Tanzania: The Makunduchi ethnic group
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 May 1999 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | TZA31939.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Tanzania: The Makunduchi ethnic group, 1 May 1999, TZA31939.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ab2773.html [accessed 17 September 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
A professor of Geography at the University of Kansas who specializes in the geography of Zanzibar, and who travelled to Tanzania in January 1999 explained that Zanzibar is composed of two islands: Pemba and Zanzibar (locally known as Unguja) (10 May 1999). He explained that Makunduchi is a town in the southern part of the island of Zanzibar. Makunduchi, he added, is also the name applied to people who originate from the southern part of Ugunja island. The northern part of Ungunja island is inhabited by the Tumbatu. The Makunduchi, the Tumbatu and the Pemba are therefore the three ethnicities of Zanzibar (ibid.).
In a letter received by electronic mail, a professor of Anthropology and head of department of the Institute of Social and Cultural Anthropology at Oxford University, who is familiar with Zanzibari ethnicities, corroborated this information adding that the Makunduchi are a Bantu-speaking people whose language shares affinities with Swahili and some mainland languages. He added that they also speak the closely related Swahili (10 May 1999).
The professor of Geography at Kansas University further explained that Makunduchi were pejoratively called "Hadimu" during the colonial times because they used to migrate to the city to work as servants (10 May 1999). The professor stated that because the Makunduchi did not benefit from the colonial system, they were the most deprived people in terms of regional development. He stated that this explains why they formed the backbone of the forces that supported the Zanzibar revolution (ibid.). He further stated that the Makunduchi have been politically very active, first in the Afro Shiraz Party (ASP), which later changed its name to the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM). The professor also said the Machunduki tend to support the CCM and not the Civic United Front (CUF). He explained that currently there is tension between the Tumbatu and the Makunduchi, the two ethnic groups that inhabit the island of Unguja. The professor stated that the general impression in Tanzania is that the Mkunduchi have had a lot of power in the government and the CCM. However, in the 1990 presidential election, Samir Amur, a Tumbatu from the north won the election (ibid.). There is thus a feeling of resentment among the Makunduchi that government benefits have gone to the north (ibid.). He stated that this may explain why President Amur has failed to get enough support to enable him to run for a third term (10 May 1999).
The professor at Oxford University, however, gave contradictory information. He was of the opinion that the Makunduchi "are likely to support CUF, since they may feel removed from power in both Zanzibar and Tanzania," but added that Makunduchi who "belong to the CUF as active party members or leaders" would be compelled to leave the country. He further stated that the Makunduchi would find it difficult to relocate to another part of Tanzania. "Land scarcity and ethnic opposition to newcomers would make relocating difficult for any single group like the Makunduchi. Level of education among Makunduchi is not high and so it would difficult for them to resettle in large towns like Dar-es-Salaam and find work" (ibid.).
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please see below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Professor of anthropology and head of department, Institute of Social and Cultural Anthropology, specializing in the cultural anthropology of Zanzibar, Oxford University, Oxford. 10 May 1999. Letter received by electronic mail.
Professor of Geography at Kansas University, specializing in the Geography of Zanzibar, Kansas. 10 May 1999. Telephone interview.
Additional Sources Consulted
Africa Confidential [London]. January 1997 - December 1998. Vols. 37-38. Nos. 1-25.
Africa Research Bulletin: Political, Social and Cultural Series [Oxford]. 1997-1998. Vols. 34-35. Nos. 1-12.
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1998. 1999.[Internet:]
Encyclopedia of the Third World. 1992. 4th ed. Vol. 1. Edited by George Thomas Kurian. New York: Facts on File.
Ethnologue: Languages of the World. 1992. 12th ed. Edited by Barbra F. Grimes. Dallas: Summer Institute of Linguistics.
Horn of Africa Bulletin [Uppsala]. January 1998-February 1999. Bi-monthly. Nos. 1-6.
The Indian Ocean Newsletter [Paris]. Weekly. January 1998-April 1999. Nos. 793-854.
Keesing's Record of World Events [Cambridge]. January 1998-January 1999. Monthly. Vols. 44-45.
Political Handbook of the World 1998. 1998. Edited by Arthur S. Banks. Binghamton, NY: CSA Publications.
Electronic sources: IRB databases, Internet, LEXIS/NEXIS, World Network Connection (WNC)