Background
Wilbert Chagula was born in 1926 in Mondo, Shinyanga, Tanganyika (now Tanzania). He is a son of Kiyenze Chagula.
Wilbert Chagula was born in 1926 in Mondo, Shinyanga, Tanganyika (now Tanzania). He is a son of Kiyenze Chagula.
Educated at Ibadakuli Primary, followed by Tabora Government Secondary School. From 1945 to 1951 he was at Makerere University College, graduating with a Licentiateship in Medicine and Surgery before going to Cambridge University for further studies, getting a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1955. In 1961 he went for further studies to the University of West Indies in Jamaica and to Yale University, in the United States.
In May 1963 he became a registrar and Vice-Principal of the University College of Dar es Salaam, being appointed Principal of the College in March 1965. His attitude towards the students was tolerant, encouraging free discussion, but in October 1966 the students demonstrated against the introduction of national service and 393 of them were expelled. President Nyerere intervened and reinstated the students on November 25. His most important achievements at the University were the installation of new faculties of Medicine and Agriculture, making Tanzania independent of other East African universities.
In June 1970 came his first ministerial appointment as Minister of Water Development and Power. He was promoted to Minister for Economic Affairs and Development Planning in the general reshuffle of February 17, 1972, in the place of Abdul Rahman Babu who was later detained following Sheikh Karume's assassination.
He has been a member of the United Nations Advisory Committee on the Application of Science and Technology to Development; chairman of the Tanzania National Scientific Research Council and of the Tanganyika Society of African Culture. He is also member of TANU National Executive Com-mittee.