1. Rashidi Mfaume Kawawa was a Tanzanian politician who was the second Tanganyikan prime minister from 22 January 1962 to 9 December 1962 and the first Tanzanian prime minister from 17 February 1972 until 13 February 1977, succeeded by Edward Sokoine.
Mr Rashid Mfaume Kawawa was born in Matepwende village, Namtumbo District, Ruvuma Region on February 27,1926.
Rashidi Kawawa was one of the founders of the Federation of Workers in 1955, where he was elected as the first General Secretary, before joining the Uhuru movement.
Rashidi Kawawa was previously the Secretary General of the Government Employees Federation.
Mzee Rashidi Kawawa left his work at the Workers' Federation in February 1956 because he was a government employee, which banned him from acting in politics, and opted to join the TANU movement to seek Uhuru.
Rashidi Kawawa served in that capacity until December 8,1962.
Rashidi Kawawa was reappointed to that office on March 2,1972, and served until February 13,1977, when Mr Edward Moringe Sokoine took his place.
Rashidi Kawawa was named Minister of Local Government and Housing in the President of TANU's Government of Power in 1960.
Rashidi Kawawa 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.
Rashidi Kawawa was chosen Vice President in December 1962, when the country became a republic under President Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere.
Rashidi Kawawa was then appointed as the Second Vice President and Minister of Defense following the merger of Tanganyika and Zanzibar in 1964.
Rashidi Kawawa was appointed Prime Minister of Tanzania in 1972, a position he held until 1977, when he was re-appointed as Minister of Defense.
Rashidi Kawawa died at 83 on Thursday, 31 December, 2009, at 3.20 am at Muhimbili National Hospital.