Carlos Salinas de Gortari vs Edward Lowassa

Salinas privatized hundreds of state-owned companies, including the telephone monopoly Telmex, banks, and steel mills. The sales raised revenue but were criticized for lack of transparency and for concentrating wealth among a few billionaires.

President Carlos Salinas de Gortari negotiated and signed NAFTA with the United States and Canada, creating a free trade zone. The agreement, effective in 1994, aimed to boost investment and exports but also led to job losses in agriculture and manufacturing.

On January 1, 1994, the Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN) launched an armed rebellion in Chiapas, protesting NAFTA and indigenous marginalization. The uprising exposed deep social inequalities and challenged Salinas's narrative of modernization.

After leaving office, Salinas faced corruption allegations and went into self-imposed exile in Ireland. His brother Ra

Edward Lowassa was appointed Prime Minister by President Jakaya Kikwete. He served from 2005 to 2008, overseeing government operations and policy implementation during Kikwete's first term.

Lowassa resigned as Prime Minister following allegations of involvement in the Richmond scandal, where a contract was awarded to a US company for electricity generation that failed to deliver. The scandal implicated several officials and led to a parliamentary inquiry.

Lowassa defected from CCM to the opposition party Chadema and ran as their presidential candidate in the 2015 election. He lost to John Magufuli of CCM, receiving about 40% of the vote.