DEATHS HAUNT TANZANIA PARLIAMENT AS THIRD LAWMAKER DIES IN A FORTNIGHT

By Osoro Nyawangah, Dodoma TANZANIA

The National Assembly of Tanzania wake to a third blow in a fortnight following a sudden death of Minister of Constitutional and Legal Affairs, Ambassador Augustine Mahiga (pictured), the government has announced.

In a morning announcement by State House today, the President of Tanzania, John Magufuli sent condolences to the grieving family and the speaker, describing the late Minister as a friend, humble statesman and experienced diplomat.

Mahiga is the third legislator to have died in a fortnight in Tanzania; others were Getrude Rwakatare (Special seats) and Richard Ndassa (member for Sumve constituency) who was buried yesterday.

Ambassador Mahiga who was aged 75, died in the early hours after a short illness, was announced dead on reaching Dodoma referal hospital.

The government confirmed but did not reveal the cause of death.

"Apart from his older-age, vast experience in leadership, diplomatic relationship and expertise; Ambassador Mahiga maintained low profile and faithfulness in all assignments I gave him." Said a statement issued by the Directorate of Presidential Communications, quoting President Magufuli.

Mahiga was Tanzanian diplomat and former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Cooperation of Tanzania from 2015–2019.

He previously served as the Permanent Representative of Tanzania to the United Nations from 2003 to 2010 and as the UN Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Political Office for Somalia from 2010 to 2013.

In December 2015, he was nominated as a Member of Parliament by President John Magufuli and thereafter appointed to the Cabinet as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Cooperation before being shifter to the Constitutional and Legal Affairs in a mini cabinet reshuffle in 2019.

In 1971, Mahiga earned a Bachelor of Arts (Education) at the University of East Africa in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. That same year, Mahiga completed a Masters of Arts at the University of Toronto (U of T). He also received a PhD in International Relations in 1975 from the same institution. -Africa