Ambassador Mpungwe graduated with a BA (Hons) from the University of Dar es Salaam in 1975 and directly joined the Tanzanian Foreign Service as a career diplomat. He received his Foreign Service Training in New Zealand and Australia; a Post-Graduate Diploma in International Law and Diplomacy from the University of Zambia, in 1991; a PGC in Senior Management from the University of Pretoria, South Africa, in 1997 and a Certificate in Corporate Governance from Kagiso Leadership School, South Africa in 1998. He is a Member of the UK Institute of Directors.
In 1994, Ambassador Mpungwe became Tanzania’s first High Commissioner to South Africa. Prior to that, he had served as Personal Assistant to the President of the United Republic of Tanzania; Private Secretary to the Chief Secretary, Secretary to the Cabinet and Head of the Civil Service, and; Director of Africa and Middle East in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the United Republic of Tanzania.
However, in December 1999, after 25 years of distinguished service, Ambassador Mpungwe at the age of 48, took an early and voluntary retirement from the Diplomatic/Public Service to join the Private Sector in a range of sub-sectors. He also Chairs the Boards of MultiChoice Tanzania Ltd; MIC (TIGO) Tanzania Ltd; Kilombero Valley Teak Company Ltd; Kilombero Sugar Co. Ltd; and seats on the Boards of Tanzania Breweries Ltd; Standard Chartered Bank (Tanzania); Malawi Sugar Plc; Zambia Sugar Plc; Nyota Tanzania Ltd (Maersk Shipping Line Associate), and; Advisory Board of the ILLOVO Sugar Group (a subsidiary of Associated British Foods of the UK) and PanAfrican Energy (T) Ltd.
He chairs the Tanzania Chamber of Mines; the University of Dodoma Endowment Fund and had a two-term tenure on the Council of the University of Dar es Salaam.
In 1999, President Mbeki decorated Ambassador Mpungwe with the ‘Order of Good Hope’, South Africa’s highest Award granted to foreign citizens for his distinguished service to the liberation of South Africa; Economic integration in Southern Africa (SADC Region) and for promoting closer ties between South Africa and Tanzania.
In August 2001, he was awarded with Certificate of Recognition by the OAU for his “Important Contribution in facilitating the Inter-Rwandese negotiations, culminating in the Arusha Peace Agreement of 4th August 1993”
Born in Tanzania on 24th February 1951, married to Anitta Rose Mpungwe and together they have three daughters, Anissa, Araffa and Alma.
Nelson is an audit partner with PwC Tanzania since 1 July 2007, with over 25 years’ experience with PwC. His professional experience include 3 years’ with PwC South Africa firm and over 22 years in PwC Tanzania, and has spanned a broad range of industries.
At PwC, Nelson has been responsible for providing audit, accounting and controls advice, due diligence, IPO’s, specialist audits relating to mergers and takeover transactions with excellent knowledge of IFRS. His assurance assignment experience ranges from Government and Public sector, telecommunication sector, energy and mining, industrial, commercial and services sector, involving many of the major listed, multinational and local companies operating in Tanzania.
Nelson has been involved in a couple of advisory assignments especially as a lead director in the financial due diligence assignments and a lead partner in an IPO where PwC was a Reporting Accountant. Government and Public sector, Telecommunication sector and Energy and Mining are areas of specialism for Nelson.
Nelson has served as a member of the local institute of Accountants and Auditors (i.e. National Board of Accountants and Auditors – NBAA) as a member of the Audit Quality Review Team responsible for the independent check of all the registered audit firms in Tanzania (on a rotational basis).
Nelson has served as a member of the Board of Advisors of AIESEC Tanzania for 2 and half years (January 2013 – June 2015). AIESEC is the world’s largest non-profit youth-run organization that provides young people with leadership development, cross-cultural global internships, and volunteer exchange experiences across the globe.
Currently, Nelson heads the PwC Tanzania firm’s Government and Public Sector Group (G&PS) and in the past led the PwC Tanzania Consumer and Industrial Products and Services (CIPS) industry group up to July 2014. He is the Country Risk Management Partner (the “CRMP”) for the Assurance Practice in Tanzania. As CRMP, Nelson is responsible for Risk and Quality in the PwC assurance practice in Tanzania. Working in conjunction with his partners, Nelson is required to ensure all assurance engagements are carried out in complies with the requirements of International Standards on Auditing (ISAs), PwC Network Risk Management Standards, and Assurance Risk Management Standards.
Nelson is also a Partner responsible for the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in PwC Tanzania. Under his leadership, PwC has supported schools, colleges, universities and hospitals in Tanga, Coast, Morogoro and Dar-es-Salaam regions and mentoring of upcoming young graduates and business entrepreneurs, through a collaboration between various universities in Tanzania and Mara Foundation.
Membership in professional bodies:
- Fellow Certified Public Accountant in Public Practice (FCPA) (T);
- Trained Practioner on US Government Auditing Standards.
- Member of the National Board of Accountants and Auditors (NBAA);
- Registered Tax Consultant with Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA); and
- Alumnus, Gordon Institute of Business Science, University of Pretoria – Leadership Development Programme
