By Spy Uganda Correspondent
Tanzania’s president on Saturday reshuffled her Cabinet as she continued to cement her political position ahead of the 2025 general elections.
Samia Suluhu Hassan publicly fell out with the speaker of parliament, whom she accused of undermining her authority.
Hassan hinted last week that she would reshuffle the Cabinet to purge “rebel ministers” who had joined the fray for the 2025 election nomination under the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party which has remained in power since independence from the UK in 1961.
Parliament Speaker Job Ndugai, who resigned Thursday, had been criticized by the president for saying “the country risks being auctioned” due to soaring national debt.
Though he later reversed his remarks and publicly apologized, the president flatly rejected his apology. There has been mounting pressure from the ruling party urging him to resign.
In the latest reshuffle, the president sacked ministers and brought in new faces.
Announcing the changes at the State House in Dar es Salaam, Chief Secretary Hussein Kattaga said the president made structural changes in three ministries.
The new faces include Nape Nnauye, former publicity secretary of the CCM who becomes minister of sports, culture and arts, and Ridhwani Kikwete who became deputy minister of lands, housing and human settlements.
Former high commissioner to Kenya, Pindi Chana, was named minister of state in the prime minister’s office responsible for policy and parliamentary affairs.
Hussein Bashe was promoted to minister of agriculture with Anthony Mavunde his deputy.
Adolf Mkenda is the new minister of education, science and technology.
The president sacked William Lukuvi as minister for lands, housing and human settlement; Kitila Mkumbo who held industry and trade docket; Paramagamba Kabudi who was constitutional and legal affairs minister and Geoffrey Mwambe who was minister of investment.
The ministries of finance, defense, energy, tourism and foreign affairs remained unchanged.
