The rise and fall of Blandina Nyoni

What you need to know:

The decision left pundits speculating as to what would happen of NHC’s director general Nehemia Mchechu and the corporation’s regional operations and administration head Raymond Mndolwa who remain suspended pending on going investigations.

Dar es Salaam. President John Magufuli on Wednesday sacked Ms Blandina Nyoni as the board chairperson of the National Housing Corporation (NHC).

The decision left pundits speculating as to what would happen of NHC’s director general Nehemia Mchechu and the corporation’s regional operations and administration head Raymond Mndolwa who remain suspended pending on going investigations.

Ms Nyoni’s career dates back to her days as assistant lecturer at the Institute of Development and Management, now Mzumbe University. Those who worked with her told The Citizen back in 2012 that she had been brilliant and resourceful, predicting that she would be destined for brighter prospects in future.

Despite her various talents, accomplishments, brilliance, devotion to work, Ms Nyoni was to be ‘sacrificed’ in 2012 for the sole reason of being the permanent secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.

That happened after former President Jakaya Kikwete’s administration conceded to a demand from doctors that the PS should be suspended for them (the doctors) to resume work after a countrywide strike that cost several lives.

The medical doctors were accusing Ms Nyoni of a number of charges, including high handedness and corruption. She was accused of single-handedly approving all procurements under her watch.

She was suspended alongside the chief medical officer, Dr Deo Mtasiwa.

However, Ms Nyoni was to be subsequently cleared alongside Mr David Jairo, former PS in the Ministry of Energy and Minerals.

The clearance saw her returning to her previous job at the Tanzania Revenue Authority, but this time around, as a commissioner.

She shifted to the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in 2009 after spending some years as PS in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism where her presence was felt.

That was during the early days of former President Jakaya Kikwete’s presidency when Shamsa Mwangunga was the Tourism minister.