Dar es Salaam, Tanzania - The year 2000 has left an indelible mark on many Tanzanians. On the political scene, there were the General Elections which led to numerous riots in Zanzibar. People also witnessed the unprecedented use of force by the state to subdue the riots.
There were also disasters and tragedies such as when about 60 people perished in two separate incidents involving fuel tankers which exploded in the Southern region of Mbeya.
In the North Western region of Mwanza, 30 people died as a result of flash floods which hit Mwanza city following an hour long downpour.
The rest of the events came as follows: January 1: Dar Commuter Bus Association (MUWADA) is closed for failing to submit its accounts books.
January 5: Sale of firearms liberalised as five businessmen get licenses.
January 13: President of Zanzibar Salmin Amour declares amnesty to Sultan Jamshid bin Abdallah who was overthrown in the 1964 Zanzibar revolution.
January 14: Tanzania and India sign a wide ranging bilateral trade agreement aimed at giving further impetus to existing economic and commercial ties between the two countries.
January 20: Hearing of the Zanzibar treason trial begins. Seventy people seriously injured when rioters and police clash in Zanzibaras the hearing of treason trial proceed at the High Court.
January 26: Zanzibar Attorney General Ali Mohamed Omar removed from his post in connection with "mishandling" of the treason trial.
January 27: 45 members of parliament of the United Republic of Tanzania petition Zanzibar President to drop treason case.
January 28: Judge Barnabas Samata appointed Chief Justice, replacing Judge Francis Nyalali who had served in the post for 23 years.
February 3: Principal Judge Nassor Suleiman Mnzavas (69) dies of a stroke.
February 19: President Benjamin Mkapa appoints Mohamed Kiravu, new Director of Elections in the National Electoral Commission.
February 22: President Bill Clinton addresses a session of peace- talks in Arusha, Tanzania through a video link-up broadcast from the White House in Washington.Says he fears Burundi's conflict could spill far beyond its borders if it is not stopped soon.
March 1: Fire guts a plastic products factory in Bora, and an aluminium products factory in Alaf, both of them near in Dar es Salaam.
March 6: Osama bin Laden's "relative", Sayed Mohamed,34, is charged with illegal stay in Tanzania.
March 6: The Vunjo members of Parliament (former) James Mbatia elected new chairman of the opposition NCCR-Mageuzi party.
March 16: Zanzibar Electoral Commission announces October 29 as election day.
March 18: Former cabinet minister and one of CCM Chief Executives, John Mhaville (69) dies of diabetes at the Muhimbili Medical Centre (MMC) in Dar es Salaam.
March 19: More than 40 people die at Isongole, Rungwe District in an inflamed blaze of fire from spilt petrol after a tanker lorry over- turns.
March 20: Tanzania government drops case against Egyptian suspect - Mustapha Mahmoud Said Ahmed- in the Dar es Salaam Us Embassy bombing.
March 29: The former Ubungo member of Parliament and chairman of NCCR- Mageuzi Dar Region Branch, Dr.Masumbuko Lamwai quits NCCR- Mageuzi and rejoins CCM, apologises profusely to President Mkapa.
April 1: Maasai from six Villages in Arusha region accuse a hunting company, Otterlo Business Corporation, of smuggling out of the country live wild animals.
April 10: More than 30 villages from Idweli village in Mbeya region perish after a tanker from which they had been stealing petrol explodes.
April 26: The University of Dar es Salaam suspends all students of the Faculty of Engineering.
May 3: President Benjamin Mkapa enters the Union presidential race after picking nomination forms in Dodoma.
May 5: The son of the founding President of Zanzibar Amani Abeid Amani Karume joins Isles presidential race after collecting nomination forms at Kisiwandui CCM office.
May 12: The Tanzania People's Defence Force (TPDF) officially joins the ranks of the liberalised arms industry after it opens a shop in Dar es Salaam to sell light weapons and explosive.
May 15: The Bank Of Tanzania orders First Adili Bank to close down.
May 18: President Benjamin Mkapa re-appoints renowned environmental activist, Reginald Mengi, chairman of National Environment Management Council (NEMC).
June 9: CCM NEC picks Zanzibar's Minister for Communication and Transport Aman Abeid Karume as candidate for the presidential race in the Isles. June 15: The government unveils its 2000/2001 budget; announces a number of measures aimed at reforming the tax structure and improving procedures of revenue collection.
July 7: The East African Co-operation becomes the East African Community after Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda presented instruments of ratification to the EA executive secretary.
July 18: Bank of Tanzania (BoT) issues new banknote to honour Mwalimu Nyerere. The Governor of BoT Daudi Balali presents the first note to President Mkapa.
July 21: The National Electoral Commission officially launches the time table for the October election activities to begin with a- 20-day voters registration period beginning on August 3.
August 11: The ruling party, CCM, disqualifies results of parliamentary preferential polls in Morogoro Urban, Singida Urban and Msalala Constituencies, saying corruption had been rife in the exercise.
August 18: National electoral Commission nominates four presidential race contestants: President Benjamin Mkapa (CCM), Augustine Mrema (TLP), Prof.Ibrahim Lipumba (CUF) and John Cheyo (UDP).
August 19: Campaigns for year 2000 general elections start.
August 29: US President Bill Clinton arrives in Arusha to witness signing of Burundi peace accord. Praises Tanzania as champion of peace.
September 4: Reverend Christopher Mtikila is arrested by police in Singida on allegations of insulting government leaders during a campaign rally organised by the Civil United Front (CUF).
September 22: Bandits attack the Dodoma Regional Commissioner Isidori Shirima at Mkozi village in Dodoma.
September 29: The Deputy Minister for Home Affairs John Mgeja dies suddenly in Shinyanga.
October 5: Eighteen people die and 38 others are injured when a bus which fails to stop to let the motorcade of CCM presidential candidate, President Benjamin Mkapa, pass overturns at Nyakato Sokoni in Mwanza.
October 11: Five people injured in Zanzibar as police shoot to disperse Civil United Front (CUF) supporters who were holding a rally.
October 14: Tanzanians mark the first anniversary of the death of their founder president Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere.
October 29: Millions of Tanzanians turn out to elect leaders in their second multi-party election. In Zanzibar the Electoral Commission suspends election in 16 constituencies following irregularities including lack of ballot papers.
October 30: Members of the Field Force Unit fire tear gas to disperse rioting groups of people Zanzibar.
November 1: Sokoine University of Agriculture and Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology students suspended because of boycotting classes.
November 5: Election re-run in 16 constituencies in Mjini Magharibi- Zanzibar. Bibi Titi Mohamed (veteran politician and founder member of TANU) dies at Net Care Hospital in Johannesburg where she was being treated.
November 8: Zanzibar new President Aman Abeid Karume is sworn in at the Aman Stadium in Zanzibar. National Electoral Commission declares Mkapa Union president. Opposition candidates Prof Ibrahim Lipumba(CUF), John Cheyo (UDP), Augustin Mrema (TLP) say they do not recognise him.
November 9: President Benjamin Mkapa sworn in at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam.
November 14: Pius Msekwa re-elected unopposed to the post of House Speaker.
November 17: Frederick Tluway Sumaye, Member of Parliament from Hanang constituency in Arusha region, re-appointed Prime Minister.
November 22: The Zanzibar President announces a new cabinet of 21 ministers.
November 25: President Benjamin Mkapa announces a new cabinet comprising 27 ministers.
December 1: Heavy rains pound the city of Mwanza, causing severe floods drowning at least 30 people and leaving hundreds others homeless.
December 6: President Benjamin Mkapa nominates regional commissioners.
December 8: 29 people die as Maasai pastoralists and peasant farmers clash in Kilosa District Morogoro Region over land.
December 9: Tanzanians celebrate 39 years of independence.
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