Tough task awaits ministers

“In the previous term, financing was readily available because there was trust. What happened in our country has tainted our image and this is likely to reduce our resource base,” she said.

This marks a new era. It is one where ministries must operate under tighter scrutiny, with domestic resource mobilisation at the heart of policy execution. It is also an era where the President expects quick delivery on the 100-day promises she made during her campaign.

Below is what awaits ministers in the key ministries as they enter one of the most demanding five-year terms in recent memory.

Ministry of Finance

Mr Khamis Mussa Omar enters the Ministry of Finance at a delicate moment. The President was clear: donor trust has dipped and external financing may tighten.

This means that Tanzania must prepare for a period defined by self-reliance, fiscal discipline and creative resource mobilisation.

His ministry is expected to craft a financing model anchored in tax efficiency, expenditure control and improvements in debt management. The government has huge projects ongoing – from the standard gauge railway line to roads and from power generation/stabilisation to bridges which require predictable funding.

Economist Moses Jumanne said Mr Omar faces “one of the heaviest in-trays in government”. He argues that the new minister must quickly rebuild confidence among development partners. But he also believes this is an opportunity.

“Self-reliance is not new to Tanzania. What the President is asking is a modern version of it, based on expanding the tax base, managing leaks and ensuring value for money.”

Financial analyst Grace Mbwambo offered a cautious view. She said the pressure to meet the 100-day promises, especially for youth financing, will stretch the ministry.

“There is political urgency. The minister must balance short-term political commitments with long-term macroeconomic stability. It is a thin line.”

Ministry of Agriculture

Mr Daniel Chongolo enters the Ministry of Agriculture with high expectations. He previously served as CCM secretary-general and the ruling party’s manifesto places agriculture at the centre of job creation, food security and export growth.

The President’s five-year plan focuses on large-scale irrigation, mechanisation, fertiliser reliability and establishing district-level industrial clusters. Agriculture must feed these clusters.

Mr Chongolo must therefore accelerate reforms in input supply, storage and extension services. He must also operationalise guarantees for commodity prices, which the President has repeatedly said are essential for protecting farmers from shocks.

One of the flagship programmes that defined Tanzania’s agricultural reforms over the past five years has been the Building a Better Tomorrow (BBT) initiative—pioneered and driven by immediate former Agriculture minister Hussein Bashe.

President Hassan highlighted the programme consistently during her campaigns, describing it as “a turning point for youth-led agriculture and national food security.”

As one agricultural economist noted during the campaign period, “BBT changed the narrative that farming is an activity of last resort. It made agriculture a sector of innovation, dignity and opportunity.”

With the President returning to office and re-emphasising agriculture as a central pillar of her first 100 days, the new Agriculture minister steps into a portfolio with strong momentum. The expectation is to deepen, not dilute, the gains of the BBT architecture.

President Hassan has already signalled continuity, saying during one rally that “our young farmers must not lose pace; the BBT must be accelerated, expanded and supported with stronger value chains.”

Ministry of Constitutional and Legal Affairs

Mr Juma Homera inherits a ministry that will shape Tanzania’s future political stability. The President was direct: the constitutional review and reconciliation process must begin immediately.

The aftermath of the October 29 unrest created deep cracks. Healing them requires structured dialogue and strong legal foundations.

The President said the country must “restore trust, unity and national confidence”. This process lies squarely on this ministry’s shoulders.

Legal scholar Robert Rweyemamu said the minister’s role will be historic. “Tanzania is at a crossroads. The minister must guide a transparent, inclusive constitutional process. He must also rebuild faith in public institutions.”

Constitutional lawyer Anna Mtei said public expectations are high. “People want reforms that address justice, rights and accountability. The minister must manage competing interests while keeping the process credible.”

Ministry of Home Affairs

Mr George Simbachawene returns to a docket that demands firmness and tact. National security has become a top priority following recent tensions. But there is a concern from rights groups that security forces must respect rights while enforcing law and order.

Mr Simbachawene, expert say, must strengthen border control, improve policing standards and modernise the immigration system. He must also ensure that the ministry contributes to the national reconciliation agenda.

Security expert Alex Malisa, a former police officer, said the biggest test will be balancing firmness with fairness. “The world is watching. Investors need stability. But the public demands dignity. The minister must find the balance.”

Ministry of Health

The Ministry of Health is central to the President’s 100-day agenda. Universal Health Insurance must begin. Treatment for non-communicable diseases must be subsidised. Five thousand health workers must be recruited and hospitals can no longer withhold bodies because of unpaid bills.

The new minister in the docket, Mr Mohamed Mchengerwa, will have to also strengthen its supply chain, digitalise records and increase morale in public hospitals.

Health policy analyst Catherine Koya said the ministry’s workload is “immense and urgent.” She argues that universal coverage requires major administrative reforms.

“This is not only about promises. The system must be ready. The minister must move with speed.”

Medical Association of Tanzania (MAT) president Mugisha Nkoronko said the new minister should collaborate with other stakeholders to complete initiatives that were started by previous administrations, all aimed at improving the lives of Tanzanians.

“We need a health act, which Tanzania currently does not have. We have various laws, but we require a specific health act so that we have a clear national direction, including the revision of the health policy. The 2007 one must be aligned with emerging issues such as outbreak-prone diseases like Mpox, Marburg and Ebola, which didn’t exist previously,” Dr Nkoronko said.

He added that health stakeholders recognises his capabilities, but “we also acknowledge that he may not yet be familiar with many of the issues the ministry of health has been dealing with.”

“Therefore, he will need a learning period and we hope this period will be very short so that he can effectively work with the Deputy Minister, who is also a doctor in public health but not in health systems,” De Nkoronko said.

“We expect to see cardiac services available in all zonal hospitals and specialised services accessible in all regions. We need a variety of machines in zonal hospitals, modern equipment for service delivery, strong patient safety measures and adequate provision of health services so that patients do not suffer further harm while receiving care.”

Association of Private Health Facilities in Tanzania (APHFTA) chairperson Egina Makwabe said Mr Mchengerwa is experienced in the cabinet and they expect him to address the challenge of increasing the number of health workers to a sufficient level.

“If the government decides to recruit new staff, it should avoid hiring those already working in the private sector, which would create a large staffing gap in private hospitals,” he warned.

Mr Makwabe said the minister should improve the establishment of pharmaceutical manufacturing industries, as 90 percent of medicines are imported.

Ministry of Youth Development

The newly created Ministry of Youth reflects the President’s ambition to channel the demographic dividend. Joel Nanauka must build a brand-new institution while delivering on big promises. These include a youth fund, start-up support, skills development and job-creation initiatives.

Mr Nanauka must also formalise the informal sector, support innovation and champion mental health wellness for young people.

Youth development advocate Kennedy Mushi said expectations are “sky-high.” He added, “Young people feel this ministry is theirs. They want results, not speeches.”

Another expert, development economist Dr Victoria Mrema, said the minister must resist pressure to politicise the youth agenda. “He must build systems, not events.”