Tanzanian Economic Reformer and Former President Ali Hassan Mwinyi Passes Away at 98

I’m very sad to inform you that former Tanzanian President Ali Hassan Mwinyi has passed away at the age of 98. He was credited with introducing free market economics to Tanzania and served two terms as president. Mwinyi died of lung cancer after being hospitalized in London last year and returning to Dar es Salaam for treatment.
Ali Hassan Mwinyi was hand-picked by Tanzania’s independence hero Julius Nyerere to succeed him as president. He inherited a country facing an economic crisis after years of failed socialist experiments. Mwinyi implemented economic reforms by removing restrictions on private enterprise and easing bottlenecks on imports. He was known as “Mzee Rukhsa,” which loosely translates to Mr. Permission, due to his efforts to promote economic liberalization.
Mwinyi’s tenure as president was also marked by controversies. He faced criticism for allegedly favoring Muslims in government appointments and corruption scandals that plagued his administration. Despite these challenges, he was hailed for opening the door to multi-party democracy in 1992 and allowing opposition parties to contest elections three years later.
Tanzania will observe seven days of mourning, with national flags flown at half-mast, and Mwinyi will be laid to rest on Saturday. Kenyan President William Ruto has expressed his condolences and described Mwinyi as a “great leader whose rich legacy will never fade”.