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Tanzanian new President appoints new cabinet

Xinhua, December 11, 2015 Adjust font size:

Tanzanian new President John Magufuli on Thursday named a new cabinet made up of 19 ministers and 16 deputy ministers, half the size of the previous government.

There were 60 ministers and deputy ministers during the administration of former President Jakaya Kikwete who was succeeded by President Magufuli on November 5, this year.

President Magufuli had vowed to appoint a small cabinet as part of cost-cutting measures.

However, he said he was still vetting names for four cabinet positions, including finance and natural resources and tourism, education, transport and communication and science and technology dockets.

President Magufuli retained only seven ministers from the previous government, dropping out 53 senior and deputy ministers.

The president appointed former ambassador to the United Nations, Augustine Mahiga, as Foreign Affairs and Regional Cooperation Minister.

Announcing the cabinet at a news conference at State House in the commercial capital Dar es Salaam, President Magufuli named Sospeter Muhongo as Energy and Minerals Minister and Hussein Mwinyi as Minister for Defence and National Service. Both served in the previous government on same portfolios.

President Magufuli said he was still scouting on the other four ministers to head finance and planning, education, science and technology; works, transport and communication and natural resources and tourism.

The ministers will be sworn in by the president on Saturday. Endit