International

Former Mozambique President Awarded $5 Million

Published November 1, 2007 at 9:00 AM PDT

This story was published more than 17 years ago.

Joachim Chissano, former president of Mozambique, is pictured in a 2005 photo.

Former Mozambique president Joaquim Chissano is the first recipient of the Mo Ibrahim Prize, a $5 million award for promoting good governance on the continent of Africa. Chissano speaks about receiving the award and his continuing efforts to promote peace and democracy in Africa.

The Prize Committee is chaired by former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan. When asked which African leaders should be considered for next year's Ibrahim prize, Chisanno offers a few names:

Benjamin W. Mkapa is a journalist, diplomat and politician, was elected President of Tanzania in November 1995 and was re-elected President in 2000 for another five year term. Mkapa was the third President of the United Republic of Tanzania since independence in 1961. Mr. Mkapa's long diplomatic career included a number of high postings, including High Commissioner to Nigeria, Minister for Foreign Affairs, High Commissioner to Canada and Ambassador to the United States of America.

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Sam Nujoma is a Namibian political leader. He was a railway worker in what was then the South African mandate of South West Africa. Nujoma became the head of the Owambo People's Organization in 1959, which opposed South African rule and its extension of apartheid to the territory. He led SWAPO forces from exile, securing international recognition and, ultimately, South West Africa's independence. He returned in 1989 and became Namibia's first president in 1990.

Kenneth David Kaunda was the president of Zambia from 1964 to 1991. In 1953, Kaunda opposed the formation of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland. His party was banned in 1959 and Kaunda was imprisoned, but in 1960 he was released and became head of the new United National Independence party. In 1964, Zambia became independent with Kaunda as president. In foreign affairs Kaunda played a central role in opposing white-supremacist governments in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), South Africa, and South-West Africa (now Namibia).