The evolution of social policy debates and regimes in Tanzania has been influenced by the
historical colonial system, efforts to de-colonize the colonial social policy regimes, the socioeconomic
crisis of the 1970s and 1980s, and the conditions imposed by the International
Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank through structural adjustment programmes (SAPs).
This paper identifies three major post-colonial phases of policy regimes in Tanzania. The first
phase is the immediate post-colonial period from 1960 to 1967, the second spans the period from
the Arusha Declaration of 1968 until 1986 and, finally, the third spans the structural adjustment
and liberalization era from 1986 to date.
The colonial policy regime had excluded the majority of people on the basis of race,
geographical location, gender and social class. Investment in the social sector during the colonial
era was based on this hierarchy, and driven by the goal of supporting the colonial economy. State
institution provided selective services to a few government officials and medical and educational
facilities were provided in a few geographical locations by faith-based institutions. However, the
majority of citizens depended upon traditional support systems including traditional healers and
family and social network. This colonial legacy influenced the social policies of the independent
state of Tanganyika.