Benjamin William Mkapa (born November 12, 1938) is the president of the United Republic of Tanzania (since 1995), for the Revolutionary State Party. His second 5-year term of office ends in October 2005. Previous posts include being the administrative officer in Dodoma and the Minister for Science, Technology and Higher Education. Also led the Tanzania mission to the USA. He was also the Foreign affairs Minister for six years.
During his term Mkapa continued the liberalization of the economy that began under his predecessor Ali Hassan Mwinyi. He privatized most of the state owned corporations and pursued free market policies designed to attract foreign investment.
Critics of Mkapa's policies felt that he went too far in allowing foreign companies control over the economy. They further claimed that his policies failed to improve the economic condition of the average Tanzanian.
His supporters argued that attracting foreign investment was the only way to achieve economic growth. His policies won the support of the World Bank and IMF and resulted in the cancellation of some of Tanzania's foreign debts .
