History of Tanzania part vi; British and Germany Control in Tanganyika

COLONIAL ADMINISTRATION IN TANZANIA :FROM GERMAN TO THE BRITISH PERIOD

INTRODUCTION

• The establishment of colonial rule in Tanzania involved the institutionalization of the state. The two powers that colonized Tanzania, Germany (1890-1918) and British (1919-1960) designed two different administrative approaches. The Germans preferred the use of direct rule/administration and the British used indirect administration.

• GERMAN ADMINISTRATION IN TANGANYIKA

• The pacification of the colony lasted from 1890-1907. In early 1890s, governor Julius von Sodden constructed the framework of administrative machine for the colony.

• At its head was the governor, who enforced the laws, imperial policies, and chancellor’s instructions in the colony. He also had the power to issue local decree.

• The civil administration at Dar es salaam was gradually organized in separate departments namely:

– Finance Department: this department was headed by Rudolf Von Bennigsen from 1890 to 1899. He realized that the new colony needed public works and welfare services. Throughout the 1890s this department was the most important in the administration and it handled many problems of general nature

– The department of Surveying and Agriculture; this was set in1893. Dr. Franz Stallman was in charge and encouraged the collection of information concerning the topography of the colony

– Other departments included the following:

• The Department of Justice

• The Medical Department

• The Public Work Department

• In the interior German authority was established in three stages:

– In the first stage, in a number of areas treaties had been signed with local chiefs and therefore German influence depended on the way the chiefs fulfilled their responsibilities. Depending on the needs, the governor could send punitive expeditions in the interior to deal with recalcitrant chiefs.

• Continuation……

– In the second stage, German authority set a number of military posts on caravan routs, at centers of maritime trade, at places from which European merchants and missionaries already existed and exercised influence. Also at the headquarters of agents of the Sultan of Zanzibar or of local chiefs.

– The third stage involved replacement of the military government by that of civilian government . For example civilian district officials who exercised both executive and judicial functions.

• In addition the Germans imposed the coastal structure of Sultanate, Akidas and Jumbes in other parts of the colony. The Swahil and Arab Jumbes and Akidas were used to collect tax and recruit laborers.

• Continuation……

• By 1914, the colony was divided into 22 districts. Because of poor communications, everything was left under control of the District Officer (Bezirksamtmann).

– He commanded a small police force of one to two hundreds African troops

– He supervised tax collection

– He appointed and dismissed African chiefs

– He judged cases and administered punishment

• Generally he ruled with a strong and ruthless hand. Because the Germans feared African rising, they suppressed the slightest discontent with great brutality.

• Between 1914-1918 German East Africa participated in the WW1. By 1917 the Germans had lost the large part of the colony. After the war, German East Africa was handed over to British

• The establishment of British administration

• Within the framework of international supervision, British administration in Tanganyika territory was formally established by the Tanganyika Order in Council of 22 July 1920.

• By the term of this order the title of the Chief Representative of his Majesty’s Government was changed from that of administrator to Governor and Commander in chief.

• The Governor was then empowered to make ordinances (law) for the good governance of the country, provided he respected the existing native laws and customs. He was to be assisted by an executive council consisting of :

– The Chief Secretary

– Attorney General

– Treasurer

– Principal Medical Officer

• The High Court existed and possessed full criminal and civil jurisdiction over all the persons in the territory

• The 22 districts created by the Germans were retained. New British administrators were left free to formulate their own local policies and changing those of their predecessors.

• In 1925, the British introduced the system of indirect rule. The intention was that African tribes should be administered by their own chiefs and elders, under British supervision. They hoped this would encourage political and economic development .

• However, the indirect rule system created conflicts within the tribes between the privileged chiefs and the unprivileged subjects (the ruled). E.g. the Tabora school founded in 1925 received only sons of chiefs and headmen for the 10 years. Other privileges included official salaries, agricultural assistance, preferential treatment by traders and even a car or a lorry.

• Continuation….

• The system had various advantages:

– It helped the British to collect tax through the local chiefs

– It assisted the British to maintain peace and order through out the colony as the responsibility of keeping peace was given to the local chief

– In public works for example, in the construction of roads, Africa labor was recruited through African chiefs

– Because it was difficulty for the British who were very in number to administer he whole colony, then the British used the British government of Tanganyika through African leaders operated in low costs.



• QUESTION FOR DISCUSSION: Discuss the social, economic, and political effects of colonial rule in Tanzania.