China started its economic assistance to African states since 1964 following Chinese Premier Zhou’s well-known Safari. During his grand tour, he laid down the principles for China’s assistance programs to African states; most of them were newly independent from the European colonialism. For sure, during the entire 1960s-1970s, China’s economic assistances to Africa were essentially consistent but not large-scale items compared to the Western countries and the then Soviet Union bloc.
However, China’s assistance to Tanzania which is a relatively large country in East Africa has been seminal in terms of China’s overall capacity. Given this, the article aims to examine the longstanding relationship between China and Tanzania from the 1960s, e.g. starting from the first phase of Julius Nyerere’s government. From the local perspective, China has had close cooperation with Tanzania to ensure that Tanzania becomes a good model of the mutual benefits in Africa.
Historically, Tanzania’s civilization has stemmed from its endorsement of humanitarian cooperation, which has been the foundation of the bilateral friendship between Tanzania and China, which was under Chairman Mao sincere to support all anti-colonialism in the world and in Africa particularly. It is also true that since becoming independent, Tanzania follows the socialism based on China’s model with an emphasis on a strong culture of maintaining peace and creating a conducive environment for investment and development in general. China’s assistance was a great driving force to the local economics since the construction of the major Tanzara railway project funded by the Chinese government. This included the establishment of large farms and small, medium, and large industries to stimulate Tanzania’s overall development.
Today Tanzania is a rapidly growing economy continuing to implement through its longstanding cooperation with China. The most notable cases are the expansion of the Dar es Salaam port, road repairs, construction of airports such as the Abeid Amani Karume International Airport, construction of the Julius Nyerere International Airport and the large port of Bagamoyo that are the major catalysts for Tanzania’s economy. Accordingly, quite a lot Tanzanians view China as a reliable strategic partner and mutually beneficial friends in boosting the country’s economy. It is true that there has been significant cooperation in trade between the two sides, and the pace of trading with each other has grown rapidly. A large percentage of products in Tanzanian markets are imported from China and they have contributed to the increase in citizens’ income due to the affordability of Chinese products.
Regional political challenges have been causing division among Africans, requiring extra effort to address. Some Africans are being used to spread and distort the truth about the many good things China has done in Africa and especially in Tanzania, compared to the bad. The argument of spreading neocolonialism comes from China’s policies towards African countries being different from those of previous colonizers. It should be remembered that Africa was colonized for a long time, and we did not have positive results from the presence of colonizers other than oppression and looting of resources of many African countries. Wars and intra-African hatred dominated Africa for a long time. In recent years, we have seen European and Western countries using media to spread negative news about Africa and China, creating tension and different perceptions about China.
When it comes to Africa being oppressed and exploited by developed countries, the question here is who is to blame, the African or the foreigner who came to cooperate with the respective country? It should be remembered that there is no development without cooperation with other countries. Tanzania is seen as a good example for China in how it cooperates to solve challenges together and create a mutually beneficial cooperation environment. There are negatives that Tanzanians observe regarding Chinese involvement in small-scale businesses in neighborhoods, which take the place of low-income Tanzanian citizens. Also, the quality of products from China has often been blamed by Tanzanians. The question here is who should control this; is it China or the Tanzanian government? The issue of controlling products and controlling indiscriminate business activities is the responsibility of the Tanzanian government. Therefore, due to the corrupt environment, it is easy for foreigners to do what they want.
The long-standing relationship between Tanzania and China is more satisfying compared to that with other developed countries. This is due to China’s policies of non-interference in the internal affairs of partner countries, fostering mutually beneficial and condition-free relations. Questions arise regarding the relationship between China and Tanzania, especially considering why China has achieved significant success compared to Tanzania, despite both countries’ efforts to foster development for their citizens. Historically, these nations have had a long-term partnership focused on joint development.
The misuse of loan funds and aid in African countries frequently results in difficulties in implementing reforms and negative perceptions of leaders among the populace. This can lead to strained relationships and significant conflicts when intended objectives are not achieved. However, the situation in Tanzania is somewhat different, as there has been direct involvement from China in executing development projects like railways, roads, ports, and airports. Despite this positive engagement, some Tanzanian leaders responsible for overseeing these projects still face challenges, leading to mismanagement and losses for the country
In conclusion, the relationship between China and Tanzania is long-standing and built on mutual respect and trust. Since the 1960s, China has provided significant economic assistance to Tanzania, including major infrastructure projects such as the Tanzara railway, roads, and other strategic initiatives. This cooperation has benefited both countries, with China being considered a reliable strategic partner in Tanzania’s economic development.
The differences in development outcomes between China and Tanzania raise important questions. While China’s rapid development contrasts with Tanzania’s slower economic growth, this discrepancy can be attributed to various factors, including leadership challenges and governance issues in Tanzania. Nevertheless, the partnership between China and Tanzania serves as a good example of international cooperation, especially when compared to partnerships with other nations. Consequently, China remains a crucial partner in fostering economic reforms in Africa and Tanzania in particular, bringing positive outcomes in infrastructure development.
