Harrison Mwakyembe – Early Life, Career, Education and More

Early Life and Academic History

During colonialism in Tanganyika, Dr. Harrison Mwakyembe saw the light of day on December 10, 1955, in Kyela the Mbeya region South of the Highlands Territory. During this time, the territory was separated into two regions, namely Iringa Region and Mbeya Region, after Tanganyika gained its independence from its colonial masters, the British.

Daimon Mwakyembe, a one-time director of Tanzania’s Bureau of standard [TBS], is the older brother of Harrison Mwakyembe. In the early ’60s, Daimon was friends with the author and African studies scholar Godfrey Mwakikagile at their Middle School in Mpuguso at Rungwe Locality in the Southern Highlands Territory. Leonard Levitt, an American Peace Corps volunteer who became an established journalist and celebrated writer with works including an ‘African Season,’ the first book ever written by a member of the Peace Corps, was one of Mwakikagile’s instructors at Mpuguso.

Other graduates of Mpuguso Middle School consisted of an army officers’ coaching teacher; Oscar Mwamwaja, one of Tanzania’s first business airline pilots and Mwakikagile’s kin, Brigadier-General Owen Rhodfrey Mwambapa, Mwakikagile’s first Coz and a degree holder from Sandhurst and leader of the Tanzania Military Academy, and also David Mwakyusa. He grew to become a member of parliament for Rungwe West and a cabinet representative as Minister of Health and Social Welfare underneath President Jakaya Kikwete.

David Mwakyusa served as the last private medical doctor of the 1st president of Tanzania and father of the state, Mr. Mwalimu Julius Nyerere. He was with him when Nyerere passed away at a medical institution in London, United Kingdom, in October 1999.

Harrison Mwakyembe’s elder brother, Morrison Mwakyembe, was a classmate of Oscar Mwamwaja, and they all attended Mpuguso Middle School together in the early 1960s. Compared to Mwakikagile, they were one year behind.

Harrison Mwakyembe was a pupil of Kituli and Tukuyu Primary School. He also was a member of Tabora Boys Secondary Academy. He later joined the Tanzania School of Journalism located in Dar es Salaam. He achieved a Journalism diploma before moving to the prestigious University of Dar es Salaam where he attained a BSc in Law. At the University of Turin, while specializing in ‘Intellectual Property’ at the postgraduate level, he earned a certificate which allowed him to attend the University of Hamburg, where he obtained his Master of Law [LLM]. He stayed at a university and finally earned his Doctorate Degree in Law.

Harrison Mwakyembe took his expertise back home to the University of Dar es Salaam Where he became a senior lecturer and sometimes doubled up as the head of the department of international law, constitutional and administrative law.

Political Career

From 2001 to 2005, Harrison Mwakyembe represented Tanzania in the East African Legislative House of Assembly. He was simultaneously a member of parliament representing Kyela as an elected official, a post he still occupies.

Harrison Mwakyembe also held different positions under two other presidents over the years.

The experience Harrison Mwakyembe gained as a legislator in the Tanzanian parliament, his presence in the East African Legislative house of Assembly, and the wealth of knowledge gained as a lecturer in law have served him well in various capacities, including as a minister under different presidents. In terms of experience, he’s among the best in the country.

Harrison Mwakyembe Professional Career

Work Experience

Harrison Mwakyembe Memorable Work

Richmond Corruption Scandal

To investigate the Richmond corruption scandal involving Edward Lowassa, the members of the Tanzanian parliament on November 13, 2007, formed a five-member investigation committee headed by Kyela Prime Minister Dr. Harrison Mwakyembe. Following his involvement in the Richmond Energy deal corruption scandal, Edward Lowassa resigned on February 7, 2008. TANESCO, a public corporation, and Richmond Development Company LLC of Houston, Texas, entered into an emergency power-generation contract concerning an emergency power supply. Due to a report by a parliamentary investigating committee

According to the Harrison Mwakyembe investigation committee, the contract was fraudulently drafted, therefore unethical. The Richmond generators were supposed to supply 100 mwe of electricity every day following a drought in early 2006, but the generators came in late and didn’t function as expected. The government still paid Richmond more than $100,000 per day despite this. The office of Lowassa influenced the government to extend Richmond’s contract against the advice of TANESCO. Also forced to resign were two other secretaries of state with the energy profile, Nazir Karamagi and Dr. Ibrahim Msabaha.

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