By Adonis Byemelwa
President of Tanzania, Samia Suluhu Hassan, has reshuffled her cabinet, removing two ministers from their positions. The announcement, signed by Acting Director of Presidential Communications Sharifa Nyanga, was made public today, Sunday, July 21, 2024.
The President revoked the appointments of Nape Nnauye, Minister of Information, Communication, and Information Technology, and January Makamba, Minister of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation. As well, Stephen Byabato, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation was also relieved of his duties.
In the reshuffle, President Samia appointed Ridhiwani Kikwete as Minister of State, Prime Minister’s Office (Labor, Youth, Employment, and Disabled). Previously, he was the Deputy Minister in the President’s Office, Public Service Management, and Good Governance.
Ridhiwani, the son of former President Jakaya Kikwete, replaces Deogratius Ndejembi, who has been appointed as Minister of Lands, Housing, and Human Settlements Development.
Jerry Silaa has been appointed as the new Minister of Information, Communication, and Information Technology, succeeding Nape Nnauye. Before this, Silaa was the Minister of Lands, Housing, and Human Settlements Development.
Ambassador Mahmoud Thabit Kombo has been appointed as a Member of Parliament and the new Minister of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, taking over from January Makamba. Before this, Ambassador Kombo was Tanzania’s Ambassador to Italy.
This reshuffle follows the resignation of former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Mbarouk Nassor Mbarouk, who submitted his resignation letter to the Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr. Tulia Ackson. Cosato Chumi has been appointed to fill the position of Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation.
In his widely shared audio message, activist Peter Mlay emphasized that in developed countries, appointments undergo rigorous scrutiny. Candidates are thoroughly vetted through questionnaires and panel interviews to verify their qualifications. These countries prioritize the appointee's patriotism, ideology, education, and expertise, all assessed in public view.
Mlay criticized Tanzania's reliance on connections and nepotism, leading to appointments that are often revoked within days without public explanation. "President Samia's reshuffle has brought to light serious flaws in the vetting process," Mlay said. "How can a deceased individual be appointed to a new position? This is not just an administrative error; it's a sign of deeper systemic issues."
This incident with Milton Lupa's posthumous appointment indicates a lack of proper vetting by the President and her aides. The problem lies in the flawed systems, not in a lack of capable leaders. Strong systems could transform even inadequate leaders into effective ones. The current imbalance, where leaders overpower the systems, results in visible and embarrassing mistakes.
Mlay noted that when he questioned these errors, he was told they were human mistakes. However, he argued that the government's extensive reach and numerous officials make such errors inexcusable. Even if human error is possible, this case exposes systemic weaknesses.
General Jacob Mkunda, the Chief of Defence Forces, has also raised concerns about refugees and asylum seekers occupying sensitive government positions. He suggested repatriating them, as their prolonged presence poses a national security risk.
From January 1 to December 31 of the previous year, Tanzania received 138,149 refugees and asylum seekers, primarily from Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. These individuals often seek better economic opportunities, disqualifying them from asylum.
General Mkunda noted instances of non-citizens being appointed to critical positions, leading to systemic sabotage. This has prompted public frustrations among officials. "The risk is significant," General Mkunda said. "Especially in the western regions where many refugees have settled, their prolonged presence poses a national security threat. The government must take steps to ensure sensitive positions are held by qualified citizens."
Mlay concludes that while Tanzania has capable individuals, the main issue lies in the flawed systems. Effective systems could mitigate leadership flaws, but the current state allows leaders to overshadow the systems, resulting in significant consequences.
"The problem is not the lack of qualified leaders," Mlay emphasized. "It's the lack of robust systems to support and vet these leaders. Strong systems could turn even mediocre leaders into effective ones, but our current processes are deeply flawed."
The controversy surrounding Milton Lupa's posthumous appointment underscores a critical need for reform in the government’s vetting and appointment processes. As Tanzania navigates this latest scandal, it is clear that without significant changes, similar errors and embarrassments are likely to continue.
A political analyst based in Dar es Salaam, Mkolla Robert, commented that it is time Tanzania changed its constitution to ensure no leader is above the law. "There must be mechanisms for appointments as it costs a lot to do reshuffles. For example, transferring a district commissioner from one area to another cost over Sh60,000 million. Ministerial reshuffles likely cost even twice as much, with the national debt ballooning to Sh91.7 trillion," he added.