Mwigulu Nchemba

Mwigulu Nchemba
Nchemba in 2015
Prime Minister of Tanzania
Assumed office
13 November 2025
PresidentSamia Suluhu
Preceded byKassim Majaliwa
Minister of Finance
In office
31 March 2021 – 3 November 2025
PresidentSamia Suluhu
Preceded byPhilip Mpango
Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs
In office
2 May 2020 – 31 March 2021
PresidentJohn Magufuli
Preceded byAugustine Mahiga
Succeeded byPalamagamba Kabudi
Minister of Home Affairs
In office
11 June 2016 – 1 July 2018
PresidentJohn Magufuli
Preceded byStephen Wassira
Succeeded byAlphaxard Lugola
Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries
In office
November 2015 – June 2016
PresidentJohn Magufuli
Succeeded byCharles Tizeba
Member of Parliament for Iramba West
Assumed office
November 2010
Preceded byJuma Hassan Killimbah
Personal details
Born (1975-01-07) 7 January 1975
PartyCCM
Alma materUniversity of Dar es Salaam

Mwigulu Lameck Nchemba (born 7 January 1975) is a Tanzanian economist and CCM politician, who serves as the elected Member of Parliament for Iramba West Constituency since 2010. On 13 November 2025, President Samia Suluhu Hassan appointed him as the Prime Minister of Tanzania, succeeding Kassim Majaliwa. Before his current appointment, he served as the Minister of Finance in the Tanzanian Cabinet, since March 2021.[1][2]

Background and education

Nchemba was born on 7 January 1975 in Iramba District, in the Singida Region of Tanzania. He attended Makunda Primary School, then transferred to Ilboru Secondary School for his middle school education. He completed his A-Level schooling at Mazengo Secondary School, graduating in 2000 with the equivalent of a High School Diploma.[3]

In 2001 he was admitted to the university of Dar es Salaam, graduating with a Bachelor of Economics degree in 2004. He went on to obtain a Master of Economics degree in 2006, also from Dar es Salaam University.[3] He later obtained a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Economics from the same university.[4]

Career

Before joining elective Tanzanian politics, Nchemba worked as an economist at the Bank of Tanzania. Later, President Jakaya Kikwete appointed him as Minister of Finance and Economic Planning. His tenure at the finance ministry coincided with the "Tegeta escrow scandal", which involved the embezzlement of hundreds of million of dollars by high-ranking government officials. Nchemba, who was not implicated, maintained that the full extent of the law should apply to those involved.[4]

He was appointed the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries in December 2015, by the then incoming president John Magufuli. Following the death of Augustine Mahiga, he was appointed the Minister of Constitutional and Legal Affairs.[5]

Following the formation of the 6th Cabinet of Tanzania, on 31 March 2021, Philip Mpango was promoted to Vice-President of Tanzania, Nchemba took over the post of Minister of Finance and Planning.[6] On 4 July 2023, he retained his position of Minister of Finance, however, the Ministry of planning was moved under the president's office.[7] He was nominated as Prime Minister of Tanzania by Suluhu on 13 November 2025 following the 2025 Tanzanian general election.[8]

Other activities

  • World Bank, Ex-Officio Member of the Board of Governors (since 2021)[9]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Tanzania's president appoints Mwigulu Nchemba as finance minister". Reuters. 31 March 2021. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  2. ^ "Tanzanian president announces cabinet reshuffle". Xinhua. Beijing. 31 March 2021. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Republic of Tanzania: Member of Parliament Profile: Mwigulu Lameck Nchemba Madelu". Dodoma: Parliament of Tanzania. 2 April 2021. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  4. ^ a b "What Mwigulu Nchemba brings to the table as finance minister". The Citizen (Tanzania). Dar es Salaam. 1 April 2021. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  5. ^ The Citizen Tanzania (5 December 2020). "Magufuli unveils his cabinet 30 days after taking oath". The Citizen (Tanzania). Dar es Salaam. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  6. ^ Apolinari Tairo. "President Suluhu Reshuffles Cabinet". The East African. Nairobi. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  7. ^ "Tanzania: President Samia Makes Minor Cabinet Reshuffle, Forms New Docket". Tanzania Daily News. 6 July 2023. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  8. ^ "Tanzania's President Hassan nominates former Finance Minister Nchemba as next PM". Africanews. 13 November 2025. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
  9. ^ Board of Governors World Bank.