Edward Lowassa

==Biography==

===Early life===
Edward Lowassa was the fourth child of the herdsman Ngoyai Lowassa, who worked part-time for the colonial government in [[Monduli District]] in [[Arusha Region]] as a ''tarish'' (village law enforcement).<ref>[http://www.mwananchi.co.tz/habari/habari-ya-ndani/-/1724700/2741100/-/xj08d9z/-/index.html "Lowassa, Mtoto wa tarishi anayetaka urais"], Mwananchi.co.tz, 5 June 2015.</ref>

===Education===
Lowassa joined Monduli Primary School (which was later renamed to Moringe Primary School) in 1961. Lowassa was the school band leader at Monduli Primary School and in 1967 he sat for the CPEE. He then went on to Arusha Secondary School in 1968 and sat for his O-Level Certificate, the CSEE in 1971. For his A-Levels, he attended Milambo Secondary School from 1972 to 1973 where he sat for his ACSEE.

Lowassa received his undergraduate degree, a BA in Fine and Performing Arts. He moved on to the [[University of Dar es Salaam]] in 1977. There, he encountered Jakaya Kikwete and John Chilligati. In 1978 he was conscripted into the army and fought in the [[Kagera War]] between Tanzania and Uganda. Lowassa then went on to earn a MSc. Development Studies from The [[University of Bath]] in the [[United Kingdom]] in 1984.<ref name="Lowassa Member of Parliament CV" />

===Career===
[[File:Felix Mrema and Edward Lowasa.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Lowassa (right).]]
Lowassa served as Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office during President [[Ali Hassan Mwinyi]]'s second term. He sought the nomination of [[Chama Cha Mapinduzi]] (CCM) as its presidential candidate in 1995 but was eliminated in the early stages by the former President [[Julius Nyerere]], who strongly believed that Lowassa was not then correct material for the Presidency. He retained his parliamentary seat and became a strong backbencher in Parliament until 1997 when he was appointed Minister for State in the Vice President's Office for Environment and Poverty.

Following the 2000 general elections, he was appointed Minister of Water and Livestock Development and made his mark as a hardworking minister. In 2005 Lowassa chose not to seek the CCM presidential nomination but became a key campaigner for his long-time friend, Jakaya Kikwete, in his bid for the presidential seat.

Kikwete, running on a CCM ticket, won the elections by beating other contestants by a large margin. He received 82% of the votes. In return, President Kikwete nominated Lowassa as Prime Minister on 29 December 2005. Parliament overwhelmingly confirmed the nomination, with 312 votes in favour and two opposed, and Lowassa was sworn in on 30 December.<ref>Bilal Abdul-Aziz, [http://www.ippmedia.com/ipp/guardian/2005/12/30/56832.html "Lowassa new PM"], ''Guardian'' (IPP Media), 30 December 2005.</ref> Lowassa had an extensive background in both parliamentary and government affairs.