View source for Benjamin Mkapa

{{Short description|President of Tanzania from 1995 to 2005}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| image               = Benjamin Mkapa 2010-05-07.jpg
| alt                 = 
| caption             = Mkapa in 2010
| order               = 3rd
| office              = President of Tanzania
| term_start          = 23 November 1995
| term_end            = 21 December 2005
| vicepresident       = [[Omar Ali Juma]]<br />[[Ali Mohamed Shein]]
| 1blankname          = {{Nowrap|[[Prime Minister of Tanzania|Prime Minister]]}}
| 1namedata           = [[Cleopa Msuya]]<br>[[Frederick Sumaye]]
| predecessor         = [[Ali Hassan Mwinyi]]
| successor           = [[Jakaya Kikwete]]
| order2              = 
| office2             = Minister for Science, Technology and Higher Education
| term_start2         = 1992
| term_end2           = 1995
| president2          = [[Ali Hassan Mwinyi]]
| predecessor2        = 
| successor2          = 
| order3              = 
| office3             = Minister for Information and Broadcasting
| term_start3         = 1990
| term_end3           = 1992
| president3          = [[Ali Hassan Mwinyi]]
| predecessor3        = 
| successor3          = 
| birth_date          = {{birth date|1938|11|12|df=y}}
| birth_place         = [[Ndanda]], [[Masasi]], [[Tanganyika Territory|Tanganyika]]
| death_date          = {{death date and age|2020|7|23|1938|11|12|df=y}}
| death_place         = [[Dar es Salaam]], [[Tanzania]]
| nationality         = [[Tanzania]]n
| spouse              = [[Anna Mkapa|Anna Joseph Maro]]
| party               = [[Chama Cha Mapinduzi|CCM]]
| otherparty          = [[Tanganyika African National Union|TANU]]
| relations           = 
| children            = 2
| alma_mater          = [[Makerere University]]<small>[[Bachelor of Arts|(B.A.)]]</small><br />[[Columbia University]]<small>[[Master of Arts|(M.A.)]]</small> [[Open University of Tanzania]]
| birth_name          = Benjamin William Mkapa
}}

''' Benjamin William Mkapa''' (12 November 1938<ref name=East/>{{spnd}}23 July 2020)<ref>{{cite news|title=Tanzania's Former President Benjamin Mkapa Dies, Presidency Says|url=https://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2020/07/23/world/africa/23reuters-tanzania-mkapa.html|work=The New York Times|agency=Reuters|date=23 July 2020|access-date=24 July 2020|archive-date=24 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200724060032/https://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2020/07/23/world/africa/23reuters-tanzania-mkapa.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> was the third [[president of Tanzania]], in office from 1995 to 2005. He was Chairman of the Revolutionary State Political Party ([[Chama Cha Mapinduzi]], CCM).<ref name=PBS/>

==Early life==
Mkapa was born in Lupaso, near [[Masasi District|Masasi]], Tanganyika, on 12 November 1938.<ref name=East /><ref>{{cite news|title=Just In: Former Tanzania President Benjamin Mkapa has died|url=https://regionweek.com/just-in-former-tanzania-president-benjamin-mkapa-has-died|first=Fabrice|last=Iranzi|date=23 July 2020|access-date=25 July 2020|publisher=RegionWeek}}{{Dead link|date=November 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref> He graduated from [[Makerere University]] in [[Uganda]] in 1962 with a [[Bachelor of Arts]] in English.<ref name=East/> He went on to study at [[Columbia University]] the following year, and earned a master's degree in International Affairs.<ref>[https://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Benjamin_W._Mkapa.aspx] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160701072330/https://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Benjamin_W._Mkapa.aspx|date=1 July 2016}}</ref>

Previous posts include being an administrative officer in [[Dodoma]] and the Minister for Science, Technology and Higher Education. Mkapa was the head of the Tanzanian mission to Canada in 1982 and to the [[United States]] in 1983–84.<ref>[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], ilo.org; accessed 25 July 2020.</ref> He was the Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1977 to 1980 and again from 1984 to 1990, before meeting his best friend Edward Mwassaga.<ref name=dsctanzania/> 

==Presidency==
[[File:The President Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam with the President of Tanzania Mr. Benjamin William Mkapa at Dar-es-Salaam (Tanzania) on September 11, 2004.jpg|thumb|Mkapa meeting with [[President of India|Indian president]] [[A. P. J. Abdul Kalam|Abdul Kalam]] in [[Dar es Salaam]] on 11 September 2004 ]]
In 1995, Mkapa was elected as president based on a popular anti-corruption campaign and the strong support of former president [[Julius Nyerere]]. 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.<ref name="AJPS"/> His 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.<ref name="aku"/> 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 debt]]s.<ref name="AJPS"/>

He was criticized for some ineffectiveness of his anti-corruption efforts<ref name="AJPS"/> as well as for his lavish spending. He spent £15&nbsp;million on a private presidential jet, as well as almost £30&nbsp;million on military aviation equipment from [[BAE Systems]], which experts deemed beyond the limited needs of the country's armed forces.<ref>Gideon Burrows, [http://www.newstatesman.com/200309080010 "We sell arms to Saddam's friends"], ''New Statesman'', 8 September 2003</ref> It was over the latter purchase that [[United Kingdom|British]] [[Secretary of State for International Development|International Development Secretary]] [[Clare Short]] expressed public outrage, resulting in her becoming known as 'Mama Radar' in the Tanzanian press.<ref>{{cite news|title=Short defends personal jet for Tanzania's president|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2002/jul/27/tanzania.foreignpolicy|first=David|last=Hencke|date=27 July 2002|access-date=23 July 2020|newspaper=The Guardian|location=London}}</ref>

==Post-presidency==
[[File:Benjamin William Mkapa - World Economic Forum on Africa 2010 - 1.jpg|thumb|Mkapa at the 2010 World Economic Forum in Africa ]]
Having left office due to a two-term limit, Mkapa was 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 lawful procedures. For privatizing the mine to himself, he was accused of a breach of the Tanzanian constitution, which does not allow a president to do business at the state house.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ncCnDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA84|title=A Decade of Tanzania: Politics, Economy and Society 2005-2017|publisher=Brill Publishers|date=1 July 2019|last1=Hirschler|first1=Kurt|last2=Hofmeier|first2=Rolf|pages=84–85|isbn=9789004407879}}</ref>

In 2007, Mkapa was part of the [[African Union|African Union's]] Panel of Eminent African Personalities, who were deployed to [[Kenya]] to resolve [[2007–2008 Kenyan crisis|political violence]] that had broken out due to disputed election results. Mkapa - along with humanitarian and former First Lady of [[Mozambique]] and [[South Africa]], [[Graça Machel]] and former [[Secretary-General of the United Nations|UN Secretary-General]], [[Kofi Annan]] (Chair) - led the group in mediation efforts that resulted in the signing of the [[National Accord and Reconciliation Act 2008|National Accord and Reconciliation Act of 2008]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=South Consulting|date=December 2011|title=The Kenya National Dialogue and Reconciliation: Building a Progressive Kenya|url=https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/Background-Note.pdf}}</ref>

Mkapa served as a trustee of the [[Aga Khan University]] from 2007 to 2012.<ref name="aku">[http://www.aku.edu.pk/university/bot/bwm.shtml "His Excellency Benjamin William Mkapa"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110903143820/http://www.aku.edu.pk/university/bot/bwm.shtml|date=3 September 2011}}, Board of Trustees, AKU University; retrieved 19 October 2009.</ref>

==Death==
Mkapa suffered from malaria and treated on 22 July 2020. He died of heart attack in Dar Es Salaam in the early hours of 23 July at the age of 81.<ref>{{cite news|date=27 July 2020|title=Former Tanzania's president Benjamin Mkapa suffered from malaria, not Covid-19-family|work=Africanews|url=https://www.africanews.com/2020/07/27/former-tanzania-s-president-benjamin-mkapa-suffered-from-malaria-not-covid-19//|access-date=27 July 2020}}; {{cite news|date=23 July 2020|title=Tanzania's former President Benjamin Mkapa dies|publisher=Al Jazeera|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/07/tanzania-president-benjamin-mkapa-dies-200724021048911.html|access-date=23 July 2020}}</ref> Tanzanian President, [[John Magufuli|John Pombe Magufuli]], announced his death. The last farewell was conducted by Tanzania People's Defense Forces. He was laid to rest in his hometown of Lupaso, Masasi.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-11-01 |title=Former President Benjamin Mkapa laid to rest |url=https://www.thecitizen.co.tz/tanzania/news/national/former-president-benjamin-mkapa-laid-to-rest--2713556 |access-date=2023-07-19 |website=The Citizen |language=en}}</ref>

In recognition of the role Mkapa played in resolving Kenya's 2007/2008 post-election violence, Kenyan President, [[Uhuru Kenyatta]], declared a three-day period of national mourning following his death, ordering all flags at public buildings and grounds to fly at [[half-mast]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=nairobi|date=2020-07-24|title=Mkapa: Kenya declares three days of mourning, flags to fly at half-mast|url=https://www.africa-press.net/kenya/policy/mkapa-kenya-declares-three-days-of-mourning-flags-to-fly-at-half-mast|access-date=2021-08-31|website=kenya|language=en-US}}</ref>

==Honours and awards==
===Honours===
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:left;"
|--
! colspan=2 | [[Order (distinction)|Order]]
! Country
! width="60px" |Year
! Ref
|-
| width="80px" | [[File:Order of the Golden Heart of Kenya.svg|80px]]
| [[Order of the Golden Heart of Kenya]] (Chief)
| {{flag|Kenya}}
| align="center" | 2005
| align="center" |<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.panapress.com/Mkapa-lauds-Kenya-s-democratic-posture--13-574735-17-lang1-index.html|title=Mkapa lauds Kenya's democratic posture|date=12 October 2005|publisher=panapress.com|access-date=8 February 2013}}</ref>
|-
| width="80px" | [[File:Order of Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere (Tanzania) - ribbon bar.png|80px]]
| [[Order of Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere]]
| {{flag|Tanzania}}
| align="center" | 2011
| align="center" |<ref>{{cite news|title=Anniversary : Happy anniversary Mkapa,'Fathers' and World Pneumonia Day Nov 12|url=https://www.thecitizen.co.tz/oped/Happy-anniversary-Mkapa--Fathers--and-World-Pneumonia-Day/1840568-3449870-uqyhumz/index.html|first=Karl|last=Lyimo|date=12 November 2016|access-date=24 July 2020|newspaper=The Citizen}}</ref>
|}

===Awards===
* 2007: [[Jane Goodall|Jane Goodall Global Leadership Award]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.janegoodall.org/media/news/30th-anniversary-bicoastal-events|title=JGI awards global leaders at 30th anniversary bicoastal events |date=10 October 2007|publisher=[[Jane Goodall Institute]]|access-date=8 February 2013}}</ref>

===Honorary degrees===
{|class="wikitable"
|-
! University !! Country !! Degree !! width="60px" |Year
|-
| [[Sōka University]] || {{JAP}} || [[Honorary degree]]|| align="center" |1998<ref name="RI">{{cite web|url=http://www.rotary9200.org/downloads/districtconference/83rd%20D9200%20Conference%20Report%20-%20%20Final.pdf|title=83RD Annual District Conference & Assembly|date=17 May 2008|publisher=Page 10, [[Rotary International]] District 9200|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130625105127/http://www.rotary9200.org/downloads/districtconference/83rd%20D9200%20Conference%20Report%20-%20%20Final.pdf|archive-date=25 June 2013|access-date=7 February 2013}}</ref>
|-
| [[Morehouse College]] || {{USA}} || Honorary degree || align="center" |1999<ref name="RI"/>
|-
| [[Open University of Tanzania]]|| {{TZA}} || Honorary degree  || align="center" |2003<ref name="RI"/>
|-
| [[National University of Lesotho]] || {{LES}} || [[Doctor of Law]] || align="center" |2005<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nul.ls/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=130&Itemid=165|title=HONORARY DEGREE Recipients|publisher=National University of Lesotho|access-date=12 November 2014}}</ref>
|-
| [[Kenyatta University]] || {{KEN}} || [[Doctor of Education]] || align="center" |2005<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ku.ac.ke/alumni/alumni-nomination/prominent-alumni|title=Prominent Alumni|publisher=[[Kenyatta University]]|access-date=7 February 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140702203026/http://www.ku.ac.ke/alumni/alumni-nomination/prominent-alumni|archive-date=2 July 2014}}</ref>
|-
| [[University of Dar es Salaam]] || {{TZA}} || Honorary degree || align="center" |2006<ref name="RI"/>
|-
| [[Newcastle University]] || {{UK}} || [[Doctor of Civil Law]] || align="center" |2007<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ncl.ac.uk/congregations/assets/documents/BenjaminMkapa.pdf|title=Citation: Benjamin William Mkapa DCL|date=2007|publisher=[[Newcastle University]]|access-date=7 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130531053328/http://www.ncl.ac.uk/congregations/assets/documents/BenjaminMkapa.pdf|archive-date=31 May 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
| [[University of Cape Coast]] || {{GHA}} || [[Doctor of Letters]] || align="center" |2008<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.modernghana.com/news/189929/1/ucc-honours-former-tanzanian-leader.html|title=UCC honours former Tanzanian leader|publisher=modernghana.com|access-date=23 May 2013}}</ref>
|-
| [[Makerere University]] || {{UGA}} || [[Doctor of Law]] || align="center" |2009<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.mak.ac.ug/2009/12/he-benjamin-mkapa-receives-makerere-honorary-phd|title= H.E. Benjamin Mkapa receives Makerere Honorary PhD|date=27 November 2009|publisher=[[Makerere University]]|access-date=7 February 2013}}</ref>
|}

==References==
<references>
<ref name=East>{{cite book|last=East|first=Roger|author2=Richard Thomas|title=Profiles of People in Power: The World's Government Leaders|publisher=[[Routledge]]|year=2003|pages=513|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Mz-fXRsedPMC&pg=PA625|isbn=1-85743-126-X}}</ref>
<ref name=PBS>{{cite web|title=Benjamin Mkapa|work=[[Encarta]]|publisher=[[Microsoft]]|year=2001|url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/commandingheights/shared/minitextlo/prof_benjaminmkapa.html|access-date=19 October 2009}}</ref><ref name=dsctanzania>{{cite web|title=Benjamin Mkapa|url=http://dsctanzania.org/mkapa.html|access-date=1 March 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090106024730/http://dsctanzania.org/mkapa.html|archive-date=6 January 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="AJPS">{{cite journal|last=Heilman|first=Bruce|author2=Laurean Ndumbaro|title=Corruption, Politics, and Societal Values in Tanzania: An Evaluation of the Mkapa Administration's Anti-Corruption Efforts|journal=Afr. J. Polit. Sd.|volume=7|issue=1|year=2002|url=http://archive.lib.msu.edu/DMC/African%20Journals/pdfs/political%20science/volume7n1/ajps007001002.pdf|access-date=1 March 2010}}</ref>
</references>

==External links==
{{Sister project links | wikt=no | b=no | n=no |s=no | v=no | voy=no | species=no |d=Q320156| display=Benjamin Mkapa}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090709104055/http://www.commissionforafrica.org/english/commissioners/bios/mkapa.html Benjamin Mkapa bio] at Commission for Africa
* [https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/commandingheights/shared/minitextlo/int_benjaminmkapa.html 2001 interview with ''Public Broadcasting Station'']
* [http://www.wsws.org/articles/2001/dec2001/tanz-d29.shtml "British government split over Tanzanian radar system"]
* [http://www.ippmedia.com/ipp/guardian/2007/02/01/83504.html "Blair blasted over Tanzania radar deal"]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/2044206.stm "Tanzania radar deal "waste of cash""]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20071229232908/http://www.thisday.co.tz/News/2497.html "Kiwira coal power project ownership:The Mkapa-Yona link"]

{{Navboxes
|title=Offices and distinctions
|list1=
{{s-start}}
{{s-ppo}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Ali Hassan Mwinyi]]}}
{{s-ttl |title= National Chairman of [[Chama Cha Mapinduzi]] | years = 1996–2007}}
{{s-aft|after= [[Jakaya Kikwete]]}}
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Ali Hassan Mwinyi]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[President of Tanzania]]|years=1995–2005}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Jakaya Kikwete]]}}
{{s-bef|before=}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology, of Tanzania|Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology]]|years=1992–1995}}
{{s-aft|after=}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Salim Ahmed Salim]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (Tanzania)|Minister of Foreign Affairs]] | years=1984–1990}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Ahmed Hassan Diria]]}}
{{s-bef|before=Ibrahim Kaduma}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (Tanzania)|Minister of Foreign Affairs]] | years=1977–1980}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Salim Ahmed Salim]]}}
{{s-end}}
}}
{{Navboxes
|title= Articles related to Benjamin Mkapa
|list1=
{{Presidents of Tanzania}}
{{Tanzanian Foreign Ministers}}
{{Chama Cha Mapinduzi}}
{{Commission for Africa}}
}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mkapa, Benjamin}}
[[Category:1938 births]]
[[Category:Tanzanian Roman Catholics]]
[[Category:2020 deaths]]
[[Category:Ambassadors of Tanzania to the United States]]
[[Category:Chama Cha Mapinduzi politicians]]
[[Category:Chiefs of the Order of the Golden Heart of Kenya]]
[[Category:School of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University alumni]]
[[Category:Commission for Africa members]]
[[Category:Ministers of foreign affairs of Tanzania]]
[[Category:Makerere University alumni]]
[[Category:Makonde people]]
[[Category:Ndanda Secondary School alumni]]
[[Category:Open University of Tanzania alumni]]
[[Category:People from Masasi District]]
[[Category:Presidents of Tanzania]]
[[Category:Pugu Secondary School alumni]]