Mizengo Pinda

Mizengo Pinda
9th Prime Minister of Tanzania
In office 9 February 2008 – 5 November 2015
President	Jakaya Kikwete
Preceded by	Edward Lowassa
Succeeded by	Kassim Majaliwa
Minister of State for Regional Administration and Local Government
In office 6 January 2006 – 9 February 2008
Prime Minister	Edward Lowassa
Preceded by	Hassan Ngwilizi
Succeeded by	Stephen Wassira
Deputy State Minister for Regional Administration & Local Government
In office 2000–2005
President	Benjamin Mkapa
Member of Parliament for Katavi
In office October 2000 – 2015
Personal details
Born	12 August 1948 Rukwa, Tanganyika
Nationality	Tanzanian
Political party	CCM
Spouse(s)	Tunu Rehani
Children	4
Alma mater	University of Dar es Salaam

Mizengo Kayanza Peter Pinda (born 12 August 1948) is a Tanzanian CCM politician who was Prime Minister of Tanzania from 2008 to 2015. He was a Member of Parliament from 2000 to 2015.^[1]

Life and career

Pinda was born in the Rukwa Region.^[2] He holds a degree in law from the University of Dar es Salaam, which he earned in 1974.^[2][3]

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 Mpanda East constituency in the 2000 general election, and he also became Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Office for Regional Administration and Local Governments in 2000.^[3] 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.^[4]

President Kikwete shares a light moment with Prime Minister Pinda

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.^[5] Pinda was sworn in as Prime Minister at Chamwino State House in Dodoma on February 9.^[6] 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.^[7]

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".^[8]

On November 27, 2014, Pinda was pressured to resign over alleged fraudulent payments worth $120 million (£76m) to an energy firm and top officials.^[9]

In 2015, he unsuccessfully sought to be nominated as the CCM's presidential candidate. He announced in July 2015 that he would not seek re-election as MP for Katavi.^[10]

References

1. "Member of Parliament CV". Parliament of Tanzania. Retrieved 6 September 2013.
2. "Mizengo Kayanza Peter Pinda becomes new Tanzanian premier", African Press Agency, February 8, 2008.
3. Angel Navuri, "The new premier", Guardian, February 9, 2008.
4. Hassan Muhiddin, "JK’s beefed up team", Guardian, January 5, 2006.
5. "It is Pinda", Guardian, February 9, 2008.
6. Bilham Kimati and Angel Navuri, "Pinda sworn-in as PM", Sunday Observer, February 10, 2008.
7. Angel Navuri, "JK trims cabinet size", Guardian, February 13, 2008.
8. Fumbuka Ng'wanakilala, "Tanzanian leader declares assets", Reuters, 15 January 2010.
9. "Tanzania PM Mizengo Pinda caught in corruption row". BBC News. 27 November 2014.
10. "I won't contest for Katavi seat - Pinda", Tanzania Daily News, 20 July 2015.