Augustino Lyatonga Mrema (31 December 1944 – 21 August 2022) was a Tanzanian politician, who served as

minister of home affairs An interior minister (sometimes called a minister of internal affairs or minister of home affairs) is a cabinet official position that is responsible for internal affairs, such as public security, civil registration and identification, emergency ...

from 1990 to 1995. After switching party affiliation in February 1995, he joined NCCR-Mageuzi before moving on to

Tanzania Labour Party The Tanzania Labour Party (TLP) is a political party in Tanzania. Electoral performance At the 2000 legislative elections, the party won 3 out of 269 seats in the National Assembly. In the presidential elections of the same day, its candidate A ...

(TLP), where he was made the party chairman. He also served as the member of parliament for

Vunjo Central Kilimanjaro, or Central Chaga, is a Bantu language of Tanzania spoken by the Chaga people. There are several dialects: * Moshi (Old Moshi, Mochi, ''Kimochi'') * Uru * Mbokomu * Wuunjo (Wunjo, Vunjo, ''Kivunjo''), including Kiruwa, Kilema ...

constituency, on multiple occasions, until 2015, when he was defeated in the national election by

James Mbatia James Francis Mbatia (born 10 June 1964) is a Tanzanian NCCR–Mageuzi politician and a nominated Member of Parliament A member of parliament (MP) is the representative in parliament of the people who live in their electoral district. In man ...

of NCCR Mageuzi. In early 2016, Mrema was appointed a chairperson of the Tanzania Parole Board by the president,

John Magufuli John Pombe Joseph Magufuli (29 October 1959 – 17 March 2021) was the fifth president of Tanzania, serving from 2015 until his death in 2021. He served as Minister of Works, Transport and Communications from 2000 to 2005 and 2010 to 2015 and wa ...

. Mrema was a member of the

Chaga The Chaga or Chagga ( Swahili language: WaChaga) are Bantu-speaking indigenous Africans and the third-largest ethnic group in Tanzania. They traditionally live on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro and eastern Mount Meru in both Kilimanjaro R ...

tribe from Kiraracha village, near

Mount Kilimanjaro Mount Kilimanjaro () is a dormant volcano in Tanzania. It has three volcanic cones: Kibo, Mawenzi, and Shira. It is the highest mountain in Africa and the highest free-standing mountain above sea level in the world: above sea level and ab ...

. He was the second of five siblings.

Education

From 1955 until 1963, Mrema attended primary and secondary education at Moshi, thereafter joining St.Patrick Teachers training college also in Moshi where he finished his Secondary education in 1965. In 1968, Mrema sat for the

Cambridge University , mottoeng = Literal: From here, light and sacred draughts. Non literal: From this place, we gain enlightenment and precious knowledge. , established = , other_name = The Chancellor, Masters and Schola ...

O-level The O-Level (Ordinary Level) is a subject-based qualification conferred as part of the General Certificate of Education. It was introduced in place of the School Certificate in 1951 as part of an educational reform alongside the more in-depth ...

exams. He joined the Kivukoni Political Education College, after which he was sent to

Marangu Marangu is a town located in Kilimanjaro Region. it is divided into Marangu East and Marangu west each with its own village, its one of the famous places in Tanzania recognized as one of the main gate for climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. it is also ...

for further training.

Government positions

Mrema has been in the

Tanzanian government The politics of Tanzania takes place in a framework of a unitary presidential democratic republic, whereby the President of Tanzania is both head of state and head of government, and of a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the ...

, National Security Organisation and in Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) since 1966; he has held the following 5 positions as follows: * Rural Civics Teacher 1974–1980 * Teacher at the National Security College 1980–1982 * Assistant Deputy for National Security in the Dodoma Region 1982–1984 * Chief Deputy for National Security in Dodoma Region 1983–1984 * Chief Deputy for National Security in Shinyanga Region 1985–1987

Political career

Even though Mrema has contested every presidential election in Tanzania since the country instituted a

multiparty In political science, a multi-party system is a political system in which multiple political parties across the political spectrum run for national elections, and all have the capacity to gain control of government offices, separately or in coal ...

system in the early 1990s, his political career started in 1985 when he tried to run for MP in his home district of Kilimanjaro. His candidacy was blocked by the High Court, and in 1987 he was officially announced as the winner after a lengthy appeals process. He was able to retain his seat in 1990 without stiff competition. The fact that he was an MP enabled the president to appoint him to various cabinet positions. From 1990 to 1995, Mrema held various cabinet and high level government positions: * Minister of Interior 1990–1994 * Minister of Labour, Development and Sports 1994–1995 Mrema left CCM in 1995 and joined a new political party

National Convention for Construction and Reform-Mageuzi National may refer to: Common uses * Nation or country ** Nationality – a ''national'' is a person who is subject to a nation, regardless of whether the person has full rights as a citizen Places in the United States * National, Maryland, c ...

. In the first multiparty election in 1995, he ran on the ticket of the

(NCCR-Mageuzi), and won 27.77% of the vote. He finished third behind the then-incumbent

president President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) *President (education), a leader of a college or university *President (government title) President may also refer to: Automobiles * Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ful ...

Benjamin Mkapa Benjamin William Mkapa (12 November 193824 July 2020) was the third president of Tanzania, in office from 1995 to 2005. He was Chairman of the Revolutionary State Political Party (Chama Cha Mapinduzi, CCM). Early life Mkapa was born in Lupaso, ...

, of Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) and

Ibrahim Lipumba Professor Ibrahim Haruna Lipumba (born 6 June 1952 in Ilolangulu, Tanganyika Territory) is a Tanzanian economist and politician. Early life and career Lipumba was born in Tabora Region in present-day Tanzania. He was educated at the Swedis ...

of the

Civic United Front The Civic United Front (CUF; sw, Chama Cha Wananchi, ) is a liberal party in Tanzania. Although nationally based, most of the CUF's support comes from the Zanzibar islands of Unguja and Pemba. The party is a member of Liberal International. His ...

(CUF), capturing 7.80% of the vote, this time on the ticket of the TLP. Running again as the TLP presidential candidate in the 2005 election, Mrema was fourth out of ten candidates, winning 0.75% of the vote. By this time he got presidential appointment as parole board chairperson from 2016 to 2019.

Death

Mrema died in Muhimbili Hospital

Dar es Salaam Dar es Salaam (; from ar, دَار السَّلَام, Dâr es-Selâm, lit=Abode of Peace) or commonly known as Dar, is the largest city and financial hub of Tanzania. It is also the capital of Dar es Salaam Region. With a population of over s ...

on 21 August 2022 06:15 am, at the age of 77.

References

External links

Tanzania Election Candidates Profile (in Swahili)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mrema, Augustine 1944 births 2022 deaths Tanzanian socialists Tanzania Labour Party politicians Government ministers of Tanzania Kivukoni College alumni Members of the National Assembly (Tanzania) People from Kilimanjaro Region