Dk. Shein follows Magufuli style in Cabinet Selection

President of Zanzibar and Former Vice President of Tanzania —  Dk. Ali Mohamed Shein.

Zanzibar — PRESIDENT Ali Mohamed Shein on Saturday presented his new cabinet, urging them to work hard to the expectation of the electorate or risk losing the job. The cabinet includes three from opposition parties ADC, ADA-TADEA, and AFP.

Announcing his new cabinet, Dr Shein emphasized on ‘good performance, transparency, accountability, and honesty.

“We are committed to bring changes in the islands, increase revenue collection, minimise expenditure, fight corruption and laziness, and increase transparency,” Dr Shein told reporters at the State House before naming his cabinet,  which has been reduced from 19 in the past five years to 13.

His cabinet (constitutionally known as Revolutionary Council-RC) includes Mr Hamad Rashid Mohamed from the Alliance for Democratic Change (ADC), who becomes Minister for Agriculture, Natural Resources, Livestock, and Fishing.

Mr Juma Ali Khatib from ADA-TADEA party and Mr Said Soud Said from the Alliance for Farmers Party (AFP) have been appointed members of the Revolutionary Council (RC) or cabinet ministers without portfolio.

Mr Khatib and Mr Said are new faces in the cabinet while Mr Hamad Rashid is a veteran politician who served as minister during the First Phase Union Government under Mwalimu Julius Nyerere.

He was later expelled from the ruling CCM and joined Civic United Front (CUF) until 2015 when he was expelled before joining ADC. Other appointees include Mr Issa Haji Ussi (Minister of State - State House and Revolutionary Council).

Mr Ussi had been deputy Minister for Infrastructure and Communication. Veteran Cabinet member Haroun Ali Suleiman has this time been picked Minister of State responsible for Constitution, Legal Affairs, Civil Service, and Good Governance).

Mr Haji Omar Kheir retains his position as Minister of State (Regional Administration, Local Government and SMZ Units) while Mr Mohamed Aboud Mohamed becomes Minister of State in the Second Vice-President’s Office.

Both Mr Haji and Mr Aboud have retained their positions while the former Principal Secretary (PS) in the Second Vice-President’s Office, Dr Khalid Salum Mohamed, becomes the new Minister for Finance and Development Planning.

Also in the list are Mr Mahmoud Thabit Kombo, former Deputy Minister for Health, who has been promoted to full minister in the same ministry, and Ms Riziki Pembe Juma who takes over as Minister for Education and Vocational Training.

Ms Amina Salum Ali, former Finance Minister under Dr Salmin Amour’s government in 1996 and immediate retired African Union (AU) Ambassador to the United Nations, has been appointed Minister for Trade, Industries, and Marketing.

Ambassador Ali Abeid Karume, son of the first Isles President, Sheikh Abeid Amani Karume, becomes new Minister for Infrastructure, Communications and Transport.

Other appointees are Mr Rashid Ali Juma, formerly Director of Zanzibar Municipal Council), who has been picked Minister for Information, Tourism, Culture, and Sports; and Ms Maudline Castico, CCM cadre and publicist, who becomes the Minister for Labour, Economic Empowerment, Elderly, Youth, Women, and Children. Ms Salama Aboud Talib, takes over as Minister for Land, Water, Energy, and Environment.

Deputy Ministers include Ms Harusi Said Suleiman (Health), Mr Mmanga Mjengo Mjawir (Education), Mr Mohamed Ahmed Salum (Infrastructure), Ms Lulu Msham Khamis (Agriculture), Ms Choum Kombo Khamis (Information), Mr Juma Makungu Juma (Land), and Mr Khamis Juma Maalim (Constitution).

All the deputy Ministers are new faces, while only five — Mr Haroun, Mr Haji, Mr Issa, Mr Mahmoud and Mr Mohamed Aboud — out of the 15 ministers, served in the previous cabinet. All members of the new cabinet will be sworn-in on today on Sunday.

Dr Shein told reporters that he has not violated constitution by appointing three members from the Opposition, cautioning that his new government should not be mistaken for a Government of National Unity (GNU). “It has not been possible for me to form a GNU because all the parties, which took part in the re-run elections, failed to qualify,” he pointed out.



Credit: Daily News