"He really did much to help those who are poor," Mkapa said.
Following his address, audience members questioned Mkapa about Tanzanian and African issues.
One KSG student asked about the effect of refugee flow on Tanzanian economics and development, pointing out that many of its neighboring countries are engaged in war. Mkapa replied that there was a special need to press for peace in the region and said that UN support was needed to monitor the process.
Before entering politics, Mkapa worked as a journalist, holding prominent positions in several publications, and was a founder of a national news agency.
Prior to his presidency, Mkapa served as minister of foreign affairs; information and culture; information and broadcasting; and science, technology and higher education. In the early 1980s, he was ambassador to the U.S. He was elected the country's president in 1995.
Mkapa's talk was co-sponsored by the Center for International Development (CID) and the Institute of Politics' student advisory committee.