Tanzania Leader Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete is expected to announce changes in his cabinet. The move has been endorsed by the Central Committee of the ruling party Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM).
However, Local political analysts in Tanzania allege that the reshuffle is a result of pressure mounted by the opposition parties in the country.
Members of the public have praised the upcoming reshuffle, saying it was long overdue, but cautioned that Tanzanians are tired of seeing a reshuffle where deputy ministers who had been part of the rotten system being promoted to ministerial positions.
The CCM Ideology and Publicity Secretary, Nape Nnauye told local media that the committee chaired by President Kikwete himself endorsed the decision during an emergency meeting in Dar es Salaam.
“The Central Committee deliberated on among other things, the reshuffle of the cabinet,” he said, clarifying that Members of Parliament from the opposition parties should not think that they were the force behind the move. “The process was already underway since the Controller and Auditor General tabled the reports in Dodoma,” said Nnauye.
He said the CC respected the right and responsibility of Members of Parliament to discuss the execution of duties and responsibilities of their government.
“The committee applauded government efforts to ensure that the reports of the CAG were discussed openly by the parliamentarians,” said Nnauye.
He said the officers involved in the misdeeds revealed in the reports by the CAG will be held accountable.
Nnauye said President Kikwete received resolutions from the CCM MPs’ caucus and the House Leadership committee on what transpired in Dodoma’s seventh parliamentary meeting.
“The Prime Minister, Mizengo Pinda handed over the report to the president immediately after the commemoration of 48 years of the Union of Tanganyika and Zanzibar,” said Nnauye.
He said the CC discussed the reports that were tabled and also received the President’s briefing on the planned cabinet reshuffle and action against other government and public who were implicated in the CAG reports.
The reshuffle announcement comes as activists called on the president to take action against cabinet ministers and government officials named in the reports of the Controller and Auditor General (CAG).
Addressing journalists in Dar es Salaam yesterday, Executive Director, Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC) Dr Hellen Kijo-Bisimba said Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda should also resign since legislators have already notified the Speaker of intentions to move a motion of no confidence in him.
“Section 8 of the country’s constitution permits citizens to obligate the government. We appeal to wananchi in their capacities to push the government to act on the MPs’ recommendations because they are the ones responsible to ensure that national resources are equally enjoyed,” she noted.
During the seventh session of the Parliament, Members of Parliament led by Kigoma North legislator Zitto Kabwe spearheaded a move to seek resignation of the Minister for Finance, Minister for Agriculture, Food Security and Cooperatives, Minister for Trade and Industries and his deputy.
Others in the list were Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (Regional Administration and Local Government); Minister for Health and Social Welfare; Minister for Transport and Minister for Energy and Minerals.
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