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Tanzania’s Foreign ministry staff face the sack

Wednesday October 03 2018
JPM

Tanzania's President John Magufuli. He cites austerity measures as reason for not travelling abroad. PHOTO | NMG

By FLORIAN KAIJAGE

Staff at the Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation ministry face the sack after President Magufuli gave the nod for a reshuffle to improve service delivery.

Dr Magufuli said the minister, Dr Augustine Mahiga, is not being accorded the necessary support by his staff.

“I know the ministry has many activities and Dr Mahiga has been travelling a lot to represent me; for sure he has represented me accordingly. In his absence, the ministry might be lacking proper coordination,” the President said Wednesday.

He directed the new Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary Dr Faraji Mnyepe, who was sworn-in on Wednesday, to “transfer those directors who are non-performing to other government institutions and find suitable candidates to replace them”.

Dr Mnyepe replaces Prof Adolf Mkenda, who was transferred to the Natural Resources and Tourism ministry as the PS.

On Saturday at the swearing-in ceremony of Foreign Affairs deputy minister Dr Damas Ndumbaro, the President told him that he had appointed him to “restructure the ministry” because he is unhappy with the running of operations.

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Dr Ndumbaro replaced Dr Susan Kolimba who was sacked last week.

“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," Dr Magufuli told Dr Ndumbaro.

Dr Mahiga last week represented the President at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.

President Magufuli said he sent the minister and an assistant to the heads of State gathering in order to save on costs. He said should he have attended, he would have required a bigger delegation and more spending.

Since coming to power in November 2015, Dr Magufuli has only travelled to four countries in East Africa – Uganda (twice), Rwanda, Kenya and Ethiopia – citing austerity measures.

He has, however, hosted several heads of state and governments including Indian and Ethiopian prime ministers, and South Africa, Kenya, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Turkey, Zambia and Chad presidents.

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