Mizengo Pinda

Mizengo Kayanza Peter Pinda (born August 12, 1948^[1]) is a Tanzanian politician who has been Prime Minister of Tanzania since February 2008.

Pinda was born in the Rukwa Region.^[1] He holds a degree in law from the University of Dar es Salaam, which he earned in 1974.^[1][2]

He was Assistant Private Secretary to the President from 1982 to 1992 and Clerk to the Cabinet from 1996 to 2000. He was elected as a Member of Parliament for the constituency of Mpanda East in the 2000 election, and he also became Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Office in charge of Regional Administration and Local Governments in 2000.^[2] He was promoted to the rank of Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, while remaining in charge of Regional Administration and Local Governments, in the Cabinet named on January 4, 2006.^[3]

Pinda was nominated as Prime Minister by President Jakaya Kikwete on February 8, 2008, after the resignation of Edward Lowassa over allegations of corruption. He was confirmed nearly unanimously by the Tanzanian parliament on the same day, with 279 votes in favor, two opposed, and one spoiled vote.^[4] Pinda was sworn in as Prime Minister at Chamwino State House in Dodoma on February 9.^[5] Kikwete announced the new Cabinet headed by Pinda on February 12; it was notably smaller than the previous Cabinet, with 26 ministers, as opposed to 29 in the previous Cabinet, and 21 deputy ministers, as opposed to 31 in the previous Cabinet.^[6]

Amidst criticism and international concern about high levels of corruption in Tanzania, Pinda declared his assets on January 14, 2010. He said that he had "three small houses [and] no shares in any company", and that in his bank accounts he kept less than $20,000. Pinda also stated that his only car was "the one loaned to me as a Member of Parliament".^[7]

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