Dr Philip Mpango

Philip Isdor Mpango is an economist and politician who has served as Vice President of the United Republic of Tanzania since March 2021. In 2025, he announced his decision to retire from politics at the end of the current parliament, saying he wished to return to farming to carry on his late father’s legacy and allow younger leaders to take up national responsibilities.

He was appointed Vice President following the death of President John Magufuli, having previously served as Minister of Finance and Planning from 2015 to 2021. In this position, he was responsible for Tanzania’s fiscal policy and budgeting, guided major infrastructure spending, and represented the country in international financial institutions such as the World Bank and the African Development Bank. His leadership at the ministry coincided with a period of steady growth, averaging between 6 per cent and 7 per cent annually.

Mpango’s career in public service spans decades. It includes roles as Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs, Executive Secretary of the Planning Commission, Acting Commissioner General of the Tanzania Revenue Authority, and Personal Assistant to the President for Economic Affairs. Earlier in his career, he also worked as a senior economist at the World Bank.

He studied economics at the University of Dar es Salaam, where he earned his bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees. Part of his doctoral training was completed at Lund University in Sweden.