SPECULATION continues on the choice of new cabinet by Union President John Magufuli, with political analysts describing the delay as a strategy by the head of state to build up a team that will help him achieve his desired reforms.
In separate interviews with the ‘Daily
News’ in Dar es Salaam, several analysts also termed the 26- day wait so
far as deliberate “in the sense that President Magufuli may want to
first implement certain government programmes in a style that
illustrates an example to his future team that will make it to his
cabinet.’’
A lawyer and Opposition icon, Professor
Abdallah Safari said the delay by the president in naming his cabinet is
probably based on his wish to be more cautious in coming up with a
credible team.
“I think he wants to be more cautious,
which explains why he is taking more time to build an effective credible
team just as Buhari of Nigeria did,” he said. Nigeria’s President
Muhammadu Buhari took 166 days before he announced his cabinet only
recently.
President Buhari had taken much longer
than expected before making any ministerial appointments as he did
background checks to ensure his first cabinet would reflect his central
message of ‘change’ and ‘integrity’.
Prof Amon Mbelle of the Department of
Economics of the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) said Dr Magufuli has
taken more time to announce his cabinet because downsizing is often a
painful undertaking, needing careful planning or analysis, especially
concerning trade-offs.
A lecturer at UDSM, Mr Richard Mbunda,
opined that the president was most likely being strategic - in the sense
that having served in ministerial positions in the last 20 years, he is
cognizant that some leaders are aligned to taking appointments in a
‘business as usual’ stance.
“On that note, it appears President
Magufuli has bigger plans of changing systems to be more accountable,
which needs time to vet and build,” he said. The academician noted that
it appears the president is aware that he cannot work alone and needs a
dependable team.
“That is the team he is silently
building. He wants a clean team - and to remain clean, you need a clean
team,” Mr Mbunda observed. He also suggested that President Magufuli
could also be trying to illustrate an example in how he wants his future
team to implement delivery of government programmes.
“He is doing a number of things now and
giving prior example to any cabinet member that he will appoint in
future. I can see him telling them: That this is how I want you to work,
this is how I want you to operate,” he noted.
A lecturer at the Open University of
Tanzania (OUT), Dr Emmanuel Mallya, said the announcement of the cabinet
has likely taken some time to be made public because Dr Magufuli wants
to put together a keen government. It is important, therefore, that he
assesses available options and gets important information on those that
he would want to pick for the cabinet posts at stake.
“He is illustrating that for good
results; it is important to work in a cautious but sure manner in this
regard,” said the OUT don. Dr Mallya said it was important to give the
problem more time to do the right decisions on the sort of people he
would want in his government.
Another analyst, Mr Julius Mtatiro, said
President Magufuli still needs time to cross-check information on the
people he wants on his team, since it would be a letdown if he appoints
someone only to see their scandals get out a few days after being
appointed.
“The motivation that Dr Magufuli has
started with, illustrates to all of us that he wants to put foundations
for a performing team. He needs a small and effective cabinet at that
and one that can work within high austerity measures,” he said.
When retired President Benjamin Mkapa
assumed the highest post of the land in 1995, it took him five days to
form a cabinet while it took President Jakaya Kikwete 14 days. For
President Magufuli, 26 days have now elapsed so far without one.
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