Soma Ule (SU): The Political Economy of Corruption in Tanzania, 1960s-2010

Abstract

This article examines the forces that have engendered corruption in Tanzania since independence. Rather than solely associating the causes of corruption with the so called exceptional African or Tanzanian cultural practices as done by some scholars, the paper situates corruption in the changing political economy of Tanzania.  By drawing on primary and secondary sources, the paper argues that corruption in Tanzania is embedded in the changing socio-economic, cultural and political forces.  The forces include increased discretion power of office holders, moral decline, government policies, economic and global imperatives.  This historical study on corruption in Tanzania is important as its findings may be used by stake-holders who are currently involved in interventions against the scourge.  Specifically, the stake-holders may draw past lessons which could shed light on refining the current strategies against corruption. Such lessons could entail incorporating into their strategies economic, political and cultural determinants of corruption.