After Mr Nyerere's resignation in 1985, his successor, Ali Hassan Mwinyi, attempted to raise productivity and attract foreign investment and loans by dismantling government control of the economy.

BBC: Tanzania profile

This month China freed interest rates on large foreign-currency loans, and the government recently announced that it would liberalise local-currency credit within three years.

ECONOMIST: The longer march

The influence of foreign religious organisations seems to be growing along with rising government loans from Gulf states.

ECONOMIST: Cambodia and Islamism