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Decision to dissolve cabinet was not easy, says Kikwete
2008-02-15 09:46:03
By Hannah Mwandoloma
President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete yesterday said the decision to dissolve the cabinet was quite a difficult one, but he had to make it so as to save the nation from political crisis.
Speaking to Dar es Salaam elders, President Kikwete said for almost a week, the country was in a state of shock and people had panicked.
``It was a tough task, but thank God I went through it. Can you imagine that Parliament is in session and you are required to dissolve the cabinet,`` President Kikwete told hundreds of Dar es Salaam elders.
President Kikwete said he had planned to make a cabinet reshuffle but not in the manner that later transpired.
``I was planning to make a reshuffle soon after the Bunge session and the visit of the US President George Walker Bush were over, but the situation pushed me to act immediately,`` he said.
Kikwete further revealed that the reshuffle was larger than he had envisaged.
``I did what I had to do, may be not up to public expectations, but I had to take that painful and difficult action,`` he said, adding this was the wish of the Almighty God.
``Everything happens for a reason that is even beyond our anticipation. I must admit that the country was in a serious situation,`` he added.
Kikwete promised to work on the recommendations made by the Parliamentary Select Committee on the Richmond saga.
President Kikwete said the government was only waiting for Parliament to finalize debate on the Richmond report.
He said the findings of the select committee would provide the basis for government action.
Kikwete said the Richmond agenda was not the property of any political party but belonged to all MPs, regardless of their political affiliation.
Earlier, the chairman of Dar es Salaam elders group, Athuman Mwinyimvua, praised the President for being elected as African Union President, saying that his hard work was recognized even outside Tanzania.
The meeting was attended by close to 2000 people from the three Dar es Salaam municipalities—Kinondoni, Ilala and Temeke.
Other dignitaries who attended the meeting were the Vice President Ali Mohamed Shein, former President Ali Hassan Mwinyi, former Premier Rashid Mfaume Kawawa, and Dar es Salaam Regional Commisioner Abasi Kandoro.
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