Politics and Politicisation of the Tanzania’s Agricultural Marketing Co-operatives

Abstract

This paper examines the significance politics and politisation of the agricultural co-operative the movement from 1961 to 1982. It critically examines the co-operative promotion policies and political decisions between 1962 and 1966 that provided for increased footprint and number of co-operatives achieved under top-down promotional approach. Finally a clampdown era spanned from 1967 to 1982 that was characterised by enlisting co-operatives in national development plans. It was followed by strangulating and amalgamating them based on political and administrative boundaries, eventually disbanded them in 1976 and their reinstatement in 1982.

Keywords: Tanzania, co-operatives, politicisation, ujamaa