The cabinet reshuffle announced by President Jakaya Kikwete in Dar es Salaam on Sunday has met with diverse opinion, with a section of analysts and politicians saying Tanzanians “should not expect wonders or changes overnight’’.
They have also described the new outfit as a “make or break’’ team for the ruling CCM ahead of next year’s general elections.
In separate interviews with this newspaper, some noted that the ministers and deputies who were sworn in have a tough task ahead as they are the ones who will determine CCM’s fortunes before 2015.
“If these ministers fail to deliver, then that would be the end of the ruling party. They have a very hard task ahead,” Dr Kitila Mkumbo, a renowned political analyst and senior lecturer at the University of Dar es Salaam told the ‘Daily News’.
He added that Tanzanians should not expect much from the changes because development is brought by a whole system and not by a single person.”
Dr Mkumbo praised President Kikwete over his stand to retain ministers who were previously being metaphorically described as a “burden”, saying the head of state should not always act basing on what the people think.
The don noted that it was now an opportune time for the so-called “troubled ministers” to prove their worth to the public by delivering in their respective portfolios.
The Secretary General of the main opposition party, Chadema, Dr Wilbroad Slaa, wondered why the Prime Minister, Mr Mizengo Pinda, remained untouched “despite repulsive public and parliamentary uproar over his incompetence and laxity.” “This was the person to start with.
He has proved a total failure. Nothing is new in this cabinet; similar faces and consequently, the business as usual syndrome is here to stay,” he commented. Dr Slaa pointed out that he had much expectation that some ministers who had even been mentioned in bad light by top CCM leaders would be shown the exit door.
“But surprisingly they have proudly bounced back,’’ the Chadema leader lamented. He questioned the capabilities of some ministers whose appointment he claimed has been based on party zealotry and not on the interests of the wider public.
Prof Abdallah Safari, a renowned law professor and opposition politics figure, said he did not see much in the cabinet changes because the obstacles to the nation’s development “are system-oriented’’.
“No major transformation can be brought by the cabinet change because this country’s problems are deeply rooted and based on the bad system that needs massive overhaul,” he remarked.
Prof Safari wondered how the president could ignore suggestions from fellow party leaders to fire some “sleeping” ministers, saying it painted a dire picture before the public.
“There is either unclear communication within the party or just contempt. It sounds awkward when top leaders suggest that some ministers be relieved of their duties for incompetence and yet that is not even considered and acted upon by positive change,” he noted.
The don disclosed his previous fears before announcement of the cabinet reshuffle, saying that he thought there would be an increase in the number of ministries. He, however, blasted the current cabinet, saying it was too big and adding to operational costs.
Another political commentator and senior lecturer at the University of Dar es Salaam, Dr Benson Bana, noted that basing on budget constraints and resources, the public “should not expect major changes all of a sudden’’. He praised the president for appointing ministers and deputies basing on their profession, insisting that having professional ministers was a good move to ensure maximum performance.
“Ms Saada Mkuya Salum (Finance), Dr Asha-Rose Migiro (Constitution Affairs and Justice) and Dr Seif Seleman Rashid (Health and Social Welfare) and many others have been placed in the ministries which are in the line of their career. This will highly help to increase efficiency,” Dr Bana observed.
The Mzumbe University’s Dar es Salaam Business School Senior Lecturer (Economics), Dr Honest Ngowi, commented that new faces and those who have bounced back must have learnt from previous mistakes.
He expressed hope that they would not repeat the same mistakes this time around. He believed that the reshuffle would be the last in Mr Kikwete’s presidency. Dr Ngowi expressed doubt whether Mr Mwigulu Nchemba would be able to balance between “love for his party” and his duties as a deputy finance minister.
“Mr Mwigulu is a die-hard CCM cadre; here is where my doubts lie — whether he would be able to balance this. He has a long way to go to ensure he balances these two things,” he said, adding, however, that he had no doubt over his capability.
The Secretary General of the Trade Union Congress of Tanzania (TUCTA) Secretary General, Mr Nicholaus Mgaya, noted that with full support from other functionaries in the government, the new cabinet can collectively bring changes and help improve the welfare of workers.
The anxiously-awaited cabinet reshuffle saw the Minister of State in the Vice-President’s Office (Environment), Dr Terezya Huvisa, and four deputy ministers being shown the door while other four deputies were promoted to full ministers.
The reshuffle was fuelled, among other concerns, by an anti-poaching operation report that was tabled in parliament in December, which detailed major human rights violations against suspects. Four ministers were dropped as a result.
By CHRISTOPHER MAJALIWA, Tanzania Daily News
