The need to formulate a new economic and social development vision for Tanzania emanated from the outcomes of economic reforms-especially those which were pursued since 1986. the social and economic reform measures were taken in response to the economic crisis that had persisted in the country and the world as a whole since the early years of 1980s. Secondly, the government had realised that earlier development policies and strategies were not in consonance with the principless of a market led economy and technological development occuring in the world. The goverment therefore started preparing three year reform programmes with strategies, generaly, focusing on only few economic and social areas, and the areas of focus changing frequently.

These structural adjustment programmes, have been followed for a long time, about fifteen years. over this long period, the whole philosophy of working for the country's development and that of its people started losing direction and as a result the country lost its vision which had originally been based on long- term development objectives. The government and the society in general realised that the nation lacked direction and a philosophy for long-term development. The new Development Vision 2025 feels this vaccum.