Justinian Rweyemamu
Encyclopedia
Justinian F Rweyemamu was Tanzania
’s first major Economics scholar. Considered by many as the outstanding representative of the post-independence African scholars, he was also a pan-Africanist, political strategist, and international civil servant.
town located in Kagera Region
, Tanzania
. In 1958 he joined St. Thomas More College Ihungo, a catholic secondary school in Bukoba
, and in 1961 graduated top of his class. He then went to the USA on a scholarship to pursue undergraduate education on the eve of his country’s independence from the British. He enrolled at Fordham University
where he majored and graduated with Bachelor of Science degree in Economics, Applied Mathematics and Philosophy (1965). At Fordham he was an active member of the University's Economics club and the Philosophy club.
He then proceeded to Harvard University
for his graduate and doctoral studies in Economics (Ph.D 1971) under a fellowship from the Rockefeller Foundation
. At Harvard he studied under economists Albert Hirschman and Thomas Weisskopf. While at Harvard, he was a contemporary of the political scientist Mahmood Mamdani
and documentary film-maker James Ault with whom they formed the informal Harvard “Africa Group”. His Ph.D thesis titled “an Industrial Strategy for Tanzania” was a seminal work in the development economics scene, and its revised version was later published (1973) by the Oxford University Press into a book called “Underdevelopment and Industrialization in Tanzania; a study of perverse capitalist industrial development”.
, and was later the Dean of its Faculty of Social Sciences. He then took up position in the Government to become more of an actor, than a privileged spectator in academia. In the government he was appointed (1975) Permanent Secretary of the Planning Ministry and subsequently Personal Assistant (Economic affairs) to the then President of the Republic Julius Nyerere
. In a span of just a few years he became internationally recognized, due to his thought provoking economic analysis and recommendations of the economic plight of the poor nations. He was thus appointed Chairman of the Council for the Development of Social Science Research In Africa
(CODESRIA), member of the Committee of the Third World Forum and a founding member of The International Foundation for Development Alternatives (IFDA). In 1977 he left the country for a high profile appointment in the UN first in Switzerland and then later New York, USA. During his time in the UN he was a member of the UN Committee for Development Planning, worked for the Brandt Commission and worked for the UN Director General for Development and International Cooperation till his untimely death caused by Cancer on March 30, 1982.
Ultimately, Rweyemamu is remembered as the father of Tanzanian economics and made his greatest impact through the remarkable concentration of his students in top echelons of government and academia. These include: Jakaya Kikwete
, the 4th President of the United Republic of Tanzania; Benno Ndullu, the Governor of the Bank of Tanzania. Ibrahim Lipumba
, Tanzania’s academician and politician; Delphin Rwegasira, Tanzanian economist.
In 1982, his friends and colleagues established the Justinian F. Rweyemamu Prize in order to perpetuate the academic spirit of J F Rweyemamu and to stimulate young Africans to follow his example in placing their talent at the service of their people. It was established by 4 of the institutions with which Justinian Rweyemamu was affiliated: CODESRIA, the Dag Hammerskjold Foundation, IFDS, and the Third World Forum. Among the recipients of this prize is Calestous Juma a prominent Kenyan scientist based at Harvard University.
His writings include:
Underdevelopment and Industrialization in Tanzania: A Study of Perverse Capitalist Development (Nairobi: Oxford University Press, 1973)
Towards Socialist Planning
The Teaching of Economics in Africa
Industrialization and Income Distribution in Africa
Pugwash on Self-reliance
North-South: A Programme for Survival (The Brandt report)
Dialogue for a New Order
Third World Options: Power, security and hope for another development (Tanzania Publishing House, 1992).
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
’s first major Economics scholar. Considered by many as the outstanding representative of the post-independence African scholars, he was also a pan-Africanist, political strategist, and international civil servant.
Early life and education
Rweyemamu was born on September 28, 1942 in Katoma, a small village in the outskirts of BukobaBukoba
Bukoba is a town in northwest Tanzania on the western shore of Lake Victoria. It is the capital of the Kagera region. Population estimate: 100,000...
town located in Kagera Region
Kagera Region
Kagera Region is located in the northwestern corner of Tanzania. Bukoba, Kagera Region's capital, is a fast growing town situated on the shore of Lake Victoria. Bukoba lies only 1 degree south of the Equator and is Tanzania's second largest port on the lake. The region neighbors Uganda, Rwanda and...
, Tanzania
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
. In 1958 he joined St. Thomas More College Ihungo, a catholic secondary school in Bukoba
Bukoba
Bukoba is a town in northwest Tanzania on the western shore of Lake Victoria. It is the capital of the Kagera region. Population estimate: 100,000...
, and in 1961 graduated top of his class. He then went to the USA on a scholarship to pursue undergraduate education on the eve of his country’s independence from the British. He enrolled at Fordham University
Fordham University
Fordham University is a private, nonprofit, coeducational research university in the United States, with three campuses in and around New York City. It was founded by the Roman Catholic Diocese of New York in 1841 as St...
where he majored and graduated with Bachelor of Science degree in Economics, Applied Mathematics and Philosophy (1965). At Fordham he was an active member of the University's Economics club and the Philosophy club.
He then proceeded to Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
for his graduate and doctoral studies in Economics (Ph.D 1971) under a fellowship from the Rockefeller Foundation
Rockefeller Foundation
The Rockefeller Foundation is a prominent philanthropic organization and private foundation based at 420 Fifth Avenue, New York City. The preeminent institution established by the six-generation Rockefeller family, it was founded by John D. Rockefeller , along with his son John D. Rockefeller, Jr...
. At Harvard he studied under economists Albert Hirschman and Thomas Weisskopf. While at Harvard, he was a contemporary of the political scientist Mahmood Mamdani
Mahmood Mamdani
Mahmood Mamdani is an academic, author and political commentator. He is a Professor and Director of the at Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda, and the Herbert Lehman Professor of Government at Columbia University, New York. He grew up in Uganda and acquired his B.A from the University of...
and documentary film-maker James Ault with whom they formed the informal Harvard “Africa Group”. His Ph.D thesis titled “an Industrial Strategy for Tanzania” was a seminal work in the development economics scene, and its revised version was later published (1973) by the Oxford University Press into a book called “Underdevelopment and Industrialization in Tanzania; a study of perverse capitalist industrial development”.
Career
Upon completion of graduate studies, he returned to his native land and took up a faculty position at the Department of Economics of the University of Dar es SalaamUniversity of Dar es Salaam
The University of Dar es Salaam is a university in the Tanzanian city of Dar es Salaam. The university was born out of a decision taken in 1970 to split the then University of East Africa into three independent universities; Makerere University , University of Nairobi and University of Dar es...
, and was later the Dean of its Faculty of Social Sciences. He then took up position in the Government to become more of an actor, than a privileged spectator in academia. In the government he was appointed (1975) Permanent Secretary of the Planning Ministry and subsequently Personal Assistant (Economic affairs) to the then President of the Republic Julius Nyerere
Julius Nyerere
Julius Kambarage Nyerere was a Tanzanian politician who served as the first President of Tanzania and previously Tanganyika, from the country's founding in 1961 until his retirement in 1985....
. In a span of just a few years he became internationally recognized, due to his thought provoking economic analysis and recommendations of the economic plight of the poor nations. He was thus appointed Chairman of the Council for the Development of Social Science Research In Africa
Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa
Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa is Pan-African research organisation headquartered in Dakar, Senegal.- Background :...
(CODESRIA), member of the Committee of the Third World Forum and a founding member of The International Foundation for Development Alternatives (IFDA). In 1977 he left the country for a high profile appointment in the UN first in Switzerland and then later New York, USA. During his time in the UN he was a member of the UN Committee for Development Planning, worked for the Brandt Commission and worked for the UN Director General for Development and International Cooperation till his untimely death caused by Cancer on March 30, 1982.
Ultimately, Rweyemamu is remembered as the father of Tanzanian economics and made his greatest impact through the remarkable concentration of his students in top echelons of government and academia. These include: Jakaya Kikwete
Jakaya Kikwete
Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete is the 4th and current President of the United Republic of Tanzania. Kikwete was born in Msoga, Bagamoyo District, Tanganyika in present day Tanzania...
, the 4th President of the United Republic of Tanzania; Benno Ndullu, the Governor of the Bank of Tanzania. Ibrahim Lipumba
Ibrahim Lipumba
Ibrahim Haruna Lipumba is a Tanzanian economist, politician and Chairman of the Civic United Front party.Although he is more known for his involvement in the political arena, Professor Lipumba, born in the Tabora region of Tanzania, and holding a doctorate in Economics from Stanford University is...
, Tanzania’s academician and politician; Delphin Rwegasira, Tanzanian economist.
In 1982, his friends and colleagues established the Justinian F. Rweyemamu Prize in order to perpetuate the academic spirit of J F Rweyemamu and to stimulate young Africans to follow his example in placing their talent at the service of their people. It was established by 4 of the institutions with which Justinian Rweyemamu was affiliated: CODESRIA, the Dag Hammerskjold Foundation, IFDS, and the Third World Forum. Among the recipients of this prize is Calestous Juma a prominent Kenyan scientist based at Harvard University.
His writings include:
Underdevelopment and Industrialization in Tanzania: A Study of Perverse Capitalist Development (Nairobi: Oxford University Press, 1973)
Towards Socialist Planning
The Teaching of Economics in Africa
Industrialization and Income Distribution in Africa
Pugwash on Self-reliance
North-South: A Programme for Survival (The Brandt report)
Dialogue for a New Order
Third World Options: Power, security and hope for another development (Tanzania Publishing House, 1992).