More women, new faces in Kikwete's cabinet

Newly elected Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete announced his cabinet on Wednesday, comprising 29 ministers and 30 deputies. The cabinet has many new faces and the highest number of women the country has had since independence. "This is a new government, with new goals and that is why we have several new faces. There are, however, several veterans around," Kikwete told a news conference at State House, his first since he was sworn-in as president on 21 December 2005. The women in the new cabinet are seven ministers and 10 deputy ministers. The previous cabinet had four female ministers. Among the women holding key positions in the new cabinet are Zakia Meghji, former minister for natural resources and tourism, who becomes the minister for finance, and Asha-Rose Migiro, the new minister for foreign affairs and international cooperation. Migiro was formerly minister for community development, gender and children. Kikwete also appointed women to head the ministries of education, justice, livestock and community development. He has restructured several ministries, splitting some, saying it was necessary to give special focus to crucial issues such as water supply, health, education, planning, economy, people's empowerment, agriculture and livestock development. "Wherever I went during the campaign, water was one of the major concerns in both urban centres and rural areas. It is an issue that my government pledged to tackle more aggressively despite the fact that heavy investment is required," he said, justifying creation of a ministry to exclusively deal with water. Explaining the creation of a separate ministry for livestock development, Kikwete said Tanzania had 17 million heads of cattle yet the livestock industry remained underdeveloped. "We are producing little milk, export very little beef and our livestock keepers roam throughout the country with their animals in search for grazing grounds," he said. "We have to do away with archaic ways of livestock farming. I, therefore, create a separate ministry for livestock development." ******** Below is the full list of the new cabinet, as at 4 January 2006: President: Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete Vice-President: Ali Mohamed Shein Prime Minister: Edward Lowassa Zanzibar President: Amani Abeid Karume Ministers: Foreign Affairs: Asha-Rose Migiro East African Affairs: Andrew Chenge Education and Vocational Training: Margareth Sitta Finance: Zakia Meghji Planning, economy: Juma Ngasongwa Industry, Trade and Marketing: Nazir Karamagi Agriculture and Co-operatives: Joseph Mungai Natural Resources and Tourism: Anthony Diallo Water: Stephen Wassira Energy and Minerals: Ibrahim Msabaha Infrastructure Development: Basil Mramba Health and Social Welfare: David Mwakyusa Higher Education, Science and Technology: Peter Msolla Labour, Employment and Youth Development: Jumanne Maghembe Lands, Human Settlement: John Magufuli Information, Sports and Culture: Mohamed Seif Khatibu Home Affairs: John Chiligati Public Safety and Security: Bakari Mwapachu Justice and Constitutional Affairs: Mary Nagu Community Development, Gender and Children: Sophia Simba Livestock Development: Shukuru Kawambwa Defence and National Service: Juma Kapuya Attorney General: Johnson Mwanyika Ministers of State in President's Office: Public Service Management: Hawa Ghasia Good Governance: Philip Marmo Political Affairs & Public Affairs: Kingunge Ngombale-Mwiru Ministers of State in the Vice-President's Office: Union Affairs: Hussein Mwinyi Environment: Mark Mwandosya Ministers of State in Prime Minister's Office: Regional Administration and local Government: Mizengo Pinda Parliamentary Affairs: Juma Akukweti Deputy Ministers: Prime Minister's Office Luka Siame - Disasters Selina Kombani - Regional Administration and Local Govt Foreign Affairs: Seif Ali Iddi Cyril Chami East African Affairs - Deodorus Kamala (Finance) Abdisalaam Khatib Mustafa Mkulo Planning, economy: Salome Mbatia Industry, Trade and Marketing: David Matayo David Agriculture and Co-operative: Christopher Kiiza Hezekia Chibulunje Energy and Minerals: Lawrence Masha Water: Shamsa Mwangunga Infrastructure: Maua Daftari Milton Mahanga Health: Aisha Kigoda Education: Mwantumu Mahiza Ludovick Mwananzila Higher Education, Science and Technology: Gaudencia Kabaka Labour, Employment and Youth Development: Jeremiah Sumari Daniel Nsanzugwanko Lands: Ritta Mlaki Community Development, Gender and Women: Batilda Burian Public Safety and Security: Mohamed Abood Home Affairs: Bernard Membe Livestock Development: Charles Mlingwa Natural Resources and Tourism: Zabein Mhita Information, Sports and Culture: Emmanuel Nchimbi Joel Bendera Justice and Constitutional Affairs: Mathis Chikawe Defence and National Service Omari Yussuf Mzee