President Jacob G Zuma and the people of the Republic of South Africa have received the news of the passing on of former Tanzania’s Prime Minister Rashi Mfaume Kawawa with shock and disbelief. The Honourable Kawawa, whose soul departed our world this afternoon of 31 December 2009 in Dar es Salaam, was born on 27 May 1926. He served his country with pride and distinction as a Prime Minister of Tanganyika in 1962 and subsequently, the same honour was bestowed on him as the Prime Minister of Tanzania from 1972 to 1977. He was the effective ruler of the country from January to December 1972 while President Julius Nyerere toured the countryside. The Honourable Kawawa was a strong advocate of economic ‘statism’ a policy that advocated for state intervention in the overall management of the economy. To this day, the Honourable Kawawa was regarded as a person behind the scenes with much influence on the Tanzanian political process.
As South Africans who were once exiled in Tanzania, who were once warmed to the Honourable Kawawa’s comradeship, hospitality and generosity and the ordinary citizenry in the republic, hereby extend our sincere and heartfelt condolences to his family, the Tanzanian government and the people of that country.
For more information contact:
Saul Kgomotso Molobi
Cell: 082 940 1647
Issued by: Department of International Relations and Cooperation
31 December 2009
