Rupia: Why JK needs to shuffle his Cabinet
The Citizen
Former chief secretary Paul Rupia responds to a question during an an exclusive interview with this newspaper in his office in Dar es Salaam.
By Pius Rugonzibwa
Former chief secretary Paul Rupia has hinted on the possibility of a major Cabinet reshuffle before the end of this year.
His hint comes amidst growing speculation that President Jakaya Kikwete will reshuffle his Cabinet any time from now. President Kikwete will mark two years in office next month.
Ambassador Rupia told The Citizen in an exclusive interview in Dar es Salaam that he was looking forward to seeing a major Cabinet reshuffle soon.
"The President has to evaluate work done by his Cabinet, according to job descriptions he gave them.
"We are looking forward to seeing a major reshuffle of the Cabinet, an exercise routinely carried out by the President every two or three years to rearrange his line-up," said Ambassador Rupia, who served as Tanzania's ambassador to various countries, including the US.
His comments reflect his experiences at State House as chief secretary, a post he held for almost a decade. In Tanzania, the chief secretary is also secretary to the Cabinet and therefore the chief executive officer in the office of the Cabinet. He is also head of civil service in the country.
Ambassador Rupia, however, declined to say which ministries, in his view, had failed to deliver since the Fourth Phase Cabinet was sworn in almost two years ago.
"On the question of which ministry is shaky, I won't give any comment. I won't comment on that because I am not in a good position to carry out an evaluation. The President knows his players better; let us leave this to him, " he said.
Reacting to concerns by a section of society that the cabinet was too big, Ambassador Rupia said the Constitution did not limit the President on the size of the cabinet or the number of its members.
"It is important to note here that the President has been given freedom to choose his cabinet according to his preferences.
"However, the constitutions of some countries place limitations on the size of the cabinet, although what matters here is not the size, but good governance...the sort of advice the Cabinet gives the President.
"Many people are not aware that decisions of the Cabinet are the decisions of the President. So this shows how the cabinet needs to be credible and trusted by the President," he noted.
President Kikwete announced a minor reshuffle in October, last year, in which a number of ministers were moved. There was no major reshuffle during former President Benjamin Mkapa's two terms in office from 1995 to 2005. The minor ones were necessitated by the resignation of some ministers.
Major cabinet reshuffles took place during President Ali Hassan Mwinyi's tenure from 1985 to 1995.
In 1990, for instance, he appointed John Malecela prime minister to replace Joseph Warioba, who resigned. And in 1994, he appointed Cleopa Msuya prime minister, replacing Mr Malecela. He also made several changes in ministries during the reshuffles.
When announcing his team in December 2005, President Kikwete hinted that nobody would remain permanent member of the Cabinet.
He also stressed that anybody could be a minister because it was not a profession that was taught anywhere.
By Pius Rugonzibwa
Former chief secretary Paul Rupia has hinted on the possibility of a major Cabinet reshuffle before the end of this year.
His hint comes amidst growing speculation that President Jakaya Kikwete will reshuffle his Cabinet any time from now. President Kikwete will mark two years in office next month.
Ambassador Rupia told The Citizen in an exclusive interview in Dar es Salaam that he was looking forward to seeing a major Cabinet reshuffle soon.
"The President has to evaluate work done by his Cabinet, according to job descriptions he gave them.
"We are looking forward to seeing a major reshuffle of the Cabinet, an exercise routinely carried out by the President every two or three years to rearrange his line-up," said Ambassador Rupia, who served as Tanzania's ambassador to various countries, including the US.
His comments reflect his experiences at State House as chief secretary, a post he held for almost a decade. In Tanzania, the chief secretary is also secretary to the Cabinet and therefore the chief executive officer in the office of the Cabinet. He is also head of civil service in the country.
Ambassador Rupia, however, declined to say which ministries, in his view, had failed to deliver since the Fourth Phase Cabinet was sworn in almost two years ago.
"On the question of which ministry is shaky, I won't give any comment. I won't comment on that because I am not in a good position to carry out an evaluation. The President knows his players better; let us leave this to him, " he said.
Reacting to concerns by a section of society that the cabinet was too big, Ambassador Rupia said the Constitution did not limit the President on the size of the cabinet or the number of its members.
"It is important to note here that the President has been given freedom to choose his cabinet according to his preferences.
"However, the constitutions of some countries place limitations on the size of the cabinet, although what matters here is not the size, but good governance...the sort of advice the Cabinet gives the President.
"Many people are not aware that decisions of the Cabinet are the decisions of the President. So this shows how the cabinet needs to be credible and trusted by the President," he noted.
President Kikwete announced a minor reshuffle in October, last year, in which a number of ministers were moved. There was no major reshuffle during former President Benjamin Mkapa's two terms in office from 1995 to 2005. The minor ones were necessitated by the resignation of some ministers.
Major cabinet reshuffles took place during President Ali Hassan Mwinyi's tenure from 1985 to 1995.
In 1990, for instance, he appointed John Malecela prime minister to replace Joseph Warioba, who resigned. And in 1994, he appointed Cleopa Msuya prime minister, replacing Mr Malecela. He also made several changes in ministries during the reshuffles.
When announcing his team in December 2005, President Kikwete hinted that nobody would remain permanent member of the Cabinet.
He also stressed that anybody could be a minister because it was not a profession that was taught anywhere.