President Samia dissolves two key ministries, forms new investment docket

Dar es Salaam. President Samia Suluhu Hassan on Wednesday, July 5, made a mini-cabinet reshuffle that saw the dissolution of two ministries and the formation of three new dockets. 

The Ministry of Finance and Planning is now known as the Ministry of Finance, with the Planning mandate split to form a new separate ministry known as the Ministry of Planning and Investment.

With the changes that are pursuant to the 2023 National Planning Act, President Samia has appointed Mwigulu Nchemba as Tanzania's Finance Minister and Prof. Kitila Mkumbo as the Minister of Planning and Investment.

She has also appointed Lawrence Mafuru as the Executive Secretary of the National Planning Commission.

Prior to the appointment, Mafuru served as the Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance and Planning, overseeing economic management. This role has been given to the former Commissioner of the Department of Policy Analysis in the Ministry of Finance and Planning, Elijah Mwandumbya.

The changes also mean that the Ministry of Investment, Industry, and Trade will now be known as the Ministry of Industry and Trade, with the Investment docket falling under the new Ministry of Planning and Investment. 

Dr Ashatu Kijaji, who oversaw the former Ministry has been appointed the minister of Industry and Trade. 

This move by the government is an attempt at streamlining investment in the country, where the Ministry of Planning and Investment now falls under the President’s Office.