19 Facts About Bernard Membe

Bernard Kamilius Membe was a Tanzanian politician.

Bernard Membe served as a Minister of Foreign Affairs of Tanzania from 2007 to 2015.

Bernard Membe served as a Member of Parliament for Mtama constituency from 2000 to 2015.

Bernard Membe attended Itaga Seminary High School for his A Levels.

Bernard Membe studied political science at the University of Dar es Salaam and international relations at Johns Hopkins University.

Bernard Membe did his national service for one year at Oljoro Military Camp in Arusha Region.

Bernard Membe served as a national security analyst at the President's Office from 1978 to 1989.

Bernard Membe thereafter attended Johns Hopkins University in Washington, DC where he studied international relations from 1990 to 1992.

Bernard Membe was appointed Deputy Minister of Home Affairs by President Jakaya Kikwete after the 2005 general elections.

Bernard Membe served as a member of the National Executive Committee of the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi party beginning in 2007; having been re-elected in 2012 at the 8th CCM Congress in Dodoma.

In January 2013, Bernard Membe informed his constituents that he would not be vying for a seat in the next parliamentary elections in 2015 thus giving rise at the time to speculation that he may have been considering a run for the presidency of Tanzania.

Bernard Membe denied wrongdoing and said he was expelled because he wanted to stand for nomination as the party's presidential candidate.

In June 2008, Bernard Membe spoke on behalf of three SADC countries saying that if the Zimbabwean runoff election were to be held it would never be free and fair due to the violence.

In October 2011, Bernard Membe stressed that Tanzania fully supports Palestine's bid to join the United Nations.

Bernard Membe insisted the charity would not be allowed to operate in the country if the payment was to proceed.

On 21 September 2011, Bernard Membe appeared on the Straight Talk Africa talkshow hosted by Shaka Ssali.

Bernard Membe was asked if Tanzania had helped to overthrow the Seychellois President James Mancham in 1977 and put into power the socialist France-Albert Rene; Membe responded by saying that Albert Rene had asked for Tanzania's assistance and Tanzanians did not hesitate to go all the way to Seychelles to transform that archipelago.

In July 2012, Bernard Membe informed his Malawian counterpart that oil and gas exploration on the eastern side of Lake Nyasa should henceforth cease immediately until the ownership of the lake is resolved.

Bernard Membe ruled out the belated intervention by the Malawi Council of Churches and the Christian Council of Tanzania to mediate as the matter had now been handed over to the African Forum.