BENJAMIN MKAPA

Benjamin Mkapa was born on November 12, 1938, in Lupaso, near Masasi, in what was then Tanganyika. He pursued his higher education at Makerere University in Uganda, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in English in 1962. A year later, he continued his studies at Columbia University, where he obtained a master’s degree in International Affairs, further shaping his diplomatic and leadership skills.

Mkapa's early career was marked by various key governmental roles, including positions as an administrative officer in Dodoma and as Minister for Science, Technology, and Higher Education. He also served as Tanzania’s head of mission to Canada in 1982 and to the United States from 1983 to 1984. Between 1977 and 1980, and again from 1984 to 1990, Mkapa held the influential post of Minister of Foreign Affairs. During these years, he built strong international connections, which would later prove invaluable during his presidency.

In 1995, Mkapa was elected president of Tanzania, buoyed by his anti-corruption platform and the backing of former president Julius Nyerere. His tenure saw significant efforts to combat corruption, including the establishment of the Presidential Commission on Corruption, also known as the Warioba Commission. Mkapa’s economic policies focused on privatizing state-owned enterprises and implementing free-market reforms, which attracted foreign investment and won the support of international financial institutions such as the World Bank and the IMF. His policies also led to the cancellation of a portion of Tanzania’s foreign debt. Despite these successes, Mkapa faced criticism for the perceived ineffectiveness of his anti-corruption initiatives and for his government’s lavish spending on luxury items, including a private jet and military equipment.

After completing his second and final term in 2005, Mkapa's legacy was tarnished by accusations of corruption, particularly involving the privatization of the Kiwira coal mine. He was accused of unlawfully acquiring the mine for himself and his finance minister, a move that many viewed as a breach of the Tanzanian constitution.

In his post-presidential years, Mkapa remained active on the international stage. In 2007, he joined the African Union’s Panel of Eminent African Personalities, working alongside Kofi Annan and Graça Machel to mediate the political crisis in Kenya following the disputed 2007 elections. Their efforts culminated in the signing of the National Accord and Reconciliation Act in 2008. Additionally, Mkapa served as a trustee of the Aga Khan University from 2007 to 2012, further contributing to education and development on the continent.

On July 24, 2020, Benjamin Mkapa passed away at the age of 81, following a heart attack. His death, which came shortly after being treated for malaria, was announced by then Tanzanian President John Pombe Magufuli. Mkapa was laid to rest in his hometown of Lupaso, Masasi. His contributions to Tanzania and the region were widely recognized, with Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta declaring a three-day national mourning period in his honor.

Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Mkapa