Tanzanians react to Magufuli’s list of 34 ministers
Dar es Salaam. Tanzanians
have widely hailed President John Magufuli’s Cabinet announced
yesterday as well-thought and cost-saving, while some saw it as lacking
in a balanced sharing of posts between Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar.
Political analysts, politicians and economists who spoke with The Citizen said they expected more efficiency in the new Cabinet which is a half that of former President Jakaya Kikwete.
Most of those interviewed downplayed the issue of gender balance and argued that a person’s ability to perform was what matters.
A lecturer at the Open University of Tanzania (OUT), Mr Hamad Salim, praised the Cabinet choice, noting that President Magufuli has appointed people who would be able to push his agenda.
He commended the President for realising the importance of reducing the number of ministries.
“We have got a leader who is aware of the (weak) state of our economy, that’s why he has formed only 18 ministries… That’s commendable,” he said.
But, Mr Salim was suspicious that the appointment may bring complaints from the other side of the Union, Zanzibar, for the fact that positions that were traditionally given to people from the Isles’ citizens have now been given to Mainlanders.
“President Magufuli has focused on appointing people who will help him most effectively rather than considering the balance between the partners to the Union,” he said.
According to him, it was common that deputy minister for Foreign Affairs and minister responsible for the Union matters would come from Zanzibar, but this time around, that isn’t the case.
Mr Lucas Katera, a senior researcher with Policy Research for Development (Repoa), said in economic percepective, the small Cabinet is most appropriate.
The fifth government will save a significant amount of money that would have otherwise gone to finance a bloated Cabinet, he noted.
“The saved money will go to the government coffers and be channelled to development projects,” he said. He argued that even though the appointment took into account gender balance, the important thing is that, ability was well considered.
“You can’t tie yourself to meeting gender balance at the expense of appointing people who qualify,” he said. Political lecturer at the University of Dar es Salaam, Dr Benson Bana, said looking at the faces in the Magufuli Cabinet, one notes that experience, integrity and history of the appointees were considered.
Dr Bana welcomed the decision to remove the ministry of Regional Administration and Local Government (RALG) from the Prime Minister’s Office and putting it under the President’s Office.
“This shows that President Magufuli has real intention to serve the people since it’s this ministry which directly touches the lives of wananchi… I think we will see a big revolution in local governments,” he noted. Dr Bana argued further that the decision to merge several ministries into one would get rid of duplication of duties that existed when the number of ministries was big.
Korogwe Rural MP, Mr Stephen Ngonyani (CCM), also welcomed Dr Magufuli’s selection.
“Those selected were not expected. This will restore CCM’s trust among the public that the appointments were not based on any bias,” he said.
However, he advised that any future changes should consider having more women since there are many of them who are capable.
Meanwhile, ordinary citizens in upcountry regions have hailed President Magufuli for forming a lean Cabinet, saying that the move is a reflection of his desire to cut down public expenditure.
Numerous wananchi who spoke to The Citizen said the look and the size of the new Cabinet proves that Dr Magufuli is a man of his words.
A lecture at Tumaini University, Mbeya branch, Mr Aman Mbilo, said the President’s team is a mixture of youth and experience.
“I am commending the President for not picking any minister from the fourth phase government who was named by CCM secretary general Mr Abdulrahman Kinana as sluggish minister,” said Mr Mbwilo.
Mr Isaya Sigala, a resident of Mbeya, urged the ministers-elect to hit the ground running soon after their swearing-in in order to cope with Dr Magufuli’s pace.
Mr Sigala added that those who slacken will be sacked because Dr Magufuli has so far demonstrated that he means business.
Mwanza-based general secretary for National Union of Mine and Energy Workers (Numet), Mr Nicomedes Kajungu, commended the President’s decision to pick a lean Cabinet.
However, Mr Kajungu faulted him for picking some ministers who were in the previous Cabinet and were named in certain scandals. “How comes a person named in a scandal and forced to resign is being appointed to the new Cabinet?” he queried.
Mwanza regional executive officer of Tanzania Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (TCCIA) Mr Hassan Karambi said the exclusion of deputy ministers in some ministries will also help to save money which will go to development.
“I think the President has weighed the tasks ahead in every ministry because he has been in the government for some time now,” he said
Most of those interviewed downplayed the issue of gender balance and argued that a person’s ability to perform was what matters.
A lecturer at the Open University of Tanzania (OUT), Mr Hamad Salim, praised the Cabinet choice, noting that President Magufuli has appointed people who would be able to push his agenda.
He commended the President for realising the importance of reducing the number of ministries.
“We have got a leader who is aware of the (weak) state of our economy, that’s why he has formed only 18 ministries… That’s commendable,” he said.
But, Mr Salim was suspicious that the appointment may bring complaints from the other side of the Union, Zanzibar, for the fact that positions that were traditionally given to people from the Isles’ citizens have now been given to Mainlanders.
“President Magufuli has focused on appointing people who will help him most effectively rather than considering the balance between the partners to the Union,” he said.
According to him, it was common that deputy minister for Foreign Affairs and minister responsible for the Union matters would come from Zanzibar, but this time around, that isn’t the case.
Mr Lucas Katera, a senior researcher with Policy Research for Development (Repoa), said in economic percepective, the small Cabinet is most appropriate.
The fifth government will save a significant amount of money that would have otherwise gone to finance a bloated Cabinet, he noted.
“The saved money will go to the government coffers and be channelled to development projects,” he said. He argued that even though the appointment took into account gender balance, the important thing is that, ability was well considered.
“You can’t tie yourself to meeting gender balance at the expense of appointing people who qualify,” he said. Political lecturer at the University of Dar es Salaam, Dr Benson Bana, said looking at the faces in the Magufuli Cabinet, one notes that experience, integrity and history of the appointees were considered.
Dr Bana welcomed the decision to remove the ministry of Regional Administration and Local Government (RALG) from the Prime Minister’s Office and putting it under the President’s Office.
“This shows that President Magufuli has real intention to serve the people since it’s this ministry which directly touches the lives of wananchi… I think we will see a big revolution in local governments,” he noted. Dr Bana argued further that the decision to merge several ministries into one would get rid of duplication of duties that existed when the number of ministries was big.
Korogwe Rural MP, Mr Stephen Ngonyani (CCM), also welcomed Dr Magufuli’s selection.
“Those selected were not expected. This will restore CCM’s trust among the public that the appointments were not based on any bias,” he said.
However, he advised that any future changes should consider having more women since there are many of them who are capable.
Meanwhile, ordinary citizens in upcountry regions have hailed President Magufuli for forming a lean Cabinet, saying that the move is a reflection of his desire to cut down public expenditure.
Numerous wananchi who spoke to The Citizen said the look and the size of the new Cabinet proves that Dr Magufuli is a man of his words.
A lecture at Tumaini University, Mbeya branch, Mr Aman Mbilo, said the President’s team is a mixture of youth and experience.
“I am commending the President for not picking any minister from the fourth phase government who was named by CCM secretary general Mr Abdulrahman Kinana as sluggish minister,” said Mr Mbwilo.
Mr Isaya Sigala, a resident of Mbeya, urged the ministers-elect to hit the ground running soon after their swearing-in in order to cope with Dr Magufuli’s pace.
Mr Sigala added that those who slacken will be sacked because Dr Magufuli has so far demonstrated that he means business.
Mwanza-based general secretary for National Union of Mine and Energy Workers (Numet), Mr Nicomedes Kajungu, commended the President’s decision to pick a lean Cabinet.
However, Mr Kajungu faulted him for picking some ministers who were in the previous Cabinet and were named in certain scandals. “How comes a person named in a scandal and forced to resign is being appointed to the new Cabinet?” he queried.
Mwanza regional executive officer of Tanzania Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (TCCIA) Mr Hassan Karambi said the exclusion of deputy ministers in some ministries will also help to save money which will go to development.
“I think the President has weighed the tasks ahead in every ministry because he has been in the government for some time now,” he said
Tanzanians react to Magufuli’s list of 34 ministers
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Reviewed by mudy mandai
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4:43 AM
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