President Samia Suluhu Hassan has announced her new cabinet following the contentious October 29 election. With 27 ministers and 29 deputies, the cabinet introduces new faces, mostly political lightweights, while the remaining experienced members are those whose loyalty to the president has been firmly established, including some whose survival depends on her continued success.
The new cabinet marks the exit of former Deputy Prime Minister Dotto Biteko, a figure who had managed to maintain an independent identity and reputation as a clean politician whose influence had been steadily rising. It also removes Hussein Bashe, a minister heavily mentioned during the CCM primaries and considered a close ally of the Vice President, as well as Jenista Mhagama, one of the CCM’s long-standing heavyweights. Others dropped include Innocent Bashungwa, once seen as a rising star before later being seen to be overwhelmed as he was rebranding to being the boogeyman for the opposition, and making efforts to channel Tanzania’s police spirit against demonstrations and criticism of the government. Others who were left out are Pindi Chana, Selemani Jafo, and Damas Ndumbaro.
The removal of these political heavyweights appears strategic, serving to ensure that political ambitions remain aligned with the president and that competing centers of influence are minimized. Their departure clears the way for a cabinet dominated by political newcomers with limited influence, while the few with real weight are individuals who have already demonstrated unwavering loyalty.
One notable new appointment is Ambassador Khamis Mussa Omar, 59, who becomes Minister of Finance after being named a Member of Parliament. Before this role, he served as Tanzania’s Ambassador to China. Omar earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Glasgow and his master’s degree from the University of Birmingham. He previously held several senior roles in the Zanzibar government, including Principal Secretary at the Ministry of Finance, Director of the Zanzibar Revenue Authority, and Executive Director of the Zanzibar Investment Promotion Authority (ZIPA). In 2020, he contested the CCM presidential primaries in Zanzibar. Despite his experience, his perceived loyalty is widely seen as the key factor in his appointment.
Another new face is Dr. Rhimo Simeon Nyansaho, first appointed as a Member of Parliament and now to serve as Minister of Defense. Nyansaho is the former Director of Business Development at Azania Bank, having risen through the ranks from Relationship Officer to Senior Manager of Corporate Banking. He holds an Advanced Diploma in Accounting and a Master’s in Business Administration. Nyansaho is among the few who have successfully maintained parallel careers in the private sector and public service, latest roles including serving as Chairman of the TANESCO Board and Director of the Public Service Social Security Fund (PSSSF).
Another new face is Joel Arthur Nanauka, who will handle the newly established docket for youth development under the President’s Office. Nanauka is known as a public speaker and motivational coach. It remains to be seen what the new docket will accomplish; there has not been widespread public enthusiasm for the new docket, perhaps because it is still new. On the other hand, from the appointing authority side, there is an expectation that the docket will work miracles, particularly in the wake of what is widely regarded as a historic youth-led protest.
Additional new appointees include Juma Zuberi Homera, former Mbeya Regional Commissioner, who will now serve as Minister of Constitution and Legal Affairs; Leonard Douglas Akwilapo (Ministry of Land), former Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education; and Daniel Chongolo (Ministry of Agriculture), former CCM Secretary General and former Songwe Regional Commissioner. Most of these appointees possess limited political influence but can be considered staunch loyalists seeking to build their reputations under the president’s wing of influence.
Several deputy ministers who have drawn public attention also feature in the lineup, including Wanu Hafidh, President Samia’s daughter, appointed as Deputy Minister of Education, marking the first time a Tanzanian president has appointed their child to a government role. Others include Paul Makonda, appointed as one of the deputies at the Ministry of Information, Sports, and Culture, with many expecting him to play a key role in shaping the information docket. Makonda is viewed as one of Samia’s most loyal allies and might have risen even higher had the election unfolded more smoothly, as he had predicted and had assured the president by then.
President Samia has also shifted the Regional Administration and Local Government docket to the Prime Minister’s Office, reflecting the level of trust she has placed in Prime Minister Mwigulu Nchemba. Riziki Shemdoe, a seasoned government technocrat who previously served in the same ministry, will oversee its operations.
Influential cabinet members who have remained include Ridhiwani Jakaya Kikwete, the son of President Jakaya Kikwete, who has played a key role in Samia’s second-term bid. Ridhiwani Kikwete will serve as Minister at the President’s Office, Public Service Management, and Good Governance, one of the most important cabinet docket. Also, Prof. Kitila Alexander Mkumbo has maintained his former role as the Minister at the Office of the President, Planning and Investment. George Simbachawene will now head the Ministry of Home Affairs, while William Vangimembe Lukuvi will remain at the Prime Minister’s Office. These are some of the influential members, whose role signals maintenance of the status quo, and will be considered key in bringing new entrants to speed and the same line of thinking.
Overall, the new cabinet reflects the government’s apparent desire to restore the pre-election status quo, especially amid unresolved public concerns following election-protest killings that society continues to struggle to make sense of. While the government seems to be ready to move on with business as usual, questions remain whether members of the Tanzanian public are ready to do the same.
