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Cabinet’s first full day at work
2006-01-09 08:46:29
By Guardian Reporter
The fourth phase government’s new Cabinet starts working formally today.The Cabinet was sworn-in on Friday by President Jakaya Kikwete and broke off immediately for the weekend.
However, some ministers and their deputies spent Saturday familiarising themselves with their new offices and acquainting themselves with their subordinates.
Among the ministers who visited their office on Saturday was Minister for Agriculture, Food Security and Co-operatives Joseph Mungai and his deputies, Christopher Chiza and Hezekiah Chibulunje.
The ministers held discussions with staff, which included Permanent Secretary Wilfred Ngirwa. During the brief meeting, Mungai told his subordinates to devote their time and skills to work.
’The president has placed many challenges on us. We must meet his expectations and we can only do so if we are committed to our jobs and use our knowledge, skills and expertise to serve our fellow Tanzanians,’ Mungai said.
Minister for Industry, Trade and Marketing Nazir Kamaragi, also visited his new office on Saturday in the company of his deputy, David Mathayo.
During the visit, Mathayo told staff that the new bosses would maintain a two-way communication channel with them.
’We must work as a team. This is the only way we can meet people’s expectations,’ he said.
Meanwhile, former Minister for Energy and Minerals Daniel Yona will hand over office to his successor, Dr Ibrahim Msabaha, this morning at the ministry’s headquarters.
Until last year, Dr Msabaha was the Deputy Minister for Energy and Minerals.
Prime Minister Edward Lowassa, however, assumed office on January 2, three days after he was sworn in by President Kikwete at Chamwino State Lodge in Dodoma.
Before he stepped into his new office the Prime Minster warned his staff and civil servants to work diligently as the government would not tolerate irresponsible and negligent employees.
His predecessor, Frederick Sumaye, handed over the office officially on Thursday.
When he announced his new Cabinet on Wednesday last week, President Kikwete said he had no plans to reshuffle his team and so expected all of them to serve throughout the next five years.
’But I expect them to deliver, short of which I will have to take action. So, it is really upon them to decide whether they want to serve the country for five years or not,’ he said.
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