Amir H. Jamal

Amir H. Jamal
આમિર જમાલ
File:Amir Jamal.jpg
Permanent Representative of Tanzania to the United Nations Office at Geneva
In office 1985–1993
Appointed by	Ali Hassan Mwinyi
2nd Minister of Finance
In office 1979–1983
Preceded by	Edwin Mtei
Succeeded by	Kighoma Malima
In office 1975–1977
Preceded by	Cleopa Msuya
Succeeded by	Edwin Mtei
In office 1965–1972
Preceded by	Paul Bomani
Succeeded by	Cleopa Msuya
Member of Parliament for Morogoro
In office 1960–1985
Succeeded by	Shamim Khan
Personal details
Born	(1922-01-26)26 January 1922 Mwanza, Tanganyika
Died	Vancouver, Canada
Nationality	Tanzanian
Political party	CCM TANU (1962–1977)
Spouse(s)	Zainy Kheraj Shahsultan Cassim
Children	4
Alma mater	University of Calcutta (BCom)
Religion	Islam (Nizari Ismaili)

Amir Habib Jamal (26 January 1922 – 21 March 1995) was a Tanzanian politician and diplomat who served as a Minister under various portfolios in the Julius Nyerere administration. He represented the parliamentary constituency of Morogoro from 1960 to 1985, and was Tanzania's longest-serving Finance Minister and led the ministry for about 12 years.

Early life

Jamal was born in British administered Tanganyika, which was at the time a League of Nations mandate. He was born to Gujarati parents of Indian ancestry. He was the son of Kulsum Thawer and Habib Jamal, a founding member of the Asian Association. He was educated in his hometown of Mwanza and pursued his secondary education in Dar es Salaam. He graduated from the University of Calcutta in India with a BCom in economics.

He had intended to train as a doctor at the University of Bombay but despite his high marks, he didn't get into the medical faculty. In 1942, he attended a meeting of the Indian National Congress where Mahatma Gandhi launched the Quit India Movement, demanding the immediate withdrawal of the British from India. Upon graduation, he returned to Dar es Salaam and joined the family business.

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.

Career

Political

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.

Diplomatic

In 1985, he was appointed as Head of the country's Permanent Mission to the United Nations Office in Geneva.

He served as Chair of both the InterPress Service and Governing Council of the Sokoine University of Agriculture. He was also the Honorary Executive Director of the South Centre and a trustee of the Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation from 1978 to 1993.

Personal life

He married twice and had three sons and one daughter. He was a member of the Khoja community and an adherent of Nizari Isma'ilism.

Jamal died on 21 March 1995 in Vancouver, Canada at the age of 73. According to Sophia Mustafa, Nyerere's efforts to have Jamal's remains repatriated to Tanzania were in vain. Nyerere in his tribute called him a "person of absolute integrity.. never a Yes man" and was "privileged to count him a friend". Godfrey Mwakikagile described him as "more of a technocrat than a politician".

Honors and awards

Honours

Year	Country	Order
2014	Tanzania	The Order of Union – First Class (posthumous)

Honorary degrees

Year	University	Country	Award
1973	Uppsala University	Sweden	Doctor of Science (economics)
1980	University of Dar es Salaam	Tanzania	Honoris causa

Gallery

• The National Archives UK - CO 1069-159-39.jpg

  With Mwalimu Nyerere (c), 1950s

• The National Archives UK - CO 1069-159-99.jpg

  At a ceremony on the return of Chief Mkwawa's skull

• The National Archives UK - CO 1069-166-59.jpg

  Jamal (r) at the Constitutional Conference, March 1961

• The National Archives UK - CO 1069-164-70.jpg

  Council of Ministers, September 1960

• The National Archives UK - CO 1069-157-139.jpg

  Inspecting a project

References

Bibliography

External links

• Jamal with Andy Chande, 1964 (image)
• Amir Jamal and Y B Chavan sign a friendship and co-operation agreement (video)
• Opening address by Amir Jamal, Chairman of the 35th Annual IMF and WBG Meetings, p. 4
• Exposing the IMF and World Bank, an Address by Amir Jamal, Finance Minister of Tanzania

Political offices
Preceded by	Member of Parliament for Morogoro 1960–1985	Succeeded by Shamim Khan
Preceded by –	Minister of Communication, Power and Works 1959–1963	Succeeded by Job Lusinde
Preceded by Paul Bomani	Minister of Finance 1965–1972	Succeeded by Cleopa Msuya
Preceded by Paul Bomani	Minister for Commerce and Industries 1972–1975	Succeeded by Cleopa Msuya
Preceded by Cleopa Msuya	Minister of Finance and Economic Planning 1975–1977	Succeeded by Edwin Mtei
Preceded by Job Lusinde	Minister of Communications and Transport 1977–1979	Succeeded by Guntram Itatiro
Preceded by Edwin Mtei	Minister of Finance 1979–1983	Succeeded by Kighoma Malima
Preceded by –	Minister without Portfolio 1983–1984	Succeeded by –
Preceded by	Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs 1984–1985	Succeeded by
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by	Permanent Representative of Tanzania to the United Nations Office at Geneva 1985–1993	Succeeded by