25 Facts About Edward Lowassa

Edward Ngoyai Lowassa was a Tanzanian politician who was Prime Minister of Tanzania from 2005 to 2008, serving under President Jakaya Kikwete.

Edward Lowassa was defeated in the election by CCM candidate John Magufuli.

Edward Lowassa was the fourth child of the herdsman Ngoyai Lowassa, who worked part-time for the colonial government in Monduli District in Arusha Region as a tarish.

Edward Lowassa joined Monduli Primary School in 1961.

Edward Lowassa was the school band leader at Monduli Primary School and in 1967 he sat for the CPEE.

Edward Lowassa then went on to Arusha Secondary School in 1968 and sat for his O-Level Certificate, the CSEE in 1971.

Edward Lowassa received his undergraduate degree, a BA in Fine and Performing Arts.

Edward Lowassa moved on to the University of Dar es Salaam in 1977.

Edward Lowassa served as Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office during President Ali Hassan Mwinyi's second term.

Edward Lowassa sought the nomination of Chama Cha Mapinduzi as its presidential candidate in 1995 but was eliminated in the early stages by the former President Julius Nyerere, who strongly believed that Lowassa was not then correct material for the Presidency.

Edward Lowassa retained his parliamentary seat and became a strong backbencher in Parliament until 1997 when he was appointed Minister for State in the Vice President's Office for Environment and Poverty.

In 2005 Edward Lowassa chose not to seek the CCM presidential nomination but became a key campaigner for his long-time friend, Jakaya Kikwete, in his bid for the presidential seat.

Edward Lowassa had an extensive background in both parliamentary and government affairs.

On 7 February 2008, Edward Lowassa was forced to resign after being implicated in the Richmond Energy deal corruption scandal.

Edward Lowassa however denied that his office was involved in improperly awarding a contract to US-based electricity company Richmond Development in 2006.

In 1995, Edward Lowassa was among the more than 15 CCM aspirants for the presidency, but he was stopped in his tracks by retired president Julius Nyerere, who found him to have enriched himself too fast.

Edward Lowassa was eliminated by Nyerere's fiat and that contest within the party was eventually won by Benjamin Mkapa, who won the election and became Tanzania's third president.

In 2005, Edward Lowassa strongly backed his friend Jakaya Kikwete and the two were dubbed "Boys Two Men" because of their strong political union that eventually enabled Kikwete to defeat all his rivals within the ruling party.

In 2014, Edward Lowassa faced a one-year ban from CCM after he was accused of starting his campaign for presidency ahead of the authorized time.

In May 2015, Edward Lowassa eventually launched his presidential campaign in Arusha.

Edward Lowassa stated that his top priorities would be overhauling the country's education sector, reducing poverty, boosting economic growth and fighting corruption.

The elimination of Edward Lowassa came as a shock to many who viewed him as an inevitable candidate.

On 1 March 2019 Edward Lowassa left Chadema and rejoined the CCM.

Edward Lowassa held various positions in the government since the late 1980s:.

Edward Lowassa died after a long illness at the Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac lnstitute in Dar es Salaam, on 10 February 2024.