Tanzanian president appoints opposition member to senior gov't post

Tanzanian President John Magufuli on Tuesday appointed a chief adviser to an opposition party as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Water and Irrigation, making him the first opposition appointee in the history of the east African country.

The president appointed Kitila Mkumbo, adviser to the Alliance for Change and Transparency (ACT)-Wazalendo party and a professor at the state-owned University of Dar es Salaam.

Mkumbo accepted President Magufuli's appointment, saying he was honoured by the gesture.

He later wrote in his verified Twitter account; "I thank @MagufuliJP for the honour he gave me to be able to serve our country as Permanent Secretary. May God help me."

His appointment indicated that President Magufuli has changed his stance towards appointing members of the opposition in the government.

ACT-Wazalendo party leader Zitto Kabwe confirmed that the party has accepted Mkumbo's letter to resign from his position as the party chief adviser following the appointment.

"Due to the appointment Mkumbo can't continue to serve as the party's adviser. He has written to me to offer his resignation from the position and I have accepted it," Kabwe said in a statement to the media.

However, Kabwe added that Mkumbo will continue to be a member of the ACT. Enditem