Benjamin Mkapa

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Benjamin Mkapa
3rd President of Tanzania
In office
23 November 1995 – 21 December 2005
Vice President Omar Ali Juma (1995–2001)
Ali Mohamed Shein (2001-05)
Prime Minister Frederick Sumaye
Preceded by Ali Hassan Mwinyi
Succeeded by Jakaya Kikwete
Minister for Science, Technology and Higher Education
In office
1992–1995
President Ali Hassan Mwinyi
Minister for Information and Broadcasting
In office
1990–1992
President Ali Hassan Mwinyi
Personal details
Born (1938-11-12) 12 November 1938
Ndanda, Masasi, Tanganyika
Nationality Tanzanian
Political party CCM
Other political
affiliations		 TANU
Spouse(s) Anna Mkapa
Children 2
Alma mater Makerere University (B.A.)
Columbia University (M.A.)
Profession Journalist, Diplomat
Religion Christian

Benjamin William Mkapa (born November 12, 1938[1]) was the third President of the United Republic of Tanzania (1995–2005) and former Chairman for the Revolutionary State Party (Chama Cha Mapinduzi, CCM).[2]

Biography

Mkapa was born in 1938 in Ndanda, near Masasi in southern Tanganyika.[1] He graduated from Makerere University in Uganda in 1962 with a degree in English.[1] He also attended Columbia University in 1963 and was awarded a master's degree in international affairs.[3] Previous posts include being the administrative officer in Dodoma and the Minister for Science, Technology and Higher Education. He also led the Tanzania mission to Canada in 1982 and to the United States from 1983-1984.[4] He was the Foreign affairs Minister from 1977 to 1980 and from 1984 to 1990.[5]

In 1995, Mkapa was elected president based on a popular anti-corruption campaign and the strong support of former president Julius Nyerere.[6] Mkapa's anti-corruption efforts included creation of an open forum called the Presidential Commission on Corruption (Warioba Commission) and increased support for the Prevention of Corruption Bureau.[6]

Mkapa's second five-year term of office as president ended in December 2005. During this term in office, Mkapa privatized state-owned corporations and instituted free market policies.[7] His supporters argued that attracting foreign investment would promote economic growth. His policies won the support of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund and resulted in the cancellation of some of Tanzania's foreign debts.[6]

He has been criticized for some ineffectiveness of his anti-corruption efforts[6] as well as for his lavish spending. He spent £15 million on a private presidential jet, as well as almost £30 million on military aviation equipment which experts deemed beyond the limited needs of the country's armed forces.[8] It was over the latter purchase that then British International Development Secretary Clare Short expressed public outrage, resulting in her becoming known as 'Mama Radar' in the Tanzanian press.

Having left office due to a two-term limit, Mkapa is dogged by many accusations of corruption among them improperly appropriating to himself and his former finance Minister Daniel Yona the lucrative "Kiwira Coal Mine" in the southern highlands of Tanzania without following procedures. By privatizing the Kiwira Coal Mine to himself, he broke the Tanzanian constitution, which does not allow a president to do business at the state house.

He served as a Trustee of Aga Khan University from November 2007 till 2012.[7]

Honours and awards

Honours

Order Country Year Ref
Order of the Golden Heart of Kenya (Chief)  Kenya 2005 [9]
Order of Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere  Tanzania 2011

Awards

Honorary degrees

University Country Degree Year Ref
Sōka University  Japan Honorary degree 1998 [11]
Morehouse College  United States Honoris Causa 1999 [11]
The Open University of Tanzania  Tanzania Honoris Causa 2003[11]
National University of Lesotho  Lesotho LL.D. 2005[11]
Kenyatta University  Kenya Doctor of Education 2005[12]
University of Dar es Salaam  Tanzania Honoris Causa 2006[11]
Newcastle University  United Kingdom Honorary Doctor of Civil Law 2007[13]
University of Cape Coast  Ghana Honorary Doctor of Letters 2008[14]
Makerere University  Uganda Honorary Doctor of Law 2009[15]

Legacy

Eponyms

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 East, Roger; Richard Thomas (2003). Profiles of People in Power: the World's Government Leaders. Routledge. p. 513. ISBN 1-85743-126-X. 
  2. ↑ "Benjamin Mkapa". Encarta. Microsoft. 2001. Retrieved 19 October 2009. 
  3. ↑
  4. ↑ http://www.ilo.org/global/about-the-ilo/press-and-media-centre/news/WCMS_007824/lang--en/index.htm ILO Tackles Social Consequences of Globalization
  5. ↑ "Benjamin Mkapa". Retrieved 1 March 2010. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Heilman, Bruce; Laurean Ndumbaro (2002). "Corruption, Politics, and Societal Values in Tanzania: An Evaluation of the Mkapa Administration's Anti-Corruption Efforts". Afr. j . polit. sd. 7 (1). Retrieved 1 March 2010. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "His Excellency Benjamin William Mkapa", Board of Trustees, AKU University, retrieved 19-10-2009
  8. ↑ Gideon Burrows, "We sell arms to Saddam's friends", New Statesman, 8 September 2003
  9. ↑ "Mkapa lauds Kenya's democratic posture". panapress.com. 12 October 2005. Retrieved 8 February 2013. 
  10. ↑ "JGI awards global leaders at 30th anniversary bicoastal events". Jane Goodall Institute. 10 October 2007. Retrieved 8 February 2013. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 "83RD Annual District Conference & Assembly" (PDF). Page 10, Rotary International District 9200. 17 May 2008. Retrieved 7 February 2013. 
  12. ↑ "Prominent Alumni". Kenyatta University. Retrieved 7 February 2013. 
  13. ↑ "Citation: Benjamin William Mkapa DCL" (PDF). Newcastle University. 2007. Retrieved 7 February 2013. 
  14. ↑ "UCC honours former Tanzanian leader". modernghana.com. Retrieved 23 May 2013. 
  15. ↑ "H.E. Benjamin Mkapa receives Makerere Honorary PhD". Makerere University. 27 November 2009. Retrieved 7 February 2013. 

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