Former Tanzanian Prime Minister Edward Lowassa dies aged 70

Former Tanzanian Prime Minister Edward Ngoyai Lowasa has passed away after a long battle with illness.

Vice President Dr. Philip Mpango announced on Saturday that the 70-year-old Lowassa died while undergoing treatment at the Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute (JKCI) in Dar es Salaam.

Dr. Mpango said the former premier was suffering from a myriad of conditions including lung issues, stomach ulcers, and hypertension.

“The former prime minister started to receive treatment at the JKCI on January 14, 2022. He was later referred to a South African hospital for specialised treatment and later returned to JKCI," he said as quoted by the Citizen.

President Samia Suluhu Hassan mourned Lowassa as she condoled with the family, friends and the general public, further declaring five days of national mourning.

Dr. Mpango consequently directed that the Tanzanian national flag would fly at half-mast for the five-day mourning period noting that additional information regarding Lowassa’s death would be communicated later.

The deceased had served as Prime Minister from 2005 to 2008 under President Jakaya Kikwete.

He stepped down following scandals at the time, after which President Kikwete dissolved his Cabinet, replacing him with a new Prime Minister, Mizengo Pinda.

Lowassa defected from Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) to the main opposition camp in 2015 where he joined the presidential race but was floored by the late and former President John Magufuli.

On March 1, 2019, Lowassa left Chadema and rejoined CCM.