Edward Lowassa

Infobox Prime Minister


name = Edward Ngoyayi Lowassa
order = Prime Minister of Tanzania
president = Jakaya Kikwete
deputy =
term_start = 30 December 2005
term_end = 09 february 2008
predecessor = Frederick Sumaye
successor = Mizengo Pinda
birth_date = 1953
birth_place = Arusha, Tanzania
death_date =
death_place =
party = CCM

Edward Ngoyayi Lowassa (born 1953) is a former Prime Minister of Tanzania. He took office on December 30, 2005 and resigned on February 7, 2008.

Lowassa served as Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office during President Ali Hassan Mwinyi's second term. He unsuccessfully sought the nomination of Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) as its presidential candidate in 1995 and was then a backbencher in Parliament until he was appointed Minister for State, Vice President's Office - Environment & Poverty in 1997. Following the Tanzanian general election, 2000 he was appointed Minister of Water and Livestock Development. He gained a high profile as a minister of Water and Livestock Development, but chose not to seek the CCM presidential nomination in 2005, to the surprise of many observers. The CCM chose Jakaya Kikwete as its candidate, and after Kikwete won the 2005 election he announced his nomination of Lowassa for the position of Prime Minister on December 29 2005. Parliament overwhelmingly confirmed the nomination, with 312 votes in favor and two opposed, and Lowassa was sworn in December 30. [Bilal Abdul-Aziz, [http://www.ippmedia.com/ipp/guardian/2005/12/30/56832.html "Lowassa new PM"] , "Guardian" (IPP Media), December 30, 2005.]

Upon resigning, Lowassa informed the Tanzania Parliament that he had tendered his resignation to the President after a report was issued by a Parliamentary Committee investigating the awarding of a contract for the supply of electricity to Tanzania Electric Supply Company Limited (TANESCO). Lowassa has an extensive background in both parliamentary issues and government affairs. Lowassa is the first Prime Minister to have been forced to resign by a fraud scandal in the history of Tanzania.

Education

Lowassa received his undergraduate degree in Theatre Arts from the University of Dar es Salaam and a Masters Degree in Development Studies from The University of Bath in the United Kingdom.

Positions held

He held various positions in the government since the late 1980s:

* Managing Director - Arusha International Conference Centre, 1989-1990
* Minister for State, Prime Minister's Office and First Vice President (Judiciary & Parliamentary Affairs), 1990-1993
* Minister of Lands, Human Settlement Development,1993-1995
* Minister for State, Vice President's Office - Environment & Poverty, 1997-2000
* Minister of Water and Livestock Development, 2000-2005
* Member of Parliament - Monduli Constituency, 1990-Present
* Prime Minister, 2005-2008

ee also

*List of national leaders

References

External links

* [http://www.kikweteshein.com/kikwete/thumbnails.php?album=6 Edward Lowassa Photo Gallery]
* [http://www.fao.org/worldfoodsummit/top/detail.asp?event_id=12930 Edward Lowassa Speech at FAO]
* [http://www.un.org/socialsummit/speeches/276tan.htm Edward Lowassa Speech at the UN Social Summit in Geneva]
* [http://www.rdevco.com/ Richmond Development Company official site]
* [http://www.tanzania.go.tz Tanzania Government Official site]