Tanzania’s President John Magufuli has named 6 women in his 18-member cabinet, but said he could not find credible candidates for four other slots.

In a departure from the previous government, the Head of State nearly halved the number of top government officials from 60 to 34.

The president said he decided to merge some ministries in line with his cost cutting philosophy, settling for 18 ministries with 19 ministers and 15 deputies.

New faces also dominate Magufuli's cabinet, with only 7 ministers who served in Jakaya Kikwete administration.

The new ministers and their deputies will be sworn in Friday at State House in Dar es Salaam.

The four ministries left vacant include Finance and Planning; Education, Science and Technology; Works, Transport and Communication; and Natural Resources and Tourism ministry. However, the president named the deputy ministers for the four.

Continuing with his crackdown on wasteful spending, President Magufuli said there will be no retreat for the newly appointed officials. He said this would save $945,000 which he promised to work out a plan to divert the money in funding free education and buying desks for pupils.

He boasted of having saved more money by delaying to pick ministers.