Rashidi Kawawa

Early life and education Rashid Mfaume Kawawa was born in Matepwende village, Namtumbo District, Ruvuma Region on February 27, 1926.

In 1935, he enrolled in the Tunduru Urban School in Lindi. From 1942 to 1947, he attended the middle school Dar es Salaam Central School before continuing his education at Tabora Boys School between 1951 and 1956.

Kawawa was named Minister of Local Government and Housing in the President of TANU's Government of Power in 1960. He then became prime minister in January 1962, as a minister without a special ministry, when Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere resigned in order to boost TANU.

Kawawa was appointed Prime Minister of Tanzania in 1972, a position he held until 1977, when he was re-appointed Minister of Defence and National Service until 1981. In addition to these duties, Kawawa was a Member of Parliament for Nachingwea in Lindi Region and afterwards Liwale from 1965 until 1985. In politics, he held several positions, including General Secretary of the Revolutionary Party in 1980 and Vice Chairman of the CCM in 1982, and he was a permanent member of the CCM's Central Committee. University of Dodoma, Honoris Causa (posthumous), 26 November 2010