Tanzania’s former President Benjamin Mkapa dies
Tanzania’s presidency said Benjamin Mkapa, 81, died while receiving treatment at a hospital in Dar es Salaam.
Tanzania’s former President Benjamin Mkapa, who served from 1995 to 2005, died in the early hours of Friday, President John Magufuli said in a statement.
Mkapa, 81, the East African nation’s third president who led several regional peace mediation efforts in office and afterwards, died while receiving treatment at a hospital in Dar es Salaam, Magufuli said, without giving more details.
“I will remember him for his great love for the nation, his piety, hard work and performance in building the economy,” Magufuli said.
The president declared a seven-day mourning period, during which all flags will be flown at half-mast.
“Magufuli asks all Tanzanians to remain calm, patient and united during this difficult time,” a statement from his office said.
Mkapa also served as an ambassador, minister and key official of the ruling CCM party, Magufuli said.
The Chairperson of the African Union Moussa Faki Mahamat took to Twitter to pay his respects, calling Mkapa an “indefatigable peacemaker in the East African nation”.
It is with deep sadness that I learnt of the passing of Mzee Benjamin Mkapa,former President of #Tanzania. A statesman particularly remembered as an indefatigable peacemaker in the East African region. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family,the people and govt of Tanzania. pic.twitter.com/go4DC20qhM
— Moussa Faki Mahamat (@AUC_MoussaFaki) July 23, 2020
The former president was born in 1938 to a poor family in southeastern Mtwara. He earned a degree in English in Uganda, after which he went on to study at Columbia University in New York.
Mkapa later worked as a journalist before being appointed the press secretary for the country’s first President Julius Nyerere.
He held several cabinet posts, such as foreign minister and information minister and also served as ambassador to the United States before he was elected president.
Mkapa had most recently attempted to mediate between Burundi’s government and opposition groups after a disputed 2015 election plunged the country into crisis, however the government repeatedly refused to take part and the talks went nowhere.