Interim Constitution

Tanzania [1965]

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Last updated

June 29, 2026

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The Interim Constitution of 1965 was a foundational document that established the United Republic of Tanzania by merging Tanganyika and Zanzibar. This union brought together two previously independent nations. While a permanent constitution was approved in 1977, the 1965 interim constitution marked the initial step in creating the unified Tanzanian state. Zanzibar maintains its own constitution and political bodies that handle internal affairs, though there have been occasional calls for greater autonomy from the mainland. The president of the United Republic serves as the head of state, with a cabinet that advises them.1

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Tanzania
Constitutional framework
The Interim Constitution of 1965 established the United Republic of Tanzania through the merger of Tanganyika and Zanzibar, until then separate and independent countries. A permanent constitution for the United Republic was approved in 1977 and amended in 1984 to include a bill of rights.
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The Interim Constitution of 1965 established the United Republic of Tanzania through the merger of Tanganyika and Zanzibar, until then separate and independent countries. A permanent constitution for the United Republic was approved in 1977 and amended in 1984 to include a bill of rights.
Read More