Benjamin Mkapa

Benjamin William Mkapa ( born November 12, 1938 in Masasi ) from 1995 to 2005, President of Tanzania.

Life

Mkapa was educated at Catholic schools, among other things, studying at Makerere University in Uganda. He worked as a journalist, was Managing Editor of different newspapers, Press Secretary at the President and founder of the Tanzania News Agency office. In 1976 he was High Commissioner in Nigeria and was appointed in 1977 as Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Cabinet. Over time he became more ministerial posts and represented his country as ambassador in different countries ( including the U.S. ).

In November 1995 he was elected by Julius Nyerere and Ali Hassan Mwinyi as the third president of the United Republic of Tanzania. In October 2000, he was re-elected. His term of office ended on 21 December 2005. He could not stand up because the Constitution of Tanzania to the President allowed only two terms.

Mkapa had to face during his tenure a number of challenges:

• The heavily Muslim islands of Zanzibar are connected to the mainland in a Union since 1964. But Zanzibar is always careful to emphasize his independence. It has its own parliament, a president since 2005 and also has its own flag. Parts of the population of Zanzibar provide the Union repeatedly questioned. Mkapa was keen not to jeopardize the unity.
• The elections of 1995 and 2000 in Zanzibar showed that the population between the ruling party Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM ) and the CUF, one of the opposition parties, is split. The output of both elections was controversial and has led to tensions in Zanzibar. Again, Mkapa was required to contribute to that calm the waters.
• The great social and economic policy challenge was to lead Tanzania on the way from a socialist to a market oriented society further. Had already laid its predecessor Mwinyi The basis for this change. As with him, the influence of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank on economic policy was clearly noticeable even under Mkapa. Mkapa led, for example, continuing the privatization of state enterprises. So under, inter alia, the National Bank of Commerce, telecommunications, energy and parts of the water supply were fully or partially privatized.
• Mkapa has also taken up the cause, the fight against corruption. There have been calls to make public corruption, some studies and articles in the press, but it was only a part of the allegations consistently pursued.

In 2007, the newly built Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium, was named in Dar es Salaam to him.