The history of TANZANET goes back to the establishment of WANANET by Prof Dr. Primus Mtenga and Prof Dr. Mohamed Kaseko in the United States of America on 17th July 1992. This organisation got bigger very fast from 8 members in the first week of its establishment to more than 400 members in April 1995. This trend continued to having more than 600 members from all over the world in the years between 1996 and 2006. However, since then, TANZANET organisation just like many other mailing lists is currently experiencing a declining membership base.
Siku hizo za mwanzo waanzilishi wa ukumbi huu, Dr. Primus Mtenga na Dr. Mohamed Kaseko walikuwa wajumbe wa ukumbi wa Kenyanet. Katika ukumbi huo wa Kenyanet mambo mengi yaliyokuwa yanazungumziwa yalikuwa na uhusiano mdogo sana na Tanzania. Baada ya kutengeneza kwa ufanisi "mail alias", yaani anuani moja ya e-mail iliyowakilisha anuani kadhaa za e-mail za wanafunzi wake huko Florida A&M Univ/Florida State University, Dr. Primus Mtenga walishauriana na Dr. Mohamed Kaseko kuanzisha mpango kama huo kwa Watanzania. Katika mpango huo kila mjumbe alitakiwa kutengeneza "mail alias" ya wajumbe wote kwenye "account" yake ya kompyuta.