His Excellency, Mr. Benjamin W. Mkapa, is the former president of the United Republic of Tanzania and a vice chairman of the Champions for an HIV-Free Generation.
Mr. Mkapa was elected President in November 1995 and was re-elected in 2000 for another five-year term. He was the third President of Tanzania since independence in 1961. His postings included High Commissioner to Nigeria, Minister for Foreign Affairs, High Commissioner to Canada and Ambassador to the United States of America. He returned home in 1984 where he was appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs for the second time.
Prior to being elected President in 1995, he was appointed the Minister for Science, Technology and Higher Education. During his term, President Mkapa privatized most of the state owned corporations and pursued free market policies designed to attract foreign investment.
Throughout his political career, Mr. Mkapa has worked to strengthen Tanzanian democracy, entrench civil rights and fight poverty, while increasing the country's openness to international trade and investment.
