Dr. Aziz Ponary Mlima is a distinguished Tanzanian diplomat and economist with a notable career in public service. He earned his PhD in Economics from Gothenburg University in Sweden. 

From December 31, 2015, to October 27, 2017, Dr. Mlima served as the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation. During his tenure, he oversaw the merger of the ministries responsible for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation and facilitated the opening of six new diplomatic missions in Ankara, Algiers, Khartoum, Tel Aviv, Doha, and Seoul. 

Prior to this role, between 2013 and 2015, he was Tanzania’s High Commissioner to Malaysia, Brunei, and Ambassador to Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Indonesia. He also served as the Personal Assistant to former President Benjamin Mkapa from December 2005 to December 2013. 

From 2018 to 2023, Dr. Mlima represented Tanzania as the High Commissioner to Uganda. In this capacity, he worked to strengthen bilateral relations between the two nations, focusing on areas such as trade, security, education, agriculture, and energy. 

In September 2024, President Samia Suluhu Hassan appointed Dr. Mlima as the Chairman of the Board of the National Ranching Company Limited (NARCO). 

Throughout his career, Dr. Mlima has been recognized for his leadership and contributions to Tanzania’s diplomatic and economic sectors.