Honourable Jenista Mhagama Minister of Health
Ministers of State in the President’s Office
Incumbent
Assumed office 10 January 2022
President	Samia Suluhu
Preceded by	Ummy Mwalimu
Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office
In office 12 December 2015 – 10 January 2022
Prime Minister	Kassim Majaliwa
Succeeded by	Joyce Ndalichako Pindi Chana
Deputy Minister of Education and Vocational Training
In office 20 January 2014 – 5 November 2015
Preceded by	Philipo Mulugo
Member of Parliament for Peramiho
Incumbent
Assumed office December 2005
Preceded by	Simon Mbilinyi
Personal details
Born	(1967-06-23) 23 June 1967 (age 57)
Nationality	Tanzanian
Political party	CCM
Alma mater	Korogwe TTC (DipEd)
Profession	Teacher
Military service
Allegiance	United Rep. of Tanzania
Branch/service	National Service
Military camp	Mlale
Duration	2 years

Jenista Joakim Mhagama (born 23 June 1967) is the Minister of Health in Tanzania. She succeeded Ummy Mwalimu whose tenure in the role lasted 14 years. Mhagama is a politician belonging to the Chama Cha Mapinduzi party, and was previously a Member of Parliament for Peramiho constituency. In December 2015, she was appointed as a Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office responsible for Policy, Parliamentary Affairs, Labour, Employment, Youth and the Disabled in President John Magufuli's administration. In January 2022, she was moved to the President’s Office Good Governance and Public Services.^[1]

Mhagama was born on June 23, 1967. She completed her schooling from Peramiho Girls' Secondary School in 1986. In 1989, she received her Diploma in Education from the Korogwe Teachers Training College. She worked as a teacher for six years between 1991 and 1997.^[2]

Mhagama first became involved with CCM in 1987 and served in a variety of roles including in the youth and women wings of the party. She was first appointed to the Parliament from a special seat reserved for women in 2000.^[2]

In 2005, she defeated former Finance Minister Simon Mbilinyi in a primary for the right to represent CCM in the upcoming elections for Peramiho constituency.^[3] An analysis found that Mhagama was the second most active MP in the 2005-2010 Parliament in terms of contributions to debates and questions to ministers.^[4]

Mhagama was the Deputy Minister for Education and Vocational Training in President Jakaya Kikwete's administration between January 2014 and January 2015. Then in a cabinet reshuffle, she was promoted and named Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office (Policy, coordination and parliamentary affairs).^[5]

In the 2015 general elections, Mhagama won her Peramiho seat against CHADEMA candidate Erasmo Mwingira by a vote margin of 32,057 votes to 11,462.^[6] In the new President John Magufuli's cabinet, she was appointed a Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office (Labour, Employment, Youth and People with Physical Disabilities).^[7] In January 2022, she was moved to the President’s Office Good Governance and Public Services. Mhagama was sworn in as Tanzania's Minister of Health on 15 August 2024 by President Samia Suluhu Hassan.^[8]