The heart of the government. This is how President Samia Suluhu described the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on July 26, 2024, during the swear-in session of new appointees following a mini-reshuffle of the cabinet.

The reshuffle saw the Former Minister of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, January Makamba dropped together with his two deputies. Ambassador Mahmoud Thabit Kombo was sworn in Friday, July 26, 2024, as a new minister with two deputy ministers Cosato David Chumi and Dennis Lazaro Londo.

Unlike the previous administrations, the Ministry has not had any Minister who has stayed in the ministry for more than a year since President Samia Suluhu came into power marking a historically highest turnover rate. Between 2021 and 2024, five ministers have already served the Ministry something that analysts have warned might end up hurting the Ministry’s efficiency.

Hot Seat

The first Minister to be axed after Samia’s first re-organization of the cabinet was Liberata Mulamula, a seasoned diplomat who was appointed on March 31, 2021, only to serve until October 02, 2022, with many associating her sacking with the President’s comment about over-stepping boundaries.

Mulamula was succeeded by Dr. Stergomena Tax who stayed in the Ministry until August 30, 2023, when Makamba assumed the position. Makamba was then replaced by Kombo who was appointed on July 21, 2024.

READ MORE: Here is Why the Quality of Tanzania’s Foreign Envoys Has Declined. Committee Proposes Solutions

Several observers and analysts have tried to pinpoint what made President Samia drop January Makamba, who seemed to be handling the Ministry well and had received a positive reception from members of the diplomatic communities. With President Samia acknowledging that the Ministry direction is positive, many have associated Makamba’s sacking with his political ambition for the Presidency.

“From the President’s statement during the swearing-in of the new leaders, it is evident that she saw the previous minister was going against her expectations,” argued Thomas Kibwana a political analyst who also writes for The Chanzo.

He added: “If the new minister is to serve for a long time, it is essential that they do not have excessive political ambitions that can detract him from the current responsibilities.”

In her remarks on Friday, President Samia did not mention specifics on why she axed some officials but she emphasized on putting national interest first. “When it comes to that, your interests as a human being are secondary, but the nation’s interests come first,” said President Samia.

She added: “As a common Swahili proverb go, positions of power are like borrowed clothes. If you use them well, and the owner sees you wearing them properly, looking neat, and not misbehaving they might let you keep the clothes for a while. But if they find that you are misbehaving with the clothes they lent you, they will not wait; they will take back their clothes.”

Italy

On social media, since the end of January 2024, when Makamba represented President Samia at the Italy-Africa summit he has been on the receiving end of some social media campaigns against him, claiming that he used the trip to set up a network for the Presidency.

Many observers have associated the campaigns on social media with the competition inside CCM especially among key Ministers who are looking to vie for Presidency in 2030. There is an assumption that those who will remain closer to power in 2025 going forward they will have a good opportunity for 2030.

READ MORE: New Factions Are Forming In CCM. Or Are Old Ones Re-strategising?

In what appeared to be a response to the attacks, Makamba, while in Rome with the President for a visit to the Vatican on February 11, 2024, delivered a long speech deviating from his usual talks on diplomacy.

“There is no place that has politics than the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party, it’s like a melting pot that carries all kinds of people and it needs great skills to manage its politics and to lead these people in unity and stability,” argued Makamba in a speech that another minister, Ridhiwani Kikwete, had earlier described it as a speech that could be used at the CCM congress to endorse President Samia for the 2025 elections.

He continued: “Madam President, you have listened to what we say within CCM, ignored the lies, worked on the truths, and even let go of some truthful items. Your guidance and patience with the politicking and rumors within CCM have ensured stability in our party.”

“Some of us are victims of these rumors in CCM but you, as our President, have been a guardian. You have been patient with us and given us second and third chances. We would not be standing here before you and this audience without your patience and guardianship,” he emphasized.

Stability

Over the past three years, President Samia has made changes to her cabinet at least 13 times, averaging a cabinet change every three months. In our earlier analysis of the last reshuffle, most analysts warned that frequent changes in the government could disrupt operations and undermine efficiency.

Speaking about the recent changes, international relations expert Deus Valentine expressed concerns that the reshuffle in the ministry could undermine its policy direction.

“Frequent changes in the foreign ministry are likely to disrupt President Samia’s policy direction. Kombo becomes her fifth foreign minister in her four years in power, and while it may not be certain, it paints an image of instability in her government,” argued Valentine, who hosts the largest regional conversation for democracy in Africa, the Africa Drive for Democracy.

Valentine fears that the changes will disrupt Tanzania’s participation in key regional debates already underway. “The foreign minister is an important anchor of the President’s brand and image. It is thus hard to achieve her foreign policy goals without maintaining some consistency, especially in light of the current debates on regional security.”

READ MORE: Analysts Warn: Frequent Government Reshuffling Could Undermine Efficiency

Several foreign policy analysts who spoke to The Chanzo have also emphasized that the basic tenets of diplomacy is about relationships. Frequent changes in the ministry may disrupt ongoing programs with some of Tanzania’s key allies, as it may take time for new ministers to get on board with already developed programs and plans.

Selemani Yusuph Kitenge, a foreign relations expert who has served in various regional roles, believes the new team will adapt well, particularly because one of the deputies Casato Chumi is a long-time foreign service official and Ambassador Kombo has already served as an ambassador and a Minister in Zanzibar. However, Kitenge emphasized that the team has its work cut out for them.

“Our country is a member of various regional mechanisms. They need to ensure our country’s reputation remains firm and our participation in resolving some of the regional challenges, such as in the DRC Congo, remains positive,” said Kitenge.

Kitenge added that the most important task ahead is to complete the implementation of some of the recommendations proposed by the President’s task force on the Ministry reform, an item which was also emphasized by President Samia.

“In September this year, the United Nations will meet for the Summit of the Future. Tanzania has always been at the forefront of speaking for others, and I think this summit will be a great opportunity for Tanzania to push the common Africa agenda of ensuring changes in the UN Security Council so that Africa can have a permanent seat,” he said.