The President has been making speeches on an almost daily basis during the last few months. The following extracts from some of his recent speeches give an indication of the flavour of Tanzania’s present policies:

Speaking at an Eid Baraza in Arusha: “The government cannot tolerate stubborn clerics. We will be keen to restrict the operations of these people …I want to warn potential preachers of hatred.” He said the government would continue protecting the freedom of worship. Continue reading →

After Prime Minister Edward Lowassa had rejected reports presented to him by district commissioners in Kigoma region, Tanzania Daima reported that DCs in Iringa region were very worried because their region was next in line for a visit from the PM. It was said that some of the DCs had shredded the reports they had already written and were burning the midnight oil rewriting them. The Kigoma DC, who was said to have had a tongue lashing, was said to be receiving phone calls from his colleagues in Iringa asking for advice. Commenting on this, the Prime Minister said “I am told DCs in Iringa have lost sleep since hearing that I am coming their way. They might as well lose sleep, because they might end up losing their jobs.”

After only ten months in office, on October 15, President Kikwete changed the portfolios of ten of his ministers and eight deputy ministers. No reasons were assigned for the changes, but MP’s had begun to complain about delays in executing development projects, uneven allocation of funds to the regions and careless negotiation of important contracts. There had also, according to the Daily News, been criticism of the handling of specific issues such as the power crisis; the food deficit; the management of forest resources and wildlife and the distribution of communication projects. Continue reading →

Newly appointed High Commissioner in London, Mrs Mwanaidi Sinare Maajar, has said that she would not disappoint President Kikwete on his decision to appoint her to the post. In a talk with the press at her Bond Street office, Maajar said: “I will do my best to fulfil the responsibility entrusted to me by President Kikwete, keeping in mind that this is a senior post in a country with which we have special ties.” She insisted that she has no political ambition and upon retirement she would like to go back and help women in legal matters. She said she would be implementing Tanzania’s the new foreign policy of economic diplomacy. To start with she would relocate the Tanzania Trade Centre and bring it under the High Commission. It would be allocated a better budget to enable it to function well – Majira.

The picture above shows Mrs Maajar presenting her credentials to the Queen. Continue reading →