Diwani becomes RAS for Kagera

KATARE MBASHIRU

FORMER Director of Criminal Investigation (DCI), Diwani Athumani, whose appointment was revoked by President John Magufuli three weeks ago, has been appointed the new Kagera Regional Administrative Secretary (RAS).

A statement released by State House Director of Presidential Communications, Gerson Msigwa, stated that Mr Athumani’s appointment is effective from November 18.
Mr Athuman’s post was revoked on October 29, this year, with the Head of State promising to assign him other duties. However, Dr Magufuli did not clarify categorically the reasons behind the removal of the former DCI from the post.
He said he would fill his position later.
The Head of State is yet to appoint the new DCI and currently, Mr Robert Boaz is the Acting DCI. Mr Athuman was appointed DCI by former President Jakaya Kikwete in May, 2015.
Before the appointment, Mr Athuman was the Deputy DCI and at the same time acting as the DCI. He took over from Isaya Mngulu who retired from service after clocking the retirement age according to law. Before acting in the DCI post, Mr Athuman served as Mbeya Regional Police Commander (RPC).
With the new appointment as RAS, the former DCI becomes the third top police officer, with a rank of Commissioner of Police (CP) to be appointed as RAS after former Commissioner of Operations and Training CP Paul Chagonja and former Commissioner of Finance, Administration and Logistics, Clodwig Mtweve who were appointed RAS for Katavi and Mwanza respectively.
Mr Athumani will now replace former Kagera RAS, Amantius Msole, who was suspended by Dr Magufuli in September for allegedly opening a fake bank account to siphon money from the Kagera earthquake fund. Mr Msole is facing conspiracy charges at the Bukoba Resident Magistrates’ Court.
Meanwhile, president Magufuli has appointed five new board chairpersons of five different government institutions. The chairpersons and their institutions in brackets are as follows.
They are Judge (rtd) Joseph Warioba (Sokoine University of Agriculture - SUA), Dr Jones Kilimbe (Tanzania Communicationss Regulatory Authority - TCRA), Sylivester Mabumba (Deputy TCRA Board Chairman), Professor Patrick Makungu (Tanzania Engineering and Manufacturing Design Organisation - TEMDO).
Others are Mr Martin Madekwe who has been appointed as board chairman of the Land Compensation Fund and Professor Raphael Chibunda (Tropical Pesticides Research Institute)