Tanzania as a country has come a very long way, right from pre-independence of the various areas that make up Tanzania to post-independence and also the merging of Zanzibar and Tanganyika into one resulting in what is now the United Republic of Tanzania which came into existence on 29 October 1964. We vividly remember all the blood that has been shed to keep the name of Tanzania still in existence. However, we have always paid little or no attention in knowing the profile of these men that have brought us this far especially their educational qualifications. Scrolling below, you will see the educational profile of Tanzanian presidents starting from the first president, Julius Nyerere to the current president.
Julius Nyerere (1922–1999)
Government Primary School in Musoma at the age of 12. From there, he went to Tabora Government School in 1937. He received a scholarship to attend Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda. Nyerere received his teaching diploma in 1947. In 1949 he got a government scholarship to attend the University of Edinburgh. He obtained an undergraduate Master of Arts degree in Economics and History in 1952.
Honours:
Ribbon Jose Order of José Marti Cuba 1975
MEX Order of the Aztec Eagle, Order of the Aztec Eagle (Collar) Mexico 1975
Amílcar Cabral Medal Guinea Bissau 1976
Order of Eduardo Mondlane Mozambique 1983
Order of Agostinho Neto Angola 1985
Order of the Companions of O.R. Tambo (ribbon bar), Order of the Companions of O. R. Tambo (Gold) South Africa 2004
Royal Order of Munhumutapa Zimbabwe 2005
Order of the Pearl of Africa (Uganda) – Most Excellent Order of the Pearl of Africa (Grand Master) Uganda 2005
Order of Katonga (Uganda) – Order of Katonga Uganda 2005.
National Liberation Medal (Rwanda) – National Liberation Medal Rwanda 2009.
Campaign Medal Against Genocide (Rwanda) – Campaign Against Genocide Medal Rwanda 2009.
Order of the Most Ancient Welwitschia Mirabilis (Namibia) – Order of the Most Ancient Welwitschia Mirabilis Namibia 2010.
Order of Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere (Tanzania) – Order of Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere Tanzania 2011.
National Order of the Republic (Burundi) – National Order of the Republic (Grand Cordon) Burundi 2012.
Order of Jamaica – Jamaica
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Ali Hassan Mwinyi (1925– )
Honours:
The Open University of Tanzania – Tanzania Doctor of Letters (2012).
The East African University Kenya – Doctor of Philosophy in Business Management (2013).
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Benjamin Mkapa (1938– )
Academic Qualifications:
Makerere University in Uganda in 1962 with a degree in English.
Columbia University in 1963 and was awarded a master’s degree in International Affairs.
Honorary degrees:
Sōka University, Japan – Honoris Causa 1998.
Morehouse College, United States – Honoris Causa 1999.
The Open University of Tanzania, Tanzania – Honoris Causa 2003.
National University of Lesotho, Lesotho – Doctor of Law 2005.
Kenyatta University, Kenya – Doctor of Education 2005.
University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania – Honoris Causa 2006.
Newcastle University, United Kingdom – Doctor of Civil Law 2007.
University of Cape Coast, Ghana – Doctor of Letters 2008.
Makerere University, Uganda – Doctor of Law 2009.
Jakaya Kikwete (1950– )
Academic Qualifications:
Attended to Karatu Primary School in Tanzania between 1959 and 1963.
Continued with middle school education at Tengeru School from 1962 to 1965.
Moved to Kibaha Secondary School for his O-levels between 1966 and 1969, and he remained at this school for his advanced level education.
Graduated from the University of Dar es Salaam in 1975 with a degree in economics.
Honorary Academic Award
The University of St. Thomas (Minnesota), United States – Doctor of Law 2006
Kenyatta University, Kenya – Doctor of Humane Letters 2008
Fatih University, Turkey – Doctorate in International Relations 2010
Muhimbili University, Tanzania – Doctor of Public Health 2010
University of Dodoma, Tanzania – Honoris Causa 2010
University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania – Doctor of Law 2011
University of Guelph, Canada – Doctor of Law 2013
China Agricultural University, China – Honorary Professor 2014
Honours:
Uganda Order of the Pearl of Africa (Uganda) – Most Excellent Order of the Pearl of Africa (Grand Master) 2007.
Comoros Order of the Green Crescent of Comoros – Order of the Green Crescent of the Comoros 2009.
Saudi Arabia Ordine del Re Abd – Order of Abdulaziz Al Saud 2009.
Jamaica JAM Order of Excellence sash – Order of Excellence 2009.
Order of Oman (First Class) 2012.
John Magufuli (1959-)
Started his primary education at Chato Primary School between 1967 and 1974
He started his secondary education at Katoke Seminary, Biharamulo from 1975 to 1977
Continued at Lake Secondary School in 1977 and completed in 1978.
Obtained his A-levels from Mkwawa High School in 1979 and completed 1981.
Got into Mkwawa College of Education where he obtained his Diploma in Education (Sc.) Chemistry, Mathematics and Education.
Graduated from the University of Dar es Salaam in 1988 with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and History.
Got his Masters and Doctorate degrees in Chemistry from the University of Dar es Salaam – MSc. in 1994 and PhD in 2009.
