HISTORICAL BACKROUND OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH OF ZANZIBAR  

The Emergence of Political Parties:
Political parties arose in the struggle for independence. In Zanzibar there were two. One was comprised chiefly of Arab land owners and people of business who had had the opportunity for education and were used to ruling under the British who maintained an indirect rule over the colonies and territories. Britain was ready to give the indigenous peoples independence but did not prepare them for voting nor see them to have a good leader. They left the situation to resolve itself and the Arabs took over. The second party was that of the Africans. Supported by other African countries, they would not accept the Arab rule again and revolted. The leaders were assassinated and Arabs were either killed or escaped to their home countries.

Ideology: After independence. African countries became aware that they had to seek assistance if they were to become a State. This required both material and ideological assistance. Africans had always been ruled by Chiefs but now the people had to unite. Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda formed the East African Community. Zanzibar, even after becoming part of the Union of Tanzania, could not exist without more help. Tanzania turned to the East - to the USSR and China - while Kenya and Uganda turned to the West. Tanzania chose the path of socialism.

Nationalization:
In 1967 the government of Tanzania moved to provide free education, health care, housing, etc. Schools, health facilities, industry were nationalized. This policy of nationalization of church schools and dispensaries, which followed independence, severely hampered the works of education and health care. Without these services, the Church had no social influence, and these constitute the instruments of dialogue. Christians, being so few in number, felt the effects of this policy as the quality of these services deteriorated over the years. The Goan community, no longer having property or jobs, were harassed as an upper class. Many were killed. Since they held British passports, those who could, migrated to Commonwealth countries, especially Canada, and elsewhere.

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