Benjamin Mkapa
3rd President of Tanzania
In office November 23, 1995 – December 21, 2005
Preceded by	Ali Hassan Mwinyi
Succeeded by	Jakaya Kikwete
Born	November 12, 1938 (1938-11-12) (age 71) Mtwara, Tanzania (then a colony of the United Kingdom)
Political party	CCM
Spouse(s)	Anna Mkapa

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]

[edit] 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] 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 the United States and was the Foreign affairs Minister from 1977 to 1980 and from 1984 to 1990.^[3]

In 1995, Mkapa was elected president based on a popular anti-corruption campaign and the strong support of former president Julius Nyerere.^[4] 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.^[4]

Mkapa's second 5-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.^[5] His supporters argued that attracting foreign investment would promote economic growth. His policies won the support of the World Bank and IMF and resulted in the cancellation of some of Tanzania's foreign debts.^[4]

He has been criticized for some ineffectiveness of his anti-corruption efforts^[4] 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.^[6] 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 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 a business at state house.

He was appointed to Aga Khan University Board of Trustees in November 2007.^[5]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Benjamin Mkapa

• Benjamin Mkapa bio at Commission for Africa
• 2001 interview with Public Broadcasting Station
• "British government split over Tanzanian radar system"
• "Blair blasted over Tanzania radar deal"
• "Tanzania radar deal "waste of cash""
• "Kiwira coal power project ownership:The Mkapa-Yona link"

Preceded by Ali Hassan Mwinyi

President of Tanzania 1995-2005

Succeeded by Jakaya Kikwete

v • d • e Presidents of Tanzania Julius Nyerere • Ali Hassan Mwinyi • Benjamin Mkapa • Jakaya Kikwete

v • d • e Commission for Africa Blair (chairman) Adeola · Amoako · Baker · Benn · Brown · Camdessus · Geldof · Goodale · Peiding · Kalema · Manuel · Mkapa · Mohohlo · Thiam · Tibaijuka · Meles

Persondata
NAME	Mkapa, Benjamin
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION	Third President of Tanzania
DATE OF BIRTH	November 12, 1938
PLACE OF BIRTH	Ndanda, Tanganyika
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH