Background
William Shija was born on April 28 1947, in Tanganyika.
William Shija was born on April 28 1947, in Tanganyika.
Dr. Shija has a Phd from Howard University, Washington D.C. & MA in Mass Communication; BA Diploma in Journalism, New Delhi and Dip. Ed. From Chang’ombe Education College, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Shija was a member of the National Assembly of Tanzania from 1990 to 2005. During this time he held the positions of Minister for Science, Technology and Higher Education; Minister for Information and Broadcasting; Minister for Energy and Minerals; and Minister for Industries and Trade. He was a member of the Pan-African Parliament in 2004 and 2005 and chaired the Committee on Education, Culture, Tourism and Human Resources. He was appointed the first African Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association on September 9, 2006 and took up the position on January 1, 2007.
Dr. William Shija was a man who served his continent as a whole. Apart from being member of Parliament in his country, Shija served Commonwealth Parliamentary Association with commitment, and with an enduring enthusiasm for its potential always to do more for its members and for the citizens of the Commonwealth at the grassroots level whom parliamentarians represent.
Quotes from others about the person
Mr Sharma: "Dr Shija was a former parliamentarian and Minister in the Government of Tanzania. He was also a family man, and the Commonwealth joins in extending our heartfelt condolences to his wife Getruda and five children and all those who loved and held him dear."
He was married, and had five children