A titan falls: How Leonard Mususa shaped the modern Tanzanian private sector

Dar es Salaam. The Tanzanian corporate world has lost one of its most respected titans.

Leonard Clement Mususa passed away on Saturday, May 30, 2026 at the age of 72, leaving behind a legacy that shaped the private sector in the country for over 40 years.

He was interred on Tuesday, June 2, 2026 at Kondo Cemetery in Dar es Salaam.

From auditing rooms to presidential advisory councils, Mr Mususa was a towering figure in business, finance, and corporate governance.

His journey began with a rigorous dedication to numbers.

Born on September 25, 1953, he built an exceptional professional foundation in accountancy, eventually becoming a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (FCCA) in the United Kingdom and a Fellow Certified Public Accountant of Tanzania (FCPA-T).

This technical mastery became the engine of a remarkable 36-year career at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and its legacy firm Coopers & Lybrand.

Joining the firm in 1978, he rose through the ranks from Human Capital Partner to become the Country Senior Partner for Tanzania.

He held this top executive role for his final 14 years at the firm before retiring in 2014, establishing PwC as a premier professional services institution in the region.

Retirement did not signal rest, but rather a transition into the architect of corporate governance in East Africa.

Mr Mususa shifted his immense experience into corporate boardrooms, navigating institutions through complex economic climates with a calm authority.

He assumed the role of Board Chairman at Tanzania Breweries PLC (TBL), leading the company for seven years leading up to his passing.

He also brought his sharp oversight to the media industry, chairing the board of Mwananchi Communications Limited (MCL) for a nine-year tenure before stepping down in late 2024.

His chairmanship extended to the financial sector, where he led both the Reliance Insurance Company (Tanzania) Limited and Selcom Microfinance Bank Tanzania Limited, where he was appointed in 2024 to strengthen governance and growth.

His strategic vision was highly sought after beyond the chairperson's seat.

He contributed as a non-executive director on several other prominent boards, including NMB Bank Plc from June 2015 to January 2022, Nation Media Group Plc in Kenya, Stanbic Bank Tanzania, Bank One Mauritius, and Sotta Mining Corporation Limited.

This extensive portfolio made him a foundational pillar of regional commerce.

He helped build private sector institutions as a founding member of the CEO Roundtable of Tanzania (CEOrt), serving as its chairman for several years before retiring from the board in 2017.

He also served as a council member of the Tanzania Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (TCCIA), driving crucial dialogue between businesses and the government to improve the national economic environment.

His expertise naturally extended into national public service, where the state frequently relied on his financial intellect.

In October 2024, President Samia Suluhu Hassan appointed Mr Mususa as a Commissioner on the Presidential Tax Reform Commission, which presented its final report in March 2026.

The government routinely sought his advice on complex national matters, including foreign exchange challenges and government aircraft oversight.

Chief Secretary Amb Moses Kusiluka revealed that the state had planned to elevate his role further.

In his eulogy Amb Kusiluka said he had told Mususa that he intended to appoint him as chairperson to oversee the implementation of the reforms.

“Unfortunately, before that could happen, he passed away," Amb Kusiluka was quoted by local media as saying.

The public tributes flowing from colleagues and peers did not just paint a picture of a businessman, but of a rare mentor who led with quiet strength.

David Tarimo, the current Chairman of the CEO Roundtable of Tanzania, reflected deeply on this balance. In an article published by The Citizen, Mr Tarimo wrote, "He was a man defined by conviction and integrity - something that required a lion heart. At the same time he was invariably modest and compassionate when dealing with people."

Mr Tarimo added that Mr Mususa possessed the ‘lionheart' to 'say it as it is' but do so in a mild and gentle manner."

This mentorship of the next generation remains a central theme of his enduring legacy.

Business leaders recalled that he once declined the chairmanship of a major business group because he firmly believed younger leaders should be given space to lead.

Current PwC Tanzania Country Senior Partner, Zainab Msimbe, described him as "a true professional and a man of unshakeable integrity, but above all a leader and mentor who shaped many leaders."

Those who worked under his direct governance remember him with a deep, almost familial reverence.

Former MCL Managing Director Bakari Machumu described him as a father figure who heavily invested in developing young talent.

"He challenged us to be better and never settle for less. We were fortunate to pass through his hands professionally," he told the local media.

NMB Bank Plc Chief Executive Officer, Ruth Zaipuna, also credited him as a foundational pillar for her career.

She described Mr Mususa as her "mentor, boss and father figure," noting that his governance and strategic leadership heavily guided NMB Bank through a period of significant transformation.

Ultimately, his life's work was about lifting the entire economic ecosystem of his country.