Ali Hassan Mwinyi (1925–2024), former president of Tanzania

Ali Hassan Mwinyi was the second president of Tanzania after the country’s 1961 independence from Great Britain, serving from 1985 to 1995.

• Died: February 29, 2024 (Who else died on February 29?)
• Details of death: Died at a hospital in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, of lung cancer at the age of 98.
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Ali Hassan Mwinyi’s legacy

A schoolteacher before he began working in Tanzania’s government, Mwinyi became known as “Mzee Ruhksa” after winning the presidency. The nickname, translated variously as “Mr. Permission,” “Anything Goes,” or “Elder Who Permits Almost Everything,” reflected his introduction of a free market economy to the formerly socialist-leaning country. He was the first to lead the country under newly imposed limits of two five-year presidential terms. His predecessor, Julius Kambarage Nyerere, had brought socialism to the young country during more than 20 years of rule. In contrast, after a notably peaceful transfer of power, Mwinyi brought capitalism to the young republic, allowing the first sales of computers, TVs, and cell phones in Tanzania.

Mwinyi’s two terms as president were marked by political change. During his time in office, apartheid was brought down in nearby South Africa, with Tanzania one of the countries that imposed sanctions on the oppressive government. He advocated for these strong sanctions, and he criticized the weaker response coming from the United States. Domestically, Mwinyi oversaw Tanzania’s transition to a two-party system of government from its previous single party system. However, his administration was also associated with increasing corruption, and with economic struggles that Mwinyi tried to alleviate with assistance from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

In his long post-presidency, Mwinyi was a popular former president who lived in the country’s capital and was known for taking public transportation. In 2021, he published the memoir “Mzee Rukhsa: Safari ya Maisha Yangu,” or “Mr. Permission: The Journey of My Life.”

Mwinyi on stepping down from the presidency

“It was like taking away a heavy load from my body and mind. For those wanting to be president, I wish them the best. Let them win and see what it means to be president!” —from a 2015 interview for Vijimambo

Tributes to Ali Hassan Mwinyi

Full obituary: The New York Times

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