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It is Pinda
2008-02-09 09:10:39
By Guardian Reporters
Mizengo Pinda (60) is the new Prime Minister of the United Republic of Tanzania.
President Jakaya Kikwete named the unassuming Mpanda-east legislator yesterday to succeed Edward Lowassa, who resigned on Thursday after a parliamentary select probe team linked him to a corruption scandal involving Richmond Development Company LLC.
Pinda, who in the dissolved cabinet held the regional administration and local government portfolio, becomes the country`s tenth premier and second in President Kikwete`s fourth-phase government.
The portfolio he served in the last cabinet falls under the Prime Minister’s office, meaning that he is somehow not new to the office, having worked as state minister under Lowassa.
Earlier, informing the House of Pinda’s appointment, the Speaker of the National Assembly, Samuel Sitta, said: ``At 4.50pm, the President called me to the Chamwino State Lodge and gave me a message, which reads I`m happy to inform you that I have picked Mizengo Kayanza Peter Pinda for the position of the Prime Minister of the United Republic of Tanzania.``
President Jakaya`s Kikwete`s nomination of Pinda was revealed in Parliament which then voted to endorse him as new prime minister.
He takes over from Lowassa, who held the post for approximately two years.
Sitta announced that Pinda would be sworn in today by President Kikwete at Chamwino State Lodge in Dodoma.
The Speaker kept legislators and Tanzanians following live broadcasts of the session in suspense for a couple of minutes before opening the envelope and announcing that Pinda was the head of state`s nomination for the post.
Rapturous cheers greeted the announcement and Pinda, who had sat pensively, remained calm, closely following up the proceedings.
Attorney General Johnson Mwanyika then asked the House to endorse the nominee, and MPS voted in a secret ballot.
As expected, the nomination of Pinda was endorsed resoundingly by the House in which CCM has a huge majority.
A total of 279 MPs, equivalent to 98.9 per cent, voted in favor of Pinda against just two ``no`` votes. One vote was spoilt.
British High Commissioner Philip Parham said in a press statement issued shortly after the appointment of Pinda: ``This week`s political events in Tanzania have been a positive example of accountable governance in action.``
He said he looked forward to working in partnership with Tanzania`s new Prime Minister and Cabinet, as well as working with President Kikwete, including in his role as Chairman of the African Union.
Pinda was one of several prominent figures mentioned as possible candidates for the post.
Others included Sitta, John Magufuli, Bernard Membe, Stephen Wassira and Paul Kimiti.
He becomes Tanzania’s tenth premier since the country attained independence from Britain in 1961.
His predecessors are Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, Rashid Kawawa, Edward Sokoine, Dr Salim Ahmed Salim, John Malecela, Joseph Warioba, Cleopa Msuya, Frederick Sumaye and Edward Lowassa.
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