In an unusually fiery parliamentary session today, Kisesa MP Luhaga Mpina (CCM) stunned lawmakers by proposing that the Ministry of Industry and Trade led by Dr. Selemani Jafo be abolished, accusing it of presiding over policies that suffocate, rather than support, Tanzanian businesses.
Although Parliament lacks constitutional authority to dissolve a ministry—a power reserved for the President, Mpina's remarks signal deep-seated frustrations with how the ministry is managing the country’s economic space, particularly the private sector.
The former Livestock and Fisheries Minister went so far as to say that if scrapping the ministry proves legally impossible, then the current officials “should either assess themselves or be removed.”
“This ministry was expected to be a sanctuary for entrepreneurs and business founders,” said Mpina. “Instead, it has become a machinery for legitimizing the death of local enterprises.”
His comments came during the ongoing budget debate, where the ministry is seeking parliamentary approval for TSh135.7 billion for the 2025/26 fiscal year.
Mpina questioned whether such a budget was justifiable given what he termed “the ministry’s failure to deliver meaningful results.”
At the heart of Mpina’s criticism lies a broader concern about the regulatory and import policies that, in his view, have weakened domestic industries.
He joined other MPs in decrying the influx of substandard goods—especially construction materials such as steel bars that end up in critical public infrastructure like health centres and bridges, some of which, he said, “collapse prematurely.”
The critique points to a growing perception among lawmakers that government institutions may be failing to enforce basic standards and protect local markets from unfair competition, particularly from foreign players operating under loose supervision.
But the exchange also illuminated political fault lines within the ruling party. Bunda MP Mwita Getere (CCM), in a measured yet sharp rebuttal, reminded the House that no minister, past or present, has been immune to systemic challenges.
Without naming names at first, he cited an example from the Fourth Phase Government, clearly referencing Mpina’s own tenure.
“There was a Livestock and Fisheries Minister who confiscated people’s nets and fishing gear across the country,” Getere said. “But even he could not solve all the problems. No minister has.”
This veiled counterattack exposed a paradox in Mpina’s argument: while he demands institutional perfection from others, his own track record was marked by equally controversial interventions including a nationwide crackdown on fishing tools and disputed fish measurement policies, that drew criticism for being heavy-handed and economically disruptive.
Minister Jafo, in closing the debate, offered a brief but pointed response to Mpina’s barrage.
“Mr. Deputy Speaker, my young brother and friend Mpina seems to oppose everything. There could be something wrong somewhere,” said Jafo, suggesting that the lawmaker’s persistent dissent might be more personal than policy-driven.
Jafo appeared visibly perturbed, yet maintained a note of camaraderie, referring to Mpina as “my clan mate” before calling for self-reflection on the part of his critic.