Dar es Salaam. President Samia Suluhu Hassan has announced the death of former Prime Minister and Vice President Cleopa David Msuya, who passed away on Wednesday morning May 7, 2025 at the age of 94.
Msuya died of heart complications at around 9am at Mzena Hospital in Dar es Salaam, the President said in a televised statement to the nation.
In honour of the veteran statesman, President Samia declared seven days of national mourning, effective from May 7 to May 13, 2025. During this period, the national flag will fly at half-mast across the country.
Mr Msuya was a towering figure in Tanzania’s post-independence political history, having served twice as Prime Minister—first from November 1980 to February 1983, and later from December 1994 to November 1995.
During both tenures, he held the vice-presidency concurrently, serving first as Second Vice President and later as First Vice President.
Born in Chomvu, Usangi, in the Mwanga District of Kilimanjaro Region on January 4, 1931, Mr Msuya’s life was characterised by a long and distinguished career in public service. He pursued his higher education at Makerere University College between 1952 and 1955 before embarking on a career in rural community development.
He entered government service in 1964 and rose through the ranks of the civil service, serving as Permanent Secretary in various ministries, including Community Development and Culture; Lands Settlement and Water Development; Economic Affairs and Planning; and Finance.
Mr Msuya was widely recognised for his stewardship in economic management and is remembered as one of the country’s longest-serving ministers of Finance. He first took up the post in February 1972 and served in that capacity across several terms until December 1990, with brief interruptions to head the ministries of Industry, and later Industry and Trade.
In 1985, under the administration of President Ali Hassan Mwinyi, Mr Msuya’s portfolio was expanded to include Economic Affairs and Planning, underlining his central role in shaping national economic policy during a transformative period in Tanzania’s history.
He returned to the prime ministerial post in 1994 during the final phase of the single-party era and the beginning of the multiparty dispensation. After stepping down from high office in 1995, he continued to serve as a Member of Parliament until his retirement from active politics on October 29, 2000.
Funeral arrangements will be announced in due course.
