Why Kabudi is now ‘Mr Fix It’

Dar es Salaam. Prof Palamagamba Kabudi’s appointment as Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation minister has left tongues wagging.

His name has dominated public debate in the last three days following his elevation to arguably one of the most powerful dockets in President John Magufuli’s cabinet.

The former University of Dar es Salaam law don was shifted from the ministry of Constitutional and Legal Affairs, swapping places with long-serving diplomat and former spy chief, Dr Augustine Mahiga.

The cabinet switch, the first in 2019, appeared to have caught many by surprise as it had not been foreseen, with Dr Mahiga being rated as able in his docket to the point of earning public praise from the President himself.

Even though President Magufuli has made record-breaking changes in his cabinet since 2016, his elevation of Prof Kabudi drew most chatter, including on social media, as Tanzanians from all walks of life tried to give meaning to the changes.

What the appointment did is thus project what appears to be Prof Kabudi’s growing influence in the corridors of power.

Prof Kabudi gave the debate impetus, when during his thanksgiving after swearing in at the State House, delivered a “dressing down” speech that would later draw heavy criticism from members of the online community.

A tough talking Kabudi told those he said were dissatisfied with Tanzania (or criticising the government) to do one thing – “Keep quite.” He also put officials of the foreign ministry on notice, hinting at sweeping changes in the endeavour to deliver his mandate.

With Dr Magufuli listening attentively, the new minister thanked him for bestowing him the trust to lead the sensitive docket.

He declared that he would welcome and work with those that respected the wishes of Tanzanians, and were ready to engage openly with the government.

Some commentators quickly took to social media to condemn Prof Kabudi’s speech, equating his “shut up” remarks to a direct threat to the freedom of the people to air their views or criticise the government as guaranteed under the constitution.

Trusted confidante

But it was in his mien that other people saw his rising political star since his entry into government, in March 2017, only two months after the President nominated him as a member of parliament.

The foreign docket adds to Prof Kabudi’s growing profile as one of President Magufuli’s closest and trusted confidants. During his swearing in, the President let it known that he wanted a forceful person to head the foreign docket.

Nicknamed the ‘Bulldozer’ for his no-nonsense approach to problem-solving, President Magufuli has tended to have a soft spot for ministers who exhibit similar traits of taking public problems head on.

Prof Kabudi’s Monday speech, and his tackling of other sensitive assignments in government, like in the $190 billion tax dispute negotiations with Barrick Gold Corporation, the signing of the Sh400 billion cashew nuts deal with a Kenyan company, and the enactment of new sweeping natural resources exploitation laws that give the government more say over investments, has endeared him to the President.

Barrick link

Political analysts say Prof Kabudi now tends to cut the image of ‘Mr Fix it’ in government and has wasted no time to demonstrate that he believes in Magufuli’s vision for Tanzania, and for which he would do anything to defend.

It was interesting that his appointment came as he was returning home from the UN, where he put up a spirited defence of the President’s new policies and the country’s governance and human rights record, amid growing international condemnation of the government record.

“Prof Kabudi impressed the head of state in the capacity he served as leader of government in the Barrick talks. Knowing him, he can be very good at international business and contract negotiations,” said Deus Kibamba, an expert in international relations and director of Tanzania Citizens Bureau.

Mr Kibamba says the new foreign minister’s character fits with Magufuli’s economic diplomacy agenda. “There was needed one person to spearhead the redefinition of what this policy means in these times and in my view Kabudi is seen as that perfect fit,” said Kibamba.

Mr Kibamba warned, however, that it would be a misplaced task if Prof Kabudi was being fronted to counter the ongoing ‘demonisation of the country’s President at that stage.

It will remain to be seen, however, how his combativeness, straight shooting approach, relentlessness as well as his oratory skills will work for him, even as he showed eagerness to engage the foreign powers.

Unlike Dr Mahiga who liked to do things from the background, and likely benefited from a wide network of contacts established during 30 years of diplomatic career, Prof Kabudi is a green horn in diplomacy.

But on Monday, the professor signalled that he would not hesitate to play hard ball in advancing the country’s foreign and economic interests.

Plate is full

He said he will be ready to engage all partners wishing Tanzania well but added a liner –it would be in the understanding of the country’s current context of advancing its citizens’ interests first and playing by the dictate of the constitution.

The minister’s plate is full, beginning with dialogue with the EU on the supposed review of political engagement after a year in which relations was at the lowest.

He will also have to tackle the reported negotiations of a possible settlement of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union. It should be remembered that it was Prof Kabudi who played a key role to have the Parliament in November 2016 pass a resolution to oppose EPA. He took the MPs through the dangers that the agreement posed on industrialisation, which is a pillar of the current administration.

He will also confront the reality that Tanzania is facing 13 legal suits worth Sh426 billion recently filed under the Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) by dissatisfied investors.

His legal background will come in handy. Prof Kabudi will have to quickly find a way of winning back the investors who have raised concern over the business environment locally.

Nearer home, renewed hostilities among EAC member countries of Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi are sending tremors in the region. He said Monday Tanzania’s non-alignment policy means the country has more friends than enemies to deal with.