Tanzania: Background and Current Conditions [October 27, 2009]   [open pdf - 851B]

"Tanzania, an important U.S. ally in Africa, is a stable and important regional actor. There has been a gradual increase in political pluralism, but Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM ), the ruling party, remains dominant in government and parliament. Tanzania's current president, Jakaya Kikwete, who previously served for ten years as Tanzania's foreign minister, won 80.3% of the votes cast in the December 2005 presidential election. Tanzania continues its pattern of steady real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth and has a low and stable inflation rate. The Economist Intelligence Unit predicts real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth of 4.5% in 2009 and 5% in 2010."