Tanzania’s President John Magufuli has named a lean Cabinet of 18 ministers and 19 deputies after weeks of speculation, promised to give them performance contracts and warned them not to celebrate their appointment but focus on the difficult task ahead.

President Magufuli’s is the leanest Cabinet in 20 years, and much smaller than his predecessor President Jakaya Kikwete’s which had 60 ministers and deputies.

However, the return of former minister for energy and minerals Prof Sospeter Muhongo has re-ignited the infamous Tegeta Escrow account scandal in which government officials were implicated in cashing in on millions from the central bank’s escrow account. A probe into the scandal led to Prof Muhongo’s resignation in early January this year.

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Prof Muhongo, a geologist, will return to lead a ministry whose economic significance increased after Tanzania discovered over 50 trillion cubic feet of natural gas and is partnering with the oil industry to develop a $30 billion liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant.

Other former ministers who were implicated in the scandal but made it to the House again, former lands minister Prof Anna Tibaijuka and former deputy energy and minerals minister William Ngeleja, have not made it to Dr Magufuli’s Cabinet.

The Ministries of Finance and Planning, Natural Resources and Tourism, Works, Transport and Communication and Science, Technology, Education and Vocational Training did not get any full ministers.

“I am yet to get them,” the president told journalists.

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He declined to explain why it was proving difficult to get suitable people to lead these ministries, a month after he was sworn in as head of state.

However, given the fact that the General Election in Zanzibar was annulled and so no MPs from Zanzibar have been appointed to Cabinet, raised speculations that the vacant slots have been left for MPs from the Isles once the elections are held in January. Some ministries that have been left empty, are those which in the past administration were hit by scandals. 

The president said this time there will be no traditional retreats for new appointees, which eats up billions of shillings of taxpayers’ money. The allocation of $945,000 for that purpose will be directed  to funding free education and buying desks for pupils.

President Magufuli has appointed a new face, Suleiman Jaffo, in his own office at the capacity of Deputy Minister, President’s Office for Regional Administration, Local Government, Good Governance and Civil Service.

Mr Jaffo will serve along with two, full ministers — George Simbachawene  and Angella Kairuki who also served in the last administration in other portfolios.

The Vice President’s Office (Union and Environment) has a  new face, Luhaga Mpina who will work under January Makamba. A new ministry in the Prime Minister’s Office — Policy Parliament, Employment and the Disabled has been given two new faces in the capacity of deputy ministers — Dr Possy Abdallah and Antony Mavunde. William ole Nasha, another newcomer will serve as deputy in the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries.

Edwin Ngonyani becomes Deputy Minister of Works, Transport and Communication, whose minister is yet to be appointed likewise Ashantu Kizachi goes as deputy at the Finance and Planning ministry.

Medalled Karemaligo will work with Prof Muhongo at the Energy Ministry while Dr Susan Kolimba will be serving as Deputy Minister at Foreign Affairs, International, Regional and East African Co-operation, where another newcomer in politics but guru in diplomatic circles, Dr Augustine Mahiga; will be minister.

All the ministers except four are below 55 years old, which could mark a generational shift in the country’s politics and seems to signal that President Magufuli prefers to work with younger politicians.

Dr Augustine Mahiga (70) is one of the three ministers above 55. He is a career diplomat who previously served as Tanzania’s deputy head of domestic intelligence before he became the country’s permanent representative at the United Nations. Until his retirement, he was the UN’s envoy for Somalia.

The significance of Mr Mahiga’s appointment could increase since he has shown little interest in travelling abroad.

Records from CCM show that President Magufuli has only travelled abroad five times in the 20 years he was in the Cabinet. That could mean that President Magufuli will travel less and Dr Mahiga will represent him in many occasions. 

The Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation Ministry has been expended and its mandate will also cover the East African Community. 

Tanzania currently chairs the East African Community and will chair the Southern African Development Community next year and the African Union in 2017. Career politician William Lukuvi (60) has been returned to the Lands and Housing Ministry.  Mr Lukuvi is seen as one of the few politicians in President Magufuli’s inner circle whom he listens to. 

However, announcing the Cabinet without naming ministers to fill up four key positions has left President Magufuli’s critics wondering why he failed to name them.

Prof Muhongo, returning to the same portfolio will have to maintain the trust of newly found gas investors who have previously said they had lost trust in the government for failing to secure the land for the LNG investment. 

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Dr Mwakyembe (60) is the new minister for Constitution and Legal Affairs.

Additional reporting by Erick Kabendera