The task ahead for newly appointed ministers

Dar es Salaam. Tedious tasks await President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s recently appointed ministers as they will be required to deliver on the ruling party’s 2020 election pledges.

Among the new appointees is Deogratius Ndejembi, who moved from the Prime Minister’s Office (Labour, Youth, Employment and Persons with Disabilities) to the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Human Settlements Development, replacing Mr Jerry Silaa.

Mr Ridhiwan Kikwete, who was previously the deputy minister in the Office of the President, (Public Service Management and Good Governance) has been appointed as the new minister for Labour, Youth, Employment and Persons with Disabilities, succeeding Ndejembi.

Ambassador Mahmoud Thabit Kombo has also been appointed as the minister of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, succeeding Mr January Makamba, who was relieved of his duties.

Additionally, Mr Jerry Silaa, formerly in the ministry of Lands, Housing and Human Settlements Development, is now the minister for Information, Communication and Information Technology, succeeding Nape Nnauye, whose appointment was also revoked.

Players say Mr Ndejembi will have to hit the ground running to tame land conflicts and violations of land laws.

While he prepares for these challenges, Mr Kikwete is expected to address issues related to youth loans and capital, without neglecting the establishment of a national youth council.

For Ambassador Kombo, his extensive diplomatic experience suggests that he may find his new role relatively manageable, with stakeholders in the field expecting him to interpret economic diplomacy, which is the government’s current direction.

Regarding Mr Silaa, his new role in the media sector amidst ongoing economic reforms in government poses unique challenges.

According to the executive director of the Land Rights Research and Resources Institute, Mr Cathbert Tomitho, one of Ndejembi’s toughest tasks in his new role will be resolving land conflicts—a challenge that has troubled many previous ministers in that docket.

Mr Ndejembi will have to oversee the implementation of the 1999 Land Act, which has been largely flouted and remains a root cause of many disputes.

Dr Emmanuel Mchome of the University of Dar es Salaam echoed similar sentiments, saying Ndejembi will have to ensure proper land ownership verification during surveys and ensure that village or neighbourhood offices display land ownership maps for three months.

“During this period, residents can review their land ownership details, enabling the identification of legitimate landowners and preventing land fraud and arbitrary sales,” he said.

Kikwete’s major headache

The director of the Tanzania Youth Coalition (TYC), Mr Lenin Kazoba, pointed out that one of Mr Kikwete’s significant challenges in his new role will be ensuring access to loans and capital for the youth amid Tanzania’s employment challenges.

He stressed the importance of creating guidelines and favourable conditions for youth empowerment through loans, citing past mismanagement issues with municipal loans that failed to benefit the youth due to a lack of proper guidelines. While the government has already launched guidelines for lending to various groups, including youth, Mr Kazoba insisted on the importance of proper management to ensure effective distribution.

Completing the youth policy framework is another task awaiting Kikwete in his new position.

According to Mr Kazoba, the youth policy framework has yet to be prominently featured on the government’s agenda despite its importance, expressing hope that Mr Kikwete will prioritise its implementation.

Establishing a youth council is another impending task for Mr Kikwete, as outlined by Mr Kazoba, who noted challenges stemming from the 2015 Youth Council Act, which remains unfamiliar to the youth due to its approval without their involvement.

Silaa and the state of the media

Despite Mr Jerry Silaa’s friendly relations with the media throughout his career, Mr Neville Meena, a member of the Tanzania Editors’ Forum (TEF), emphasised that he must now transform this friendship into a catalyst for enhancing the media sector’s economic stability.

Mr Meena acknowledged Silaa’s longstanding collaboration with the media, dating back to his tenure as Mayor of Ilala Municipality, underscoring the need for Mr Silaa to align media relationships with broader economic goals.

Mr Meena praised Silaa’s contributions to the media sector but also highlighted areas where he fell short, noting discrepancies in his engagements with media stakeholders.

Economic diplomacy

For Mahmoud Thabit Kombo, the new Minister of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, the focus will be on continuing and possibly enhancing January Makamba’s initiatives.

Former Ambassador to Italy and Germany, Ali Karume, emphasised that economic diplomacy and the government’s current direction underscore the importance of Kombo’s role.

Mr Karume urged Kombo to maintain integrity and ensure he serves as an effective international spokesperson for Tanzania.

“Given Kombo’s experience as an ambassador, he understands the critical role diplomats play. This responsibility won’t overwhelm him,” Mr Karume said.

Mr Kombo’s dedication to avoiding political agendas and focusing solely on his ministerial duties was highlighted as a testament to his capability.