Tanzanian Presidents celebrate Mkapa 81st birthday, launch memoir

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania | THE INDEPENDENT | Retired President Benjamin William Mkapa was joined by the current and two other former Tanzania Presidents as he launched his book “My Life, My Purpose” in Dar on Tuesday.

In the memoir launched by President John Magufuli at the Uongozi (Leadership) Institute, Mkapa opens up about what drove him to make key decisions as President. According to a report in the THE CITIZEN of Tanzania, he reflects in the memoir on some of the country’s scandals, including one that resulted in people swindling from an External Payment Account.

The book, written in conjunction with the Uongozi Institute in Dar, took four years to write. Tuesday was also Mkapa’s 81st birthday, having been born  November 12, 1938.

Speaking at the launch of the book,chief executive of Uongozi Prof Joseph Semboja said they are planing something similar for another former president Mwinyi. “The launch of former President Benjamin Mkapa’s book is just the beginning and very soon we shall be celebrating Mzee Hassan Mwiniy’s life,” said Semboja, according to  THE CITIZEN of Tanzania.

At the launch, current president Magufuli who was minister under Mkapa, revealed the perils of getting to the top, saying he was once poisoned.

“I remember President Mkapa once pronounced me as his first aide due to the work I was doing in the construction ministry, but this had a negative impact because some ministers started to hate me. No sooner I was poisoned while in Dodoma,” Magufuli said.

He said his decision then to resign was rejected by President Mkapa.

Rais Dkt. John Magufuli
akiongoza kunyanyua glasi na kumtakia maisha marefu Rais Mstaafu Benjamin Mkapa katika kuadhimisha siku ya kuzaliwa kwake wakati wa sherehe za uzinduzi wa kitabu cha historia ya Maisha ya Mhe.Mkapa Wengine ni Rais wa Zanzibar Dkt. Ali Shein na Marais pic.twitter.com/iSljzOEHaT

— Haki Ngowi (@Hakingowi) November 12, 2019

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Rais Mstaafu Benjamin Mkapa na Mkewe Mama Anna Mkapa wakikata keki ya kuadhimisha siku ya kuzaliwa kwake aliyoandaliwa na Rais Dkt John Magufuli wakati wa uzinduzi wa Kitabu cha Historia ya Maisha yake katika Ukumbi wa Mikutano wa
Kimataifa wa Julius Nyerere jijini Dar leo pic.twitter.com/gBZNnvGuA5

— Haki Ngowi (@Hakingowi) November 12, 2019

Rais Dkt. John Magufuli baada ya kuzindua kitabu cha Historia ya Maisha ya Rais Mstaafu Benjamin Mkapa akiwa na Rais wa
Zanzibar Dkt. Ali Shein na Marais wastaafu Alhaj Ally Hassan
Mwinyi, Dkt Jakaya Kikwete katika Ukumbi wa Mikutano wa
Kimataifa wa Julius Nyerere jijini Dar leo pic.twitter.com/PaeawGQfil

— Haki Ngowi (@Hakingowi) November 12, 2019