100 DCs dropped in Magufuli reshuffle

Dar es Salaam. President John Magufuli yesterday dropped 100 District Commissioners in the long-awaited appointments that seek to reshape the fifth phase administration.

Only 39 DCs from the Jakaya Kikwete government were retained, with one being promoted to Regional Commissioner and the rest left on account of attaining the statutory retirement age of 60, among other reasons, the Chief Secretary, Mr John Kijazi, said in a press statement issued yesterday.

“The President expresses sincere gratitude and wishes to personally thank the District Commissioners who were not re-appointed, for their service to the country. The government will continue to seek their counsel whenever the need arises,” the statement read in part.

Mr Kijazi did not give reasons why those below the retirement age were shown the door, although President Magufuli has said in various occasions in the past that performance would be the key determinant to whether or not one would be retained as a DC.

Among those dropped include former media practitioners Betty Mkwasa, Muhingo Rweyemamu, Shaaban Kissu and Halima Kihemba. At least 22 district council executive directors have been promoted to DCs “due to their good performance,” while 78 DCs are completely new faces, the statement noted.

“The 78 new faces comprise well-educated young blood who are up to the task ahead,” the statement said.

Meanwhile, President Magufuli has also reshuffled Regional Commissioners, dropping two, namely Said Thabit Mwambungu and Magesa Mulongo who were RCs for Ruvuma and Mara regions respectively.

Mr Mwambungu has been transferred to the Prime Minister’s Office for other assignments while Mr Mulongo has been dropped outright, the statement said. Former Cabinet ministers, Dr Binilith Mahenge and Dr Charles Mlingwa, have been appointed Regional Commissioners for Ruvuma and Mara regions respectively.

Sengerama DC Zainab Telack has been appointed Shinyanga Regional Commissioner. The position was left vacant after Ms Anna Kilango Malecela was sacked in April for allegedly covering up the presence of ghost workers in the region.

The newly appointed District Commissioners have been instructed to report to the State House in Dar es Salaam on Wednesday to sign the Integrity Pledge. They will thereafter be sworn in by RCs in their respective regions after the Wednesday event, the statement said.

President Magufuli has introduced the ritual of reciting and signing the Integrity Pledge in public as a symbol of senior government officials’ pledge to fight corruption and wasteful spending.

Permanent Secretaries were the first senior government officials that were made to recite and sign the Integrity Pledge in January. Though newly appointed government officials have always signed the Integrity Pledge and submitted it to the Ethics Commission, it is President Magufuli who has instructed that they recite and sign it in public. Clauses pertaining to anti-corruption, personal integrity and transparency were added to the new pledge, according to State House officials.

Unlike Regional Commissioners, District Commissioners positions are not provided for under the Constitution of Tanzania but by the Regional Administration Act of 1997. They assist the RCs in administering the regions through ensuring law and order and efficient delivery of government services.

The appointment of new DCs reflect President Magufuli’s desire to stamp his authority. In line with his promise to bolster security in crime-prone border regions of Kagera and Kigoma, the President has so far appointed six army officers to various districts in the two regions.

For Kigoma Region, the new District Commissioners include Col Martin Elia Mkisi (Kasulu District), Col Hosea Malonda Ndagala (Kakonko) and Col Elisha Marco Gagisti (Buhigwe). For Kagera Region, DCs drawn from the army include Col Shaaban Ilangu Lissu (Kyerwa), Lt Col Michael M. Mtenjele (Ngara) and Lt Col Denis Mwila (Missenyi).

Mr Godwin Gondwe, a senior TV presenter with ITV has been appointed as District Commissioner for Handeni.

President Magufuli has retained the Kinondoni DC Ally Hapi and has transferred Sophia Mjema from Temeke to Ilala District. The former activist and commissioner with the Constitutional Review Commission Humphrey Polepole has been transferred from Musoma District in Mara Region to the new Ubungo District.

Other DCs in Dar es Salaam Region include Felix Jackson Lyaviva (Temeke) and Hashim Shaibu Mgandilwa (Kigamboni).

For more news get your copy of The Citizen read online through www.epaper.mcl.co.tz