Lawrence Mafuru: Seasoned banker and instrumental executive who led the drafting of Tanzania’s Vision 2050

Mafuru, who, before his death, served as the Executive Secretary of the Planning Commission, has passed away today Saturday on November 9, 2024, at Apollo Hospital in India where he was receiving treatment.

Before joining the civil service, Mafuru was one of the influential bankers in Tanzania.

Complex banking legacy

According to his profile on the website of the Public Private Partnership Centre (PPPC), where he served as a member of the steering committee, Mafuru was a Certified Chartered Banker from the Chartered Institute of Bankers London and a Certified Financial Markets Dealer certified by ACI Financial Markets.

He began his banking journey in 1998 at Standard Chartered Bank, specialising in international trade finance.

He held various leadership positions within the Tanzanian financial sector, including head of treasury at the National Bank of Commerce (NBC), Chief Executive Officer of NBC, and chairman of the Tanzanian Bankers Association (TBA).

A recognised authority in banking and finance, Mafuru was sought after as a speaker on the industry’s matters.

He was passionate about leveraging his expertise to create value for clients and stakeholders.

In 2012, while serving as managing director of the NBC, Mafuru was sent on leave by the board of directors to pave the way for investigations into allegations levelled against the bank management, following some alleged irregularities.

The allegations, which originated from a whistleblower report, raised issues around irregular governance practices, fraud and corruption against the NBC executive management team.

However, after thorough investigations for about two months, the board cleared Mafuru and he returned to the same position.

After NBC, Mafuru was appointed to the government where he headed the Finance Department in the President’s Office, which supervised the implementation of projects under the Big Result Now (BRN) initiative. He was also deputy Chief Executive Officer of FBME Bank.

In 2014, President Jakaya Kikwete appointed Mafuru Treasury Registrar at the Ministry of Finance, where he held the position until 2016 when the late President John Magufuli revoked it.

However, in 2022 President Samia Suluhu Hassan appointed Mafuru deputy Permanent Secretary (Economic Management Policies) at the Ministry of Finance before his appointment as the executive secretary for the Planning Commission.

Mafuru was appointed head of the Planning Commission in July, last year and had been instrumental in leading the ongoing process of drafting the National Development Vision 2050.

He was the founder and managing partner at Bankable – a financial services advisory firm that assists clients in procuring, innovating and executing banking products and services more efficiently.

What people say about him?

President Samia Suluhu Hassan mourned Mafuru's death, extending her condolences to his family and the Minister of State in the President's Office (Planning and Investment), Prof Kitila Mkumbo.

"Mafuru will be remembered for his exemplary service, diligence, and creative approach in his various roles within the government," President Hassan said in her post on X, formerly Twitter.

"May Almighty God grant strength and patience to his family during this difficult time and rest his soul in eternal peace," stated President Hassan.

His passing has elicited an outpouring of condolences from government officials, colleagues, friends, and the public, all acknowledging his distinguished service and dedication.

“Mafuru will be remembered for his extraordinary contributions to both the private and public sectors. A visionary leader has left us too soon. My heartfelt condolences to President Samia Suluhu Hassan for the loss of a true champion of Tanzania Vision 2050,” posted Mr Kheri Mahimbali, former permanent secretary of the ministry of Minerals.

“Till we meet again my big brother,” he added.

“I had known Mafuru since the 1990s when he was working at NBC. At that time, I was a communications officer. He was a person with a strong work ethic, always listening and making good arguments,” Mr Innocent Mungy, the head of public relations and communications at the Personal Data Protection Commission (PDPC), told The Citizen.

“After that, both of us moved to government service, collaborating on work-related matters as well as personal matters.

“I had known him as someone I worked with, he was very helpful in matters of public relations and building relationships with stakeholders,” he added.