Who Is John Magufuli? Age, Biography, and Wiki
John Magufuli, born on October 29, 1959, was a prominent Tanzanian politician who served as the President of Tanzania from 2015 until his passing in March 2021. With a background in science and public service, Magufuli was known for his no-nonsense approach to leadership and his focus on anti-corruption reforms. He had a long-standing career in politics, previously serving in various ministerial roles before ascending to the presidency.
| Occupation | Politician |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | October 29, 1959 |
| Age | 61 Years |
| Birth Place | Chato, Tanganyika (now Tanzania) |
| Horoscope | Scorpio |
| Country | Tanzania |
| Date of death | 17 March, 2021 |
| Died Place | Dar es Salaam, Tanzania |
Popularity
John Magufuli's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
John Magufuli stood at approximately 5 feet 8 inches (1.73 meters) tall. His weight during his tenure was reported to be around 160 lbs (72 kg). As an active politician, his physique was often considered typical of someone engaged in rigorous public duties, though no detailed measurements are widely published.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
John Magufuli was married to Jacqueline Magufuli, with whom he shared an enduring partnership. They had several children together. Throughout his life, Magufuli was known for valuing his family and often dedicated time to his loved ones despite his demanding political schedule. His personal life was relatively private, with few details available about his family's public activities.
Net Worth and Salary
While he was a significant figure in Tanzania and Africa at large, Magufuli was not known for extensive use of social media. His public engagements were primarily through traditional media outlets, where he frequently addressed issues pertinent to the Tanzanian public. However, his policies encouraged digital initiatives across the nation.
Under his presidency, Tanzania experienced one of the strongest economic growths on the continent (6% on average per year according to the IMF) and moved from the category of lower-low income countries to lower-middle income countries.
Career, Business, and Investments
Magufuli's career in public service began in the 1980s, where he worked as a chemist before entering politics. He quickly rose through the ranks, holding positions such as Minister of Works and Minister of Lands, Housing and Human Settlements. His presidency was marked by ambitious infrastructure projects and efforts to strengthen the country's economy through industrialization, while promoting local industries. His approach has had a lasting impact on Tanzania’s economic landscape.
The country has amended the laws governing the award of mining contracts, giving itself the right to renegotiate or terminate them in the event of proven fraud. The new legislation also removes the right of mining companies to resort to international arbitration.
The tax dispute with Acacia Mining, accused of having significantly undervalued its gold production for years, finally resulted in an agreement: Tanzania obtains 16% of the shares in the mines held by the multinational. In May 2020, Acacia Mining paid $100M to the government to end dispute as the first tranche of the $300M.
However, this anti-corruption policy has also "frightened investors, who now fear they will have to deal with Tanzanian justice, and weakened growth", according to Zitto Kabwe, one of the leaders of the opposition Alliance for Change and Transparency (ACT).
With one of the highest economic growth rates on the African continent (5.8% in 2018 and an estimated 6% for 2019 according to the IMF), the Tanzanian government is embarking on a vast programme of infrastructure development, particularly rail infrastructure.
The small fishing port of Bagamoyo, to which US$10 billion of investment has been allocated, is expected to become the largest port in Africa by 2030.
Education
Magufuli started his education at the Chato Primary School from 1967 to 1974 and went on to the Katoke Seminary in Biharamulo for his secondary education from 1975 to 1977 before relocating to Lake Secondary School in 1977 and graduating in 1978. He joined Mkwawa High School for his Advanced level studies in 1979 and graduated in 1981.
That same year he joined Mkwawa College of Education (a constituent college of the University of Dar es Salaam) for a Diploma in Education Science, majoring in chemistry, Mathematics, and Education.
