Mr. Mkapa was elected as president of Tanzania in 1995 and re-elected in 2000. He stands down next year on completion of his second term of office. Mkapa is also the current chairperson of the 14-member Southern African Development Community (SADC).

Benjamin Mkapa was born on 12 November 1938 at Masasi, Mtwara Region. Between 1945 and 1951 he attended primary school at Lupaso and Ndanda Schools where he attained a Standard Eight Cerificate. He was at Kigonsera Seminary between 1952 and 1953, before moving to Ndanda Secondary School for his Ordinary Level Secondary Education. Mkapa then moved to Saint Francis College (now Pugu Secondary School) for Advanced Level in Secondary Education where he was awarded with a Cambridge School Certificate.