KIKWETE FOUNDATION FOR LAUNCH

FORMER President Jakaya Kikwete (pictured) will today launch the Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete Foundation (JMKF) that envisages working for Africa and the country’s development largely to address major issues in the society.
According to a statement issued in Dar es Salaam yesterday, JMKF will focus on sustainable development, health, education and good governance as well as peacekeeping.

“After the launch, former President Kikwete will address the media, for the first time since he relinquished power on November 5, 2015,” read the statement.

Mr Kikwete, who handed over power to President John Magufuli sixteen months ago, will launch the foundation amid leading the Board of Trustees Meeting in Dar es Salaam before talking to the media.

The former head of state, the statement said, has decided to tackle the four issues of sustainable development, health, education and good governance to which he dedicated a lot of efforts during his 10 years in State House.

“Even before he became President, Dr Kikwete was dedicated to improving people’s lives wherever he got chance to work for people’s development... that is why he remains optimistic that JMKF will improve people’s lives,” said the statement.

JMKF is duly registered in the country and will operate under an International Board of Trustees composed of members from both within and outside the country, including the United States, Malaysia and Guinea Bissau.

Members to the Board of Trustees include former Chief Secretary Ambassador Ombeni Sefue, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Dar es Salaam, Professor Rwekaza Mukandala, and Renowned William Mahalu and former country’s ambassador to the United Kingdom and United States, Mwanaidi Maajar.

Others are Genevieve Sangudi, who is Managing Director for Carlyle Company of South Africa and member of the Board of Governors of the Central Bank of Nigeria and Managing Director of Said Salim Bakhresa Group of Companies, Mr Abubakar Bakhresa.

Board members from outside Tanzania are Ambassador Charles Stith from the United States, who is a former US ambassador to Tanzania, Dato Sri Idris Jala from Malaysia who is a Minister without portfolio in the office of the Prime Minister of Malaysia and the Executive Director for Big Results Now in his country.

Another member from outside the country is Dr Carlos Lopez from Guinea Bissau, the Executive Director of UN Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR).