Founding Father

Stephen Mhando was one of the original founders of the Tanganyika African Association (TAA) party. At one point Stephen Mhando was the President of TAA. Stephen Mhando together with the other founders of TAA, recruited President Nyerere to lead The Tanganyika African Association. TAA was transformed into the Tanganyika African National Union (TANU) in 1954, by Julius Nyerere. At one point, Stephen Mhando also served as TANU’s organising Secretary-General. in 1952 he became secretary for both the African Government Servants’ Association and the African Teachers’ Association. He also served as the Managing Director of the Tanganyika Sisal Cooperation. Mhando was one of President Nyerere’s right hand men from the days of TAA, TANU, and until the independence of Tanganyika, and the formation of United Republic of Tanzania. They remained lifelong allies and friends until the untimely death of Stephen Mhando in 1987, in Muheza, Tanga (his home town). He was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs of Tanzania from 1969 to 1970 by President Nyerere, who respected his political experience and acumen.

Stephen Mhando made a major contribution in the political, welfare and socio-economic development of Tanzania. He was one of the first African Teachers at the ‘Tanga School’ (which was the first nationalised Government School in post German colonialism Tanganyika). Stephen Mhando and his brother Peter Mhando (who died in 1958, as an employee of TANU Tanga and Headquarters Dar) are among the founders of the Tanganyika Liberation Party (TLP). TLP was formed before The Tanganyika African Association (TAA).
In addition to being a well respected statesman, Stephen Mhando was a great orator, and always impeccably dressed in his suits.