In his first parliamentary appearance since taking office, Mwiguru Nchemba warned that officials who mismanage public funds would face disciplinary action and assured that all Tanzanians would be treated equally and respectfully in public administration. The Tanzania Daily News reported a commitment to ensure discipline, efficiency and equity in the delivery of national services. Mr Nchemba’s announcement came after he received unanimous support from the House of Commons as Prime Minister of the Government.
Almost two weeks after the general election, President Samia Suluhu proposed that Nchemba be appointed as the new prime minister, according to the Daily News. Mr Ntshemba’s nomination was finalized in Parliament, which endorsed him without a negative vote. Nchemba, a 50-year-old economist who has served as vice president since 2010, will succeed Kassim Majaliwa as Tanzania’s chief executive.
According to information published by the Daily News, the former finance minister’s appointment was made against the backdrop of political instability and international issues. Numerous protests erupted across the United States after the presidential election in October, which Suluhu won. The ensuing violence left dozens of people dead and hundreds injured, with the death toll reaching 100, according to information compiled by Amnesty International and other groups, but the main opposition party, Chadema, said it believed the death toll was more than 1,000.
The African Union declared that the election was rigged and joined the international debate on the electoral process and the management of the post-election crisis. Faced with this scenario, the Suluhu government chose to install in the cabinet someone with the experience and depth of experience of Nchemba, who headed the Ministry of Finance from March 2021 to November of the same year. As previously detailed by Daily News, Mr Nchemba headed the Ministry of Justice and Constitution from 2020 to 2021, the Ministry of Home Affairs from 2016 to 2018, and the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries from 2015 to 2016.
Mr Nchemba’s appointment is in response to the government’s need to restore confidence in the system following political violence. Amnesty International and opposition groups reported a severe crackdown on the demonstrations, with authorities detaining about 300 people charged with treason and conspiracy, the Daily News reported.
In parliament, where his appointment was formalized, Nchemba pledged to implement policies that strengthen discipline and ensure that public services reach all sectors of Tanzanian society. He also warned that the abuse and misuse of state resources will not go unpunished, stressing that officials who committed illegal acts must be held accountable according to the law, the Daily News reported.
Mr Nchemba’s political path has been marked by 14 consecutive years as an MP and multiple cabinet positions. Among the actions he mentioned in his speech were the defense of people’s rights and strict oversight of public administration, aspects of which have become especially important after the recent crisis, the Daily News reported.
The unanimous support in Parliament reflects the political support it received at the start of this new phase, following an electoral process marked by tension and disagreement over the African Union’s assurance assessment. According to the Daily News, Nchemba’s pledge is aimed at responding to calls for greater transparency and responding to both domestic pressure and international criticism about the functioning of democracy in Tanzania.
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