PRESIDENT Samia Suluhu Hassan has directed the newly appointed cabinet ministers and top ministerial officials to ensure that they work innovatively, with professionalism and common sense in executing their duties, to bring change to the country.

In remarks after swearing in newly appointed officials, including ministers, deputy ministers and permanent secretaries, she ruled out making a long speech, stressing the need to ‘think outside the box’ to achieve greater efficiency in the various roles.

“To enhance efficiency in the public service and produce positive outcomes it is important that you use both professionalism and common sense. Go and be innovative on your duties,” she told the incoming leaders.

Vice President Dr Philip Mpango urged the newly appointed top officials to live up to their oaths and work hard for elevated productivity. This needs improved cooperation with executives in their areas of work if they address the various challenges being faced, he said.

City-based political analyst Abdulkarim Atiki said that generally changes in the cabinet are meant to improve government performance, highlighting that Prof. Palamagamba Kabudi’s return to Constitutional and Legal Affairs portfolio relates to his extensive experience and academic qualifications.

If Prof. Kabudi had been present before the Mbeya incident involving the Chadema party, the situation would probably not have escalated as it did since the minister would have used his legal expertise to address the issue, he remarked.

He said the incident involved complaints about constitutional matters, which the don not only understands but has significant expertise in the area,

He praised President Samia for the R4 (reconciliation, resilience, reforms and rebuilding) as essential for success as they enshrine human dignity and respect.

William Lukuvi’s appointment to the Policy, Parliament and Coordination portfolio in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) arose from his being an experienced veteran.

The next legislature will have a more vocal representation from both the ruling party and the opposition, and since he earlier supervised that ministry, he knows how to handle that role.

“We must acknowledge that whether one is from CCM or not, we have a multi-party system and his place is in Parliament,” he said.

He sees the Natural Resources and Tourism portfolio as having peculiar problems for decades, even before economic reforms and multiparty shifts occurred.

“Some issues need to be addressed, as concentrating the country’s resources in one ministry is problematic,” he stated, affirming that no minister will stay there for long. “Some decisions need to be streamlined. My advice to the president is to overhaul the entire natural resource management system to improve its effectiveness,” he suggested.

Late Wednesday President Samia announced a fairly significant cabinet reshuffle, along with several top ministerial appointments, with Ambassador Dr Moses Kusiluka, the chief secretary, saying in a statement that the changes are aimed at increasing the efficiency of her administration.

In the changes, veteran Health minister Ummy Mwalimu gave way to Jenista Mhagama, shifting from PMO, while Dr Pindi Chana was reassigned to Natural Resources and Tourism, replacing Angellah Kairuki, appointed presidential adviser.

Hamza Johari becomes Attorney General, elevated from the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA) as director general, while Dr Ally Saleh Possi comes in as Solicitor General, lifted from Transport deputy permanent secretary.

Samwel Maneno comes in as Deputy Attorney General, replacing Ambassador Prof. Kennedy Gastorn, appointed presidential adviser on legal and contractual matters, the statement added.