Background
Amir Habib Jamal was born on January 26, 1922, at Mwanza, on Lake Victoria, son of a successful businessman.
Amir Habib Jamal was born on January 26, 1922, at Mwanza, on Lake Victoria, son of a successful businessman.
He was educated at Mwanza, Dar es Salaam and Calcutta University, where he got a first in economics. He had hoped to become a doctor, but did not get high enough marks to win entry to the crowded Bombay Medical School. In 1942 he started in his father’s business, but was increasingly interested in the political and social issues of the moment. He met Julius Nyerere in the early years of the Tanganyika African National Union and has worked closely with him ever since.
In 1965, Jamal was appointed as Minister of Finance. Two years later, the Arusha Declaration was proclaimed and the nation adopted a socialist path. Between 1972 and 1975, he was appointed as Minister for Commerce and Industries; and in this capacity he initiated a number of industrial projects in Morogoro Region. He led the Finance Ministry once again between 1975 and 1977. Following the dissolution of the former East African Community in 1977, he was transferred to the Communication and Transport docket which he led for about two years. He had an arduous task of creating new national corporations and agencies. He led the Finance Ministry for a third time between 1979 and 1983.
In 1980, he served as Chairman of the 35th Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group. Upon his arrival in Washington, D.C., he was surprised when IMF staff presented him with a draft for his opening speech. He politely declined saying that he had brought his own. As Chairman, his instruction to invite the Palestine Liberation Organization as an observer to the annual meeting was refused by the World Bank President. He denounced the IMF as a relic of World War II designed to protect the West.
Between 1983 and 1984, Jamal served as Minister without Portfolio and as Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs from 1984 to 1985.
He first met Julius Nyerere in 1952 at a reception hosted by the British Council in honour of the latter's return as a graduate of Edinburgh University. He was a veteran of Tanganyika's independence movement and in 1955, "helped to pay for Nyerere's visit to the United Nations" in New York City, USA.
At first, Jamal had "leanings towards Fabian Society"; but thereafter joined the Asian Association. In 1958, he was elected to the Legislative Council. In 1962, Jamal joined the Tanganyika African National Union (TANU) as its first non-African member.
A gentle, liberal minded and extremely astute administrator and man of finance, he is a Tanzanian of Asian descent-coming from a family that has lived three generations in the country. The qualities which he and Julius Nyerere recognise in each other-idealism, thoughtfulness and open-hearted friendship have sealed a partnership that has lasted since they first met.