Former Prime Minister of Tanzania, Cleopa Msuya who died in Dar-es-salaam gets buried at Kilimanjaro Home

The news of his death was conveyed by President Samia Suluhu Hassan on Wednesday, May 7, 2025.

Msuya was buried at his home village in Mwanga District of Kilimanjaro region, on Wednesday, May 13, 2025, with the burial mass attended by the President and former Prime Ministers of Tanzania.

Retired Premier, Msuya who was 94 years’ old, died while undergoing medical treatments at the Mzena Hospital in Dar-es-salaam city.

Previously, Msuya who hails from the Mwanga District of Kilimanjaro, had also been attending medical checkups in London, UK.

Msuya was born in Chomvu, Usangi, in the Mwanga District of Kilimanjaro Region.

Msuya from Mwanga-Kilimanjaro was among the four Prime Minister who hailed from Northern Tanzania. The other three were Edward Sokoine (Monduli-Arusha), Frederick Sumaye (Hanang-Arusha) and Edward Lowassa (Monduli-Arusha)

Msuya attended Makerere University College from 1952 to 1955 and worked for social and community development in rural areas from 1956 to 1964.

From 1964, Msuya worked as Permanent Secretary in a number of ministries including the Ministry of Community Development and Culture from 1964 to 1965, at the Ministry of Lands Settlement and Water Development from 1965 to 1967, at the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Planning from 1967 to 1970, and at the Ministry of Finance from 1970 to 1972.

Cleopa was made Minister for Finance on February 18, 1972 and served in that position until he became Minister for Industry on November 3, 1975.

After five years as Minister for Industry, he became Prime Minister in November 1980, serving until February 1983; he was then Minister for Finance again from February 1983 to November 1985.

On November 6, 1985, his portfolio was expanded and he became Minister for Finance, Economic Affairs and Planning until March 1989. From March 1989 to December 1990, he was Minister for Finance again, and from March 1990 to December 1994 Minister for Industry and Trade.

In December 1994, Msuya became Prime Minister for a second time, concurrently serving as Vice President. He was replaced in those posts in November 1995. In the 1995 parliamentary election, he was elected to the National Assembly again and served out the parliamentary term as a backbencher.

The powerful politician retired on October 29, 2000.