H.E. Benjamin William Mkapa

Fund Ambassador

H.E. Benjamin William Mkapa served as the third President of Tanzania, successfully holding two presidential terms from 1995-2005. Prior to being elected President in 1995, he excelled in the fields of science and technology, having served as Minister for Science, Technology and Higher Education and as a diplomat, with postings including Minister for Foreign Affairs, High Commissioner to Nigeria as well as Canada, and Ambassador to the United States of America. He is active in conflict prevention, management and resolution in the Great Lakes Region of Africa, and is an active player in regional economic co-operation within the East African Community, and the Southern African Development Community of which he has been Chairperson. He was appointed to Aga Khan University Board of Trustees in November 2007. Throughout his political career, Mr Mkapa has worked to strengthen Tanzania 's democracy, entrench civil rights and fight poverty, while increasing the country's openness to international trade and investment.