Mwigulu Nchemba | |
Honorific-Prefix: | Honourable |
Honorific-Suffix: | MP |
Office: | Minister of Finance |
Predecessor: | Philip Mpango |
President: | Samia Suluhu |
Term Start: | 31 March 2021 |
Office1: | Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs |
Predecessor1: | Augustine Mahiga |
President1: | John Magufuli |
Successor1: | Palamagamba Kabudi |
Term Start1: | 2 May 2020 |
Term End1: | 31 March 2021 |
Office2: | Minister of Home Affairs |
Predecessor2: | Stephen Wassira |
President2: | John Magufuli |
Successor2: | Alphaxard Lugola |
Term Start2: | 11 June 2016 |
Term End2: | 1 July 2018 |
Office3: | Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries |
Term Start3: | November 2015 |
Term End3: | June 2016 |
President3: | John Magufuli |
Successor3: | Charles Tizeba |
Office5: | Member of Parliament for Iramba West |
Term Start5: | November 2010 |
Predecessor5: | Juma Hassan Killimbah |
Birth Date: | 7 January 1975 |
Birth Place: | Makunda, Iramba District |
Nationality: | Tanzanian |
Alma Mater: | University of Dar es Salaam |
Party: | CCM |
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 31 March 2021, President Samia Suluhu appointed him as the Minister of Finance, replacing Philip Mpango, who was elevated to the position of Vice President of Tanzania. Before his current appointment, he served as the Minister of Law and Constitutional Affairs in the Tanzanian Cabinet, since May 2020.[1] [2]
Nchemba was born on 7 January 1975 in Iramba District, in the Singida Region of Tanzania. He attended Makunda Primary School, then transferred to Iboru 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]
Before joining elective Tanzanian politics, Nchemba worked as an economist at the Bank of Tanzania. Later, President Jakaya Kikwete appointed him as Minister in the Ministry 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. Dr Nchemba, who was not implicated, rightly 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 Pombe Magufuli. Following the death of Ambassador Dr Agustine Phillip 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. Dr Philip Mpango was promoted to Vice-President of Tanzania, Nchemba took over the post of the 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]