January Makamba

January Yusuf Makamba (born 28 January 1974) is a Tanzanian CCM politician and Member of Parliament for Bumbuli constituency since 2010.[1]

Honourable
January Makamba
MP
Minister of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation
Assumed office
1 September 2023
PresidentSamia Suluhu
Preceded byStergomena Tax
2nd Minister of Energy
In office
12 September 2021 – 31 August 2023
PresidentSamia Suluhu
Preceded byMedard Kalemani
Succeeded byDoto Biteko
Minister of State in the
Vice President's Office
In office
12 December 2015 – 21 July 2019
PresidentJohn Magufuli
Succeeded byGeorge Simbachawene
Deputy Minister of Communication,
Science and Technology
In office
7 May 2012 – 5 November 2015
MinisterMakame Mbarawa
Preceded byCharles Kitwanga
Member of Parliament
for Bumbuli
Assumed office
November 2010
Preceded byWilliam Shellukindo
Personal details
Born (1974-01-28) 28 January 1974
Singida, Tanzania
Political partyCCM
SpouseRamona Urassa
RelationsYusuf Makamba (father)
Children2
ResidenceDar es Salaam
Alma materSt. John’s University
George Mason University
Websitewww.januarymakamba.com

Early life and career

Makamba was born in Singida Region and is the eldest of four children. His father, Yusuf Makamba, a stalwart of the country's dominant ruling party, the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) and had served as its Secretary General. His mother, Josephine, is from Missenyi District in Kagera Region. He spent his early childhood in his ancestral home of Mahezangulu village in Lushoto District and at his maternal grandmother's village in Kagera Region, which was at the time invaded by Ugandan troops during the Uganda–Tanzania War.[2]

He was educated at Handeni and Galanos secondary schools in Secondary School; and at Forest Hill High School. He attended Quincy College in Massachusetts, United States for a preliminary course before transferring to Saint John's University in Minnesota, where he majored in Peace Studies.[3] He then undertook an internship at the Carter Center,[4] before obtaining his MSc in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from the School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution at George Mason University in 2004.[5]

Upon his return to Tanzania, he joined the Foreign Ministry as a Foreign Service Officer (Grade II). Jakaya Kikwete, the Foreign Minister at the time would later on vie for the presidency in the 2005 election. Makamba joined his campaign team and traversed across the country visiting all the districts. Following Kikwete's landslide victory of over 80 percent, he was appointed as an aide to the President. His formal title was Personal Assistant to the President – Special Duties (PAP-SD); a position that he would serve for five years until 2010.[5]

Political career
Western Usambara in Lushoto district is Makamba's ancestral home

In 2010, he contested in the election as a Member of Parliament for his home constituency of Bumbuli and was elected unopposed.[6] In the 10th Parliament, he served as the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee for Energy and Minerals.

In April 2011, he replaced Bernard Membe as CCM's Political Affairs and International Relations Secretary and served in this post until November 2012 when he was succeeded by Asha-Rose Migiro at the 8th National Congress of the CCM.[7] Makamba was also elected as one of the ten members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) from the mainland part of the country. He received the second highest number of votes (2,093).[8]

In May 2012, President Kikwete appointed him as the Deputy Minister of Communication, Science and Technology following a cabinet reshuffle. In July, he launched the Bumbuli Development Corporation, a personal initiative that would seek to supplement the government's effort in bringing development to his constituency.[9][10] In August 2014, he was nominated by Vodacom Tanzania CEO to participate in the Ice Bucket Challenge in order to raise awareness for obstetric fistula patients in Tanzania; or donate US$100.[11] Makamba[12] decided to donate TSh 1,000,000/= (US$600) instead.[13]

In October 2014, Makamba was quoted advocating dictatorship as a means to end graft in politics.[14][15]

2015 presidential campaign

On 2 July 2014, he announced on BBC Television in London that he was 90% certain that he would contest in his party's primaries for the presidency, he was the first candidate to declare IKULU position for the 2015 election, and after that slew of candidates announced.[16]

On 9 July 2014, President Kikwete whilst on a four-day official tour of Tanga Region, addressed Makamba's constituents and praised their MP for his work. On his presidential ambition, Kikwete advised him to look at him as an example. President Kikwete ran first time for the presidency in 1995, he did not succeed but second time in 2005 he was elected. President Kikwete told Makamba that when the time comes, he would get the presidency.[17] 5].

During his 2015 presidential campaign, Makamba launched a book authored by Fr. Karugendo titled 40 Questions 40 Answers: A Conversation with January Makamba.[18] The book was prefaced by retired President Ali Hassan Mwinyi, was detailed with his vision for #TanzaniaMpya meaning The New Tanzania with top priority on job creation and if elected, he will introduce a jobs bill that will need about $2 billion. Other priorities were social services, and good governance.

During the CCM presidential primaries, January Makamba was the youngest of the five politicians that made it to CCM’s top 5 presidential candidates, beating CCM veterans including former Prime Ministers, Vice President, and party veterans. After Dr. John Magufuli secured CCM nomination, Makamba returned to Bumbuli constituency where he was re-elected into second term by 84% of the total votes. Also, during 2015 Presidential elections, he was part of 32 cadres that made up CCM Campaign Committee, doubling as spokesperson of the campaign and in-charge of CCM communications during the entire campaign. Makamba also was a member of small team selected by CCM Chairman to prepare party’s manifesto (Ilani ya uchaguzi) for five years period 2015-2020.

Cabinet Positions

In December 2015, he was appointed as a Minister of State in the Vice President’s Office for Union Affairs and Environment. On 12 September 2021 he was appointed as Minister of Energy by the President Samia Suluhu Hassan. Following the third cabinet reshuffle by Samia Suluhu on 1 September 2023, January assumed the position as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation.[19]

Personal life

Makamba is a Muslim.[20] He is married to Ramona and is the father of two children. He is an avid football fan and supports Simba S.C., Coastal Union, Chelsea and Real Madrid.[21][22]

Honours and awards

References
  1. "Member of Parliament CV". Parliament of Tanzania. Archived from the original on 2 May 2015. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  2. Makamba, January (December 2010). "My Story". www.januarymakamba.com. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
  3. "Student Profiles". St. John's University (Minnesota). Retrieved 8 July 2014.
  4. "OBSERVING THE 2002 SIERRA LEONE ELECTIONS" (PDF). Page 4, Carter Center. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
  5. "Alumni: J. Makamba". School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
  6. "Promises, promises". The Economist. 28 October 2010. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
  7. "Fresh hope as CCM announces teams". The Citizen (Tanzania). 11 April 2011. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
  8. Ng'Hily, Dickson (14 November 2012). "CCM's new line-up in place". The Guardian. IPP Media. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
  9. Lugongo, Bernard (9 July 2012). "MP forms corporation to boost development in his constituency". The Citizen (Tanzania). Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
  10. Kellaway, Kate (26 August 2012). "New Africa: the politician fighting corruption in Tanzania". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
  11. "Vodacom Tanzania yaja na Fistula Ice Bucket Challenge". Michuzi Blog. 27 August 2014. Archived from the original on September 3, 2014. Retrieved 29 August 2014.
  12. "TANZANIA MPYA". www.tanzaniampya.com. Retrieved 2015-10-28.
  13. "Mheshimiwa Makamba Akubali Fistula #BongoIce". YouTube. 28 August 2014. Retrieved 29 August 2014.
  14. Butahe, Fidelis; Yamol, Ibrahim (11 October 2014). "Makamba: Tunahitaji 'udikteta'" [Makamba: We need a 'dictatorship'] (in Swahili). Mwananchi. Retrieved 8 December 2014.
  15. Makamba, Mhango (24 October 2014). "DICTATORSHIP? Go tell that to the birds, Mister Makamba!". Business Times. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 8 December 2014.
  16. Kikeke, Saleem (3 July 2014). "January Makamba atangaza 'nia'" [January Makamba announces his intention] (in Swahili). BBC Swahili. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
  17. "JK on ambitious Makamba". The Citizen (Tanzania). 10 July 2014. Retrieved 11 July 2014.
  18. "Kitabu cha 'urais' wa Makamba". Mwananchi. 14 January 2015. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  19. Admin (2023-09-01). "Tanzania Cabinet Reshuffle: President Samia Announces Key Appointments and Changes". TanzaniaInvest. Retrieved 2023-09-11.
  20. Makamba's tweet on his religion on Twitter
  21. "East Africa Today: An interview with January Makamba - Part 1". 5 February 2014. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved 11 July 2014.
  22. "January Makamba azungumzia maisha yake, siasa familia na Urais 2015 - Part 3" [January Makamba talks about his life, politics, family and the presidency] (in Swahili). Bongo5. 5 February 2014. Retrieved 11 July 2014.
  23. "List of 2013 Young Global Leaders Honourees from Sub-Saharan Africa" (PDF). World Economic Forum. March 2013. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
  24. "30th Anniversary Democracy Dinner". National Democratic Institute. 25 November 2011. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
  25. Gundan, Farai (31 January 2014). "The 10 Most Powerful Men In Africa 2014". Forbes. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
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