Magufuli reads the riot act to Tanzania's diplomats
Saturday September 29 2018
Tanzania's President John Magufuli. He says Tanzanian diplomats must account for what they do. PHOTO | NMG
President John Magufuli on Saturday said he will not hesitate to dismiss non-performing ambassadors representing Tanzania in various countries.
The president was speaking at State House Dar es Salaam at the swearing-in ceremony of new government leaders, including the deputy minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Dr Damas Ndumbaro.
Dr Ndumbaro has replaced Dr Susan Kolimba who Dr Magufuli sacked earlier this week without giving reasons.
Dr Fariji Kasidi Mnyepe will be the Permanent Secretary (PS) in the Foreign ministry, replacing Prof Adolf Mkenda, who becomes the new Natural Resources and Tourism PS.
President Magufuli told Dr Ndumbaro that he had appointed him to "restructure this ministry... tell ambassadors who are representing Tanzania in other countries to give you a report detailing the a, b, c, d of what they have done to help this country. If not, they should be dismissed and return home."
He said he was disappointed with running of operations at the Foreign Affairs ministry.
The President said he had received complaints from foreign countries concerning lack of response from his government,
“I have information that the Chinese embassy wrote over 24 letters to the ministry but only two were responded to. I don’t want this to happen again," Dr Magufuli said.
He told Dr Ndumbaro his duty was to run the day-to-day activities of the ministry on behalf of the minister, who is currently representing the president at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
“Don’t be driven by directors. It is you who has to make things happen at the ministry. As for the minister, this post usually entails travelling outside the country most of the time."