Mizengo Pinda
Encyclopedia
Mizengo Kayanza Peter Pinda (born August 12, 1948) is a Tanzania
n politician who has been Prime Minister of Tanzania since February 2008.
Pinda was born in the Rukwa Region
. He holds a degree in law from the University of Dar es Salaam
, which he earned in 1974.
He was Assistant Private Secretary to the President from 1982 to 1992 and Clerk to the Cabinet from 1996 to 2000. He was elected as a Member of Parliament for the constituency of Mpanda East in the 2000 election
, and he also became Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Office in charge of Regional Administration and Local Governments in 2000. He was promoted to the rank of Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, while remaining in charge of Regional Administration and Local Governments, in the Cabinet named on January 4, 2006.
Pinda was nominated as Prime Minister by President Jakaya Kikwete
on February 8, 2008, after the resignation of Edward Lowassa
over allegations of corruption. He was confirmed nearly unanimously by the Tanzanian parliament on the same day, with 279 votes in favor, two opposed, and one spoiled vote. Pinda was sworn in as Prime Minister at Chamwino State House in Dodoma
on February 9. Kikwete announced the new Cabinet headed by Pinda on February 12; it was notably smaller than the previous Cabinet, with 26 ministers, as opposed to 29 in the previous Cabinet, and 21 deputy ministers, as opposed to 31 in the previous Cabinet.
Amidst criticism and international concern about high levels of corruption in Tanzania, Pinda declared his assets on January 14, 2010. He said that he had "three small houses [and] no shares in any company", and that in his bank accounts he kept less than $20,000. Pinda also stated that his only car was "the one loaned to me as a Member of Parliament".
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...
n politician who has been Prime Minister of Tanzania since February 2008.
Pinda was born in the Rukwa Region
Rukwa Region
Rukwa is one of the 26 regions of Tanzania. Sumbawanga serves as the region's capital. The region is bordered to the north by Kigoma and Tabora Regions, to the east by Mbeya Region, to the south by Zambia and to the west by Lake Tanganyika which forms a border between the region and the Democratic...
. He holds a degree in law from the University of Dar es Salaam
University 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...
, which he earned in 1974.
He was Assistant Private Secretary to the President from 1982 to 1992 and Clerk to the Cabinet from 1996 to 2000. He was elected as a Member of Parliament for the constituency of Mpanda East in the 2000 election
Tanzanian general election, 2000
General elections were held in Tanzania on 29 October 2000, with sixteen constituencies in Zanzibar voting again on 5 November due to problems with distributing election material...
, and he also became Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Office in charge of Regional Administration and Local Governments in 2000. He was promoted to the rank of Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, while remaining in charge of Regional Administration and Local Governments, in the Cabinet named on January 4, 2006.
Pinda was nominated as Prime Minister by President 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...
on February 8, 2008, after the resignation of Edward Lowassa
Edward Lowassa
Edward Ngoyai Lowassa is a former Prime Minister of Tanzania, serving under President Jakaya Kikwete. He took office on 30 December 2005 and resigned on 7 February 2008 following a parliamentary committee report on corruption within the cabinet....
over allegations of corruption. He was confirmed nearly unanimously by the Tanzanian parliament on the same day, with 279 votes in favor, two opposed, and one spoiled vote. Pinda was sworn in as Prime Minister at Chamwino State House in Dodoma
Dodoma
Dodoma , officially Dodoma Urban District, population 324,347 , is the national capital of Tanzania, and the capital of the Dodoma region. In 1973, plans were made to move the capital to Dodoma...
on February 9. Kikwete announced the new Cabinet headed by Pinda on February 12; it was notably smaller than the previous Cabinet, with 26 ministers, as opposed to 29 in the previous Cabinet, and 21 deputy ministers, as opposed to 31 in the previous Cabinet.
Amidst criticism and international concern about high levels of corruption in Tanzania, Pinda declared his assets on January 14, 2010. He said that he had "three small houses [and] no shares in any company", and that in his bank accounts he kept less than $20,000. Pinda also stated that his only car was "the one loaned to me as a Member of Parliament".