Jakaya Kikwete

Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete (born 7 October 1950)[1][2] is a Tanzanian politician who was the fourth president of Tanzania, in office from 2005 to 2015.

Jakaya Kikwete
4th President of Tanzania
In office
21 December 2005 – 5 November 2015
Vice PresidentAli Mohamed Shein (2005–10)
Mohamed Bilal (2010–15)
Prime MinisterEdward Ngoyai Lowassa (2005–08)
Mizengo Kayanza Peter Pinda (2008–15)
Preceded byBenjamin William Mkapa
Succeeded byJohn Magufuli
6th Chairperson of the African Union
In office
31 January 2008 – 2 February 2009
Preceded byJohn Kufuor
Succeeded byMuammar Gaddafi
11th Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office
27 November 1995 – 21 December 2005
Preceded byJoseph Rwegasira
Succeeded byAsha-Rose Migiro
7th Minister of Finance
In office
7 August 1994 – 2 November 1995
Preceded byKighoma Malima
Succeeded bySimon Mbilinyi
Member of Parliament
for Chalinze
In office
26 November 1995 – 20 January 2005
Succeeded byRamadhani Maneno
Personal details
Born
Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete

(1950-10-07) 7 October 1950
Msoga, Tanganyika Territory
Nationality Tanzania
Political partyCCM (1977–present)
TANU (before 1977)
Spouse
​
(m. 1989)​
Children10
Residence(s)Msoga, Chalinze District
Alma materUniversity of Dar es Salaam (BS)
ProfessionEconomist
Twitter handlejmkikwete
Military service
Allegiance United Rep. of Tanzania
Branch/serviceTanzanian Army
RankLieutenant Colonel

Prior to his election as president, he was the Minister for Foreign Affairs from 1995 to 2005 under his predecessor, Benjamin Mkapa. He also served as the chairperson of the African Union in 2008–2009 and the chairman of the Southern African Development Community Troika on Peace, Defence and Security in 2012–2013.

Kikwete, who is of Kwere heritage, was born and raised in Msoga, Chalinze District in Pwani Region and attended the university of Dar es Salaam.

Education

Between 1959 and 1963 Kikwete attended Karatu Primary School and Tengeru School from 1963 to 1965, both in Arusha Region.[3] After Tengeru, Kikwete moved back to home to Pwani Region and attended Kibaha Secondary School for his O-levels, which took place between 1966 and 1969. Then he moved to Tanga Region studied at the Tanga Technical Secondary School for his advanced level education.[3] He graduated from the University of Dar es Salaam in 1975 with a degree in political science and public relations.[3]

Leadership and political career

Kikwete was born at Msoga, located in the Bagamoyo District of Tanganyika, in 1950.

As a party cadre, Kikwete moved from one position to another in the party ranks and from one location to another in the service of the party. When TANU and Zanzibar's Afro-Shirazi Party (ASP) merged to form Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) in 1977, Kikwete was moved to Zanzibar and assigned the task of setting up the new party's organisation and administration in the islands. In 1980, he was moved to the headquarters as administrator of the Dar es Salaam head office and head of the Defence and Security Department before moving again up-country to the regional and district party offices in Tabora Region (1981–84) and Singida Region and Nachingwea (1986–88) and Masasi District (1988) in the country's southern regions of Lindi and Mtwara respectively. In 1988, he was appointed to join the central government.

In 1994, at 44, he became one of the youngest finance ministers in the history of The United Republic of Tanzania. In December 1995, he became Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, being appointed by President Benjamin William Mkapa of the third phase government. He held this post for ten years, until he was elected President of the United Republic of Tanzania in December 2005, hence becoming the country's longest serving foreign minister. During his tenure in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tanzania played a significant role in bringing about peace in the Great Lakes region, particularly in The Democratic Republic Of Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Kikwete was also deeply involved in the process of rebuilding regional integration in East Africa. Specifically, several times, he was involved in a delicate process of establishing a customs union between the three countries of the East African Community (Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania), where, for quite some time, he was a chairman of the East Africa Community's Council of Ministers.

Kikwete also participated in the initiation, and became a co-chair, of the Helsinki Process on Globalisation and Democracy. On 4 May 2005, Kikwete emerged victorious among 11 CCM members who had sought the party's nomination for presidential candidacy in the general election. After a 14 December 2005 multiparty general election, he was declared the winner by the Electoral Commission on 17 December and was sworn in as the fourth president of the United Republic of Tanzania on 21 December.

Kikwete during the WEF 2010

On 26 May 2013, Kikwete said at a meeting of the African Union that if President Joseph Kabila of the DRC could negotiate with the March 23 Movement, President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda and President Paul Kagame of Rwanda should be able to negotiate with the Allied Democratic Forces-National Army for the Liberation of Uganda and the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, respectively. In response, Museveni expressed his willingness to negotiate.[4]

On 31 January 2016, The chairperson of the African Union Commission, Dr Nkosazana Zuma, appointed Jakaya Kikwete the African Union High Representative in Libya. Following the crisis in Libya, Kikwete's role is to lead the AU's efforts on achieving peace and stability in Libya. Later that year, he was appointed by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to serve as member of the Lead Group of the Scaling Up Nutrition Movement.[5] Since 2022, he has been a co-chairing the Commission for Universal Health convened by Chatham House, alongside Helen Clark.[6]

Personal life

Kikwete is an avid sports enthusiast and played basketball competitively in school. He has been a patron of the Tanzania Basketball Federation for the past 10 years.[3] He is married to Salma and they have five children.[3]

As of 4 April 2013, Kikwete was the sixth most followed African leader on Twitter with 57,626 followers.[7]

Honours and awards
President Kikwete shares a light moment with Prime Minister Pinda.
Kikwete was the first African Head of State to meet President Obama in 2009

Honours
Year Country Order
2007  Uganda Most Excellent Order of the Pearl of Africa (Grand Commander)[8]
2009  Comoros Order of the Green Crescent of the Comoros[9]
2009  Saudi Arabia Order of Abdulaziz Al Saud[10]
2009  Jamaica Order of Excellence[11]
2012  Oman Order of Oman (First Class)[12]

Awards
  • Sullivan Honor
  • 2007: The AAI African National Achievement Award (on behalf of Tanzania).[13]
  • 2009: US Doctors for Africa Award.[14]
  • 2011: Social Good Award from the United Nations Foundation[15]
  • 2011: South-South Award for Global Health, Technology and Development[16]
  • 2012: FANRPAN Policy Leadership Award from the Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network.[17]
  • 2013: Africa's Most Impactful Leader of the Year by the Africa Leadership Magazine[18]
  • 2013: ICCF Mengha Award by the International Conservation Caucus Foundation[19]
  • 2014: Icon of Democracy Award, from The Voice Magazine (Netherlands)[20]
  • 2015: Leadership Excellence Award by the Pan-African Youth Union.[21]
  • 2015: African Achievers Award by the Institute for Good Governance in Africa.[22]
  • 2015: African Statesman of the Year by The African Sun Times.[23]

Honorary academic awards
YearUniversityCountryHonour
2006University of St. Thomas, Minnesota United StatesDoctor of Law[24][25]
2008Kenyatta University KenyaDoctor of Humane Letters[26]
2010Fatih University TurkeyDoctorate in International Relations[27]
2010Muhimbili University TanzaniaDoctor of Public Health[28]
2010University of Dodoma TanzaniaHonoris Causa[29]
2011University of Dar es Salaam TanzaniaDoctor of Law[30]
2013University of Guelph CanadaDoctor of Law[31][32]
2014China Agricultural University ChinaHonorary Professor[33][34]
2014Nelson Mandela–AIST TanzaniaHonoris causa[35][36]
2015University of Newcastle, New South Wales AustraliaDoctor of Laws[37]
2016Open University of Tanzania TanzaniaHonorary doctorate in leadership.[38]

Legacy

Eponyms

References
  1. "Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete". Huffington Post. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
  2. "Wajue Marais wa Zamani wa Tanzania". Deustche Welle. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  3. Biography: Jakaya Kikwete, NewsAfrica Magazine, archived from the original on 29 April 2012, retrieved 14 September 2012
  4. "Africa fights to free itself of malcontents", IOL News, reported by Peter Fabricius, 27 May 2013
  5. Secretary-General Appoints 29 Global Leaders to Spearhead Fight against Malnutrition United Nations, press release of 21 September 2016.
  6. Commission for Universal Health Chatham House.
  7. President Mahama among top ten African Presidents most followed on Twitter, Ghana Business News, 4 April 2013, archived from the original on 17 September 2013{{citation}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  8. "Museveni honours Nyerere". New Vision. 10 July 2007. Archived from the original on 5 December 2014. Retrieved 25 September 2013.
  9. "Rais Kikwete, Jenerali Mwamunyange, Waziri Membe Watunukiwa Anjoun" [President Kikwete, General Mwamunyange, Minister Membe honoured in Anjoun] (in Swahili). Ikulu. 25 March 2009. Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 25 September 2013.
  10. "JK akiwa Saudia" [JK in Saudi Arabia] (in Swahili). Michuzi Blog. 16 April 2009. Retrieved 25 September 2013.
  11. "President Kikwete Awarded Order of Excellence". Jamaica Information Service. 26 November 2009. Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 7 February 2013.
  12. "HM confers Oman Civil Order on Tanzania leader". Oman News Agency. October 2012. Archived from the original on 4 December 2014. Retrieved 7 February 2013.
  13. "AAI'S 23rd Annual Gala Dinner". Africa-America Institute. 19 September 2007. Archived from the original on 22 September 2013. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
  14. "US Doctors for Africa award goes to JK". IPP Media. 22 May 2009. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
  15. "Social Good Award". United Nations Foundation. September 2011. Retrieved 7 February 2013.
  16. "South-South Awards Journal 2011" (PDF). southsouthawards.com. Retrieved 7 February 2013.
  17. "FANRPAN salutes the best in agriculture" (PDF). fanrpan.org. 19 September 2012. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
  18. "Kikwete Receives Most Impactful Leader of Year Award". Daily News (Tanzania). 9 April 2014. Archived from the original on 13 April 2014. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  19. "Letter from the President of the Republic of Tanzania" (PDF). ICCF. 26 September 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 December 2014. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
  20. "Big up for Kikwete as he lands top Africa democracy award". Daily News (Tanzania). 31 July 2014. Archived from the original on 5 August 2014. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
  21. "President Kikwete conferred leadership award in Arusha". Michuzi Blog. 29 March 2015. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
  22. "JK wins African Achievers Award". The Citizen. 28 July 2015. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  23. "Goodluck Jonathan Named International Person of the Year". The African Sun Times. 31 December 2015. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  24. "President of Tanzania to speak here 28 Sept". University of St. Thomas (Minnesota). 25 September 2006. Archived from the original on 28 September 2013. Retrieved 25 September 2013.
  25. Swallehe Msuya (30 September 2006). "Tanzania's president touts country's progress at St. Thomas appearance". Twin Cities Daily Planet. Retrieved 7 February 2013.
  26. "Kenyatta University Newsletter Vol. 4, Issue 15 (Special Graduation Edition)" (PDF). Kenyatta University. 26 January 2009. Retrieved 7 February 2013.
  27. "Honorary Doctorate to the president of Tanzania from our university" (Press release). Turkey: Fatih University. 19 February 2010. Archived from the original on 24 December 2012. Retrieved 7 February 2013.
  28. "MUHAS Annual Report 2010-2011". Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences. 2011. Archived from the original on 30 September 2013. Retrieved 7 February 2013.
  29. "JK, late Kawawa honoured at UDOM colourful, maiden graduation". The Guardian. 27 November 2010. Retrieved 25 September 2013.
  30. "JK atunukiwa udaktari wa sheria UDSM" [JK awarded docotorate of law at UDSM] (in Swahili). Michuzi Blog. 21 October 2011. Retrieved 26 September 2013.
  31. "U of G to Welcome Tanzanian President to Campus" (Press release). Guelph, Canada: University of Guelph. 18 September 2013. Retrieved 19 September 2013.
  32. "President of Tanzania at War Memorial Hall". Youtube. 20 September 2014. Archived from the original on 22 December 2021. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
  33. Barasa, Chaby (25 October 2014). "Kikwete: Agricultural transformation key to economic development". Daily News. Archived from the original on 26 October 2014. Retrieved 26 October 2014.
  34. "President Kikwete awarded honorary professorship". Michuzi Blog. 23 October 2014. Retrieved 26 October 2014.
  35. "JK atunukiwa PhD". Michuzi Blog. 18 December 2014. Retrieved 18 December 2014.
  36. "Rais Kikwete atunukiwa shahada ya Uzamivu na NM-AIST". Youtube. 18 December 2014. Archived from the original on 22 December 2021. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
  37. "President of Tanzania receives honorary doctorate from UoN" (Press release). Newcastle, Australia: University of Newcastle. 30 July 2015. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  38. "Kikwete picked UDSM Chancellor". Daily News. 22 January 2015. Archived from the original on 24 January 2016. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
  39. Barasa, Chaby (24 October 2014). "China pacts to bring jobs boom". Daily News. Archived from the original on 25 October 2014. Retrieved 26 October 2014.

Further reading
  • Nyang'oro, Julius E. (2011). JK: A Political Biography of Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, President of the United Republic of Tanzania. Trenton, NJ: Africa World Press, Inc. ISBN 978-1592217755.
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