Curtain falls for Makinda after forty-year run

Dar es Salaam. At age 66, former Speaker of the National Assembly, Ms Anne Makinda, has seen it all.

For four decades that she bestrode the country as a leader, she has occupied virtually all the positions that politicians aspire, except the presidency, vice presidency and the premiership.

And as the curtains on her long public career fell yesterday, Ms Makinda announced she would be retiring a satisfied person and Tanzanian.

She announced her retirement from active politics yesterday at a press conference in Dar es Salaam, to the surprise of those who had speculated that she would vie to retain her seat.

Earlier, she dropped the decision to run for the parliamentary seat that she has held for such a long time.

Ms Makinda, the first Tanzanian woman to be elected speaker of the National Assembly said she would not look backward on her resolve to step aside.

“I decided that I should not seek re-election as Speaker because I have no reason to continue seeking elective posts because various persons of my generation, including former President Jakaya Kikwete, have now retired,’’ she said at Parliament offices in Dar es Salaam yesterday.

Ms Makinda, who was Deputy Speaker from 2005 to 2010 and Speaker from 2010 to August 2015, had been the subject of speculation in recent days, with social media being abuzz as to whether she would seek another term after stepping down as an MP earlier this year. This, according to her, was a reason as to why she appeared at a news conference yesterday to tell the public that she was quitting active politics.

The former speaker joined politics as early as in primary school where she was an active member of the youth wing of the Tanganyika African National Union (Tanu), the party of independence of mainland Tanzania.

The former Njombe South MP became the first female Speaker in Tanzania and the region, stepping into the shoes of Samuel Sitta, the former Urambo East MP who is currently on the list of 21 CCM cadres who have picked party’s nomination forms to succeed Ms Makinda.

Despite having been in the public service, many still do not know much about Ms Makinda’s political journey.

An accountant by profession trained at the Morogoro-based Institute of Development Management (IDM), she joined active politics in 1975, at the age of 26 when she was nominated to parliament through the youth wing, becoming the youngest legislator of that time. She had just completed studies and was employed by the Tanzania Audit Corporation (TAC).

The former speaker had served seven consecutive terms in the National Assembly where she served as a back bencher, a Cabinet minister, chairperson of the House, Deputy Speaker and Speaker. She has been a constituency MP (Njombe South) since 1995.

She served as a backbencher for eight years till 1983 when she was appointed minister of State in the Prime Minister and First Vice-President’s Office in charge of policy affairs, disaster management and co-ordination of government business in the National Assembly.

She was at one time minister in the Prime Minister’s Office (Information and Broadcasting) before she was appointed founder minister for Community Development, Women and Children, where she served from 1990-1995.

In 1995, Ms Makinda was appointed Ruvuma regional commissioner, where she served untill 2000. From the 2000–2005, she served as the chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Natural Resources, Environment and Poverty alleviation.

She was also chairperson of Parliament, assisting the Speaker in the running of House sessions. In 2005, she was elected Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, becoming the first Tanzanian woman to hold that position. Later, in 2010, she was elected Speaker of the House.

Ideally, Ms Makinda’s leadership aptitude is rooted on her father, a renowned politician from whom she picked the tricks to survive the four decades as a politician.

“I think it is high time to quit active politics and leave this career to others to continue serving the nation,’’ she said, adding, “I am glad that I have served this nation and my people from the lowest level to the highest hierarchy.’’

However, Ms Makinda said, she would continue offering advice to leaders who wish to approach her. She declined to state what would occupy most of her free time in retirement and if she would retreat to her Njombe village or remain in the city.

Those who know her say, she has invested heavily in real estate and in the transport sector.

Yesterday, Ms Makinda said she had left a legacy in parliament.

“I’m glad that we have a modern parliament and starting February we will have an e-parliament where each MP will be using a tablet in our move to ease the burden of carrying papers and books,’’ she said, adding, “MPs should elect a speaker with patience and who cannot easily lose temper because parliament is now vibrant and active.”