Paje Beach Live Cam

Though usually dry and hot in the central plateau, hot and humid in the coastal areas while cool and moist in the highlands during most part of the year Tanzania has a tropical type of climate. The hottest period spreads between November and February (25oC - 31ºC) while the coldest period occurs between May and August (15ºC - 20ºC). The short rains are received from October to December while the long ones from March to May each year. Had it been not because of altitude, almost 2/3 of Tanzania would have been under Equatorial climate!

The country's weather is marked by both erratic and unreliable rainfalls, which range between 300mm and 3000mm in a year. Most of Tanzania receives rains of 800mm annually. Looking at fauna and flora, one finds that this country is one of the most endowed ecosystems in the world in respect of diversity of species. For example Tanzania is ranked 4th out of the 48 countries in the Afro-topical Realm; for birds it is ranked 3rd and for plants the country ranks among the 12 megadiversity countries on earth which are richest in biodiversity. To concretize, Lake Tanganyika, for instance does accommodates over 500 species of endemic animals to the area. The country through the National Environment Management council (NEMC) has also conducted a thorough research on the bountiful species and therefore biodiversity. This is the basis of our statements. In respect of this, the government has committed 25% of its land for conservation and national Parks or game reserves.

Tanzania has a population of 58.01 million out of which 36.1 million are inhabitants of the mainland while the 0.9 million are living in Zanzibar. About 49% of the population is under 15, life expectancy is 54 while infant mortality is 103, birth rate is 46; total fertility rate is 7 and population growth rate is 2.8% as per 1997 estimates. Religious groupings include Hindu and Indigenous beliefs (20%); Christian (45%) and Muslim (35%). Though distributed unevenly, high densities are concentrated in the highlands, Lake Victoria Lake plains, the coastal plains and in urban areas. Soil fertility, Industrial and other economic development account for the population distribution.

Relevant to this reality is the fact that Tanzania is among the least developed countries (LDCs) of the world. The facts which speak for themselves in this respect are handful. Tanzania's Human Development Index (HDI) is ranked 147th out of the 174 countries. Out of her 32.0m people, 50% are hardly accessible to safe water. One out of five children born, one dies before the age of 5. The GDP is around U$D 150 (1998) while the country's population growth rate of 2.8% is marginally traced above economic growth which was 3.3% (1997). Actualizing from this scenario are the constant and high inflation, rising underemployment and severe decline in performance in social sector. In this situation, Tanzania is going through a testing period. Some of the government deliberate responses include liberalizing the economy to give a chance to the private sector to fully play its part. Since 1996, todate for example, the employment by this sector has reached 2.4%.

The rural population is a cocktail of nomadic pastoralists, small scale farmers, peasantry population who lead a hand-to-mouth life; mixed agriculturists and large scale farmers. With arid and semi arid land constituting 35% of the country area now under nomadic pastoralism, only 18% of the arable land is under cultivation. This makes Tanzania a country with a spare land available with a productive potential. A combination of climatic, political, cultural, administrative and technological problems have forced Tanzania to currently diversify her economy. Thus the unfavourable economic indicators of the pre-reform era are being shaken. The export of non-traditional commodities rose from 25% to 51% between 1996 and 1997. The GDP of 3.3% has been sustained above population growth of 2.8%, inflation rate has been controlled to the level of 12.1% (1998) from 30% (1990). Tanzania has a be wildering external debt stock of U$D. 9.4 between (1998) which drains over 35% of her export earnings. However, multilateral relief fund has helped to stabilize exchange rates; and attract more investment in social and economic sectors.

Up to 1995, Tanzania as a constitutional state, was under one party rule. In 1992, the government deliberately made constitutional amendments which reintroduced multiparty politics in the country. By October 1995, there were already 13 registered political parties and did participate in the first ever parliamentary elections under political multipartysm. "Chama Cha Mapinduzi" (CCM) won the elections. About 6,846,681 electors had voted representing 67% of all people who had registered to vote for Presidential elections. The current President, Hon. Benjamin William Mkapa from CCM was elected the head of state and Dr. Salmin Amour as head of Zanzibar Revolution Government. Such general elections are held after every 5 years.

Regarding The parliamentary elections, a total of 186 seats were won by CCM, 16 by the National Council construction and Reform (NCCR), 24 by Civic United Front (CUF), 3 by United Democratic Party (UDP) and 3 by Chama Cha Demokrasi na Maendeleo (CHADEMA). The other 8 political parties did not perform well. To Tanzania this was a test to the game on democracy which demands sufficient tolerance and political maturity. To every Tanzanian, this was a good start necessary for good governance.

Tanzania remains a relatively peaceful and cohesive country. The country has opened for political reforms. The vibrant people ready to develop their country and the support from the world bank, bilateral donors and the international Monetary fund will determine the picking up of its economy and political maturity.

Being a democratic country, Tanzania has a clear foreign policy and has established diplomatic missions with all countries possible given that there is respect of human rights there.

Furthermore the country contributes to world peace, stability and prosperity through he membership in many regional and world organisations. These include the UN, OAU, the NAM, the Commonwealth, SADC, PTA, the Group of 77 and the East African community. The country is also a signatory of many conventions on cultural, economic and environmental. While it he was the first president of the country, Dr. Julius, Kambarage Nyerere; who successful led the south south commission during its infancy, Tanzania has been chair of the UN and of the OAU. The current secretary General of the OAU, Dr. Salim A. Salim is a Tanzania citizen.

Mining is a sector which is accorded high priority due to its potential contribution to the national economy. This sector has great potential if given resources, including capital. This sector has recorded an increasing growth by raising its contribution to the GDP to 1.7 per cent in 1997 compared to 0.8 per cent in 1991. The value of mineral exports increased from US $ 45 million in 1991 to $ 92.881 million in 1997. The leading minerals includes Diamond, Gold, Gemstones (such as Emerald, Ruby, Tanzanites etc) Salt and Phosphates.

The objective is to strengthen and promote the mining sector so that it can contribute 10 per cent or more of the GDP. The conducive environment for investment already in place has attracted over 50 foreign companies which have applied for prospecting and mining licenses. Gold has attracted many investors, for example, in one of the surveys done by Resolute Samatha and Samax Company have discovered gold reserves of 25.7 million tons, and the construction of the mine has already begun. Also further prospecting done by several companies in Tanzania have cumulatively found gold reserves amounting to 130.2 million tons. Many other companies have shown interests in prospecting for tin, nickel and copper. In general, Tanzania has vast potential mineral reserves of both metallic and non-metallic. Apart from gold and diamond several other proven reserves have been established; iron ore (85 million tonnes), coal (324 million tonnes), magnetite (4.5 million tonnes), nickel (40.4 million tonnes) and soda ash (1.0 million tonnes). With the involvement of more companies in mineral exploration, it is anticipated that more proven reserve totals will be determined including those of uranium.