"Glory to God who guided President
(John) Magufuli to appoint me; this is an extremely big thing that I
never dreamt of. Thank you Mr President and thank you all fellow MPs.
Let us work together for our country," said Mr Majaliwa, promising to be
the Premier of all the people, irrespective of political, religious or
racial differences. He said his office will basically be on the field
where the majority of Tanzanians live.
"I will travel to all parts of the
country to hear and see the critical problems facing the people...
together we will work out their solution," he pledged. The Premier's
promise matches President Magufuli's directive to civil servants to stop
all foreign trips and instead travel extensively to rural parts of the
country to fix the problems of the people. MPs had to wait quietly
inside the debating chamber for about 40 minutes on Thursday morning,
pending the arrival of the Premier's name which was until then top
secret.
The president's Aide-de-Camp, escorted
by two Sergeants-at-arms, submitted the name to Speaker Job Ndugai who
displayed the sealed brown envelop before all MPs to prove that it was
intact.
But surprisingly, the Speaker had to
open two more envelopes before landing on the eagerly- awaited name.
Choosing to be dramatic, Mr Ndugai made as if to read out the name, only
saying “and the Member of Parliament Majaliwa Kassim Majaliwa,”,
sending the House into prolonged applause.
After the name was read, Mr Ndugai
adjourned the morning session for about one hour to give the Attorney
General, Mr George Masaju, ample time to go and get the appointee’s
background.
“Because this name has been brought here
in top secrecy, I don’t think even the attorney general has the profile
of the prime minister. So, let me give him one hour to prepare that
profile,” said Mr Ndugai as he adjourned the meeting.
When the session reconvened later, Mr
Masaju introduced the Prime Minister-Elect to Parliament for
endorsement, describing him as honest, humble, wise and hardworking
person, capable of performing his duties with a high level of precision.
“And, given his teaching experience, Mr
Majaliwa has a high analytical capacity on various issues,” said Mr
Masaju amid deafening applause. A long serving civil servant, Mr
Majaliwa started as a primary school teacher, teacher teaching college
tutor, district and regional secretary of the teachers’ trade union,
sports trainer, district commissioner and deputy minister.
He was until his new appointment the
Bunge Football Club coach, said the AG. The 55-year old MP and former
Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, Local Government and
Regional Administration, is scheduled to take oath at the Chamwino State
Lodge grounds this morning before assuming his new responsibilities.
Most MPs interviewed exhibited
overwhelming support to Mr Majaliwa, endorsing him for the Premiership
with 258 out of the total 351 votes cast.
“Under this political environment, your endorsement of 73.5 per cent can rightly be described as landslide victory,” said Speaker Ndugai in his congratulatory message to the Premier-Elect.
“Under this political environment, your endorsement of 73.5 per cent can rightly be described as landslide victory,” said Speaker Ndugai in his congratulatory message to the Premier-Elect.
Fellow MPs described Mr Majaliwa as
hardworking, humble, wise and -- above all -- one of the few politicians
who abhor group politics, distinguishing himself the best fit for the
prestigious post.
The Premier is expected to join
President Magufuli to form what observers foresee as small but result
oriented cabinet. Mr Majaliwa, a teacher by profession, takes over from
Mr Mizengo Pinda, who officially retired on November 5, 2015, to join
the club of retired PMs -- Cleopa Msuya, Salim Ahmed Salim, Joseph
Warioba, John Malecela, Fredrick Sumaye and Edward Lowassa. Departed
prime ministers are Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, Rashidi Kawawa and Edward
Sokoine.
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