Contents
Benjamin Mkapa
Serving as Tanzania’s president from 1995 to 2005.
Economic policy · Kenya mediation
- Born
- 12 November 1938
- Birthplace
- Lupaso
- Died
- 23 July 2020
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Benjamin Mkapa was a Tanzanian politician and diplomat whose presidency combined market reforms with anti-corruption pledges.
Early life
Education
Was born in Lupaso and studied English at Makerere University.
Career
- 1977–1980
Foreign affairs
Served a first term as foreign minister.
- 1984–1990
Foreign affairs
Returned to the ministry after diplomatic postings.
- 1995–2005
Presidency
Served two terms as president.
Public service
Economic policy
Privatised state businesses and pursued foreign investment; spending and the effectiveness of anti-corruption efforts drew criticism.
Kenya mediation
Joined Kofi Annan and Graça Machel in mediation following Kenya’s disputed election.
Beyond politics
Education governance
Served as an Aga Khan University trustee from 2007 to 2012.
Sources & photo credit
Biography and career ↗Biographical references ↗Additional biographical source ↗Original photograph. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
Photo: Copyright World Economic Forum (www.weforum.org)/Photo by Zahur Ramji / Mediapix. CC BY-SA 2.0 · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.