Minister Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete was elected President. President Kikwete was re-elected for his second and final term in October 2010.

Tanzania became a member of the United Nations in 1961 and is a member of a range of regional bodies including the Africa Union (Chair in 2008), the East Africa Community and SADC. Tanzania has remained stable and uninvolved militarily in the various conflicts in the Great Lakes Region has been active in pursuing a peaceful settlement there and has acted as a refuge for people fleeing conflict, mainly Burundians and Congolese.  Many Burundians have returned home over the past year and those wishing to remain permanently have been given the option of taking out Tanzania citizenship.

Economic Situation
Since 1985, a programme of economic reforms, including trade liberalisation, the removal of price controls, reform of the financial market and ‘floating’ the Tanzanian shilling has been implemented by the Government of Tanzania.  Significant progress was made also in re-establishing macro-economic stability. In recent years and significant annual growth levels of over 7 percent have been achieved.

Government and Administration
The United Republic of Tanzania comprises mainland Tanzania and the islands of Zanzibar (Unguja and Pemba).  The Union Government has full authority in mainland Tanzania and authority over specified Union matters in Zanzibar. The 22 sectors classed as Union matters include the Constitution, foreign affairs and defence, police and emergency powers, citizenship and immigration, external borrowing and trade, monetary policy, income tax and duties collected from the export of manufactured goods, higher education, mineral resources and matters relating to Political Parties. The Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar is responsible for all other governmental matters in Zanzibar.

Irish Community
Between 130-150 Irish citizens, including children, live in Tanzania. Many are involved in development work and/or religious organisations. Concern, Oxfam Ireland and Children in Crossfire have a presence in Tanzania. There are a range of missionary organizations including the Medical Missionaries of Mary, the Pallotine Fathers and Sisters, the Society of Africa Missions, Rosminians and Our Lady of Apostles Sisters.