Chief Secretary Ombeni Sefue briefs the media at State House yesterday on Cabinet changes made by President Jakaya Kikwete. PHOTO | EDWIN MJWAHUZI
IN SUMMARY
He promoted four deputies to full cabinet ministers, with Ms Saada Mkuya Salum becoming the new Finance minister. Ms Salum, who was a deputy in the same ministry, becomes the second female to hold the all-important docket since independence. The first was Ms Zakia Meghji who handled the Finance ministry between 2006 and 2008.
At last, President Jakaya Kikwete yesterday executed the anxiously awaited reshuffle of his Cabinet in which the minister in the Vice President’s Office (Environment), Dr Theresia Huvisa and four deputy ministers were shown the door.
He promoted four deputies to full cabinet ministers, with Ms Saada Mkuya Salum becoming the new Finance minister. Ms Salum, who was a deputy in the same ministry, becomes the second female to hold the all-important docket since independence. The first was Ms Zakia Meghji who handled the Finance ministry between 2006 and 2008.
Dr Bilith Mahenge has been promoted to minister in Vice President’s Office (Environment). He was the deputy minister in the Water ministry.
Dr Seif Rashidi who was deputy minister, Health and Social Welfare becomes the full minister for the same ministry.
Mr Lazaro Nyalandu, the erstwhile deputy minister for Natural Resources and Tourism has been promoted to full minister in the same docket.
The changes in the Cabinet have been occasioned by the sacking of four ministers in December following reports human rights violations meted out to suspects in a special anti-poaching drive, Operesheni Tokomeza Ujangili (Operation Eradicate Poaching), and the death of minister for Finance William Mgimwa.
Two new full ministers and eight deputy ministers are in the Cabinet following changes announced yesterday by the Chief Secretary Ombeni Sefue. Four deputies were promoted to full ministers while six got transfers. Two cabinet ministers were transferred.
Deputy ministers who got the sack are: Gregory Teu (Industries and Trade), Philipo Mulugo (Education and Vocational Training), Benedict ole-Nangoro (Livestock and Fisheries), Goodluck ole-Medeye (Lands, Housing and Human Settlements Development),
The new full minister in the Cabinet are Dr Asha-Rose Migiro (Constitutional and Legal Affairs) and Dr Titus Kamani (Livestock and Fisheries). Dr Migiro, a legal expert, is a nominated MP, while Dr Kamani is MP for Busega.
The new deputy ministers are: the Iramba West MP, Mwigulu Nchemba (Finance), the Serengeti MP, Dr Kebwe Stephen Kebwe (Health and Social Welfare), Peramiho MP, Jenista Mhagama (Education and Vocational Training), Special Seats MP, Pindi Chana (Community Development, Gender and Children), and Ngorongoro MP, Kakia Telele (Livestock and Fisheries).
Others are: Mbozi East MP Godfrey Zambi (Agriculture, Food Security and Cooperatives), Kondoa South MP Juma Nkamia (Information, Culture and Sports) and Mufindi North MP Mahmoud Mgimwa (Natural Resources and Tourism).
Two ministers who were transferred are Dr Hussein Ali Mwinyi (from Health and Social Welfare to Defence and National Service) and Mathias Chikawe (Constitutional and Legal Affairs to Home Affairs).
Deputy ministers who have been transferred include Ms Ummy Mwalimu (from Community Development, Gender and Children to VPO-Environment), Mr Adam Malima (Agriculture, Food Security and Cooperatives to Finance), Ms Janeth Mbene (Finance to Industries and Trade) and Ms George Simbachawene (Energy and Minerals to Lands, Housing and Human Settlements Development).
Othera are: Mr Amos Makalla (Information, Youth, Culture and Sports to Water) and Mr Charles Kitwanga (VPO-Environment to Energy and Minerals).
Meanwhile, there were apparent disappointments in Arusha and Manyara regions over the new Cabinet line-up.
“This is not a strong Cabinet,” lamented a business analyst based here, Mr Simon Mapolu, who argued that the “new” team lacked dynamism “which is essential for the ruling party ahead of the 2015 polls.”
Without naming names, the management consultant questioned the capacity and credibility of the newly announced ministers or those who have been promoted.
“The same old guards whom many were dismissing as non-performing are still there, so there aren’t any surprises,” he said. He also wondered why the President avoided reading the list himself and delegated the task to the chief secretary.
This was the first time in many years that the sitting president has skipped reading the list of ministers in any major reshuffle.
Mr Mapolu noted further that the issue is not about who is being appointed but whether one would perform given the meagre resources the government releases to ministries.
And in Manyara Region, although many said they were happy that none of the recently fired ministers was returned, they appeared disappointed that some of the “burdensome ministers” survived the chop.
A resident in Balang’da-Lalu Village in Hanang District, Mr John Gidang’ai, wondered why four ministers who had been accused of failure by the ruling CCM were retained by Mr Kikwete who is chairman of the very party.
“If the President Kikwete cares for advice from his party officials who visited the southern regions recently, then he shouldn’t have re-appointed the four,” he said.
The allegedly non-performing ministers head the Agriculture, Education, Regional Administration and Local Government and Water dockets. But an information officer with the Babati Town Council, Ms Grace Msovela, hailed the appointment of Juma Nkamia as the deputy minister for Information, Youth and Sports.
For his part, a resident of Kiteto District, Mohamed Said, expressed his delight over the removal of his MP Benedict ole Nangoro as deputy minister for Livestock Development and Fishing.
“This man was not visible during the recent clashes where many lives were lost”, he said, adding that he was happy that the job has gone to Ngorongoro MP Saning’o ole Telele.
There was a somber mood at some quarters in Arusha following the removal of deputy Education minister Mulugo. The man was here at the weekend to grace a graduation ceremony at the Arusha Technical College (ATC).
“This man was at least visible and was open in highlighting the challenges facing education,” remarked one resident who was, however, full of joy to see the Peramiho legislator Jenister Mhagama being appointed to replace Mr Mulugo.
“Although I mourn the exit of Mulugo, I am pleased to see Jenister joining the line-up. She is a woman of great potential,” he remarked.
Others lauded the President for the appointment of Dr Titus Kamani as the minister for Livestock Development and Fisheries.
And a resident of Bassotu in Hanang District, Mr Samuel Ghawoga, said he has high expectations in the new leadership at the ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism. “Mr Nyalandu must avoid cheap politics and focus on the anti-poaching war.”
Additional reporting by Zephania Ubwani in Arusha
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