Magufuli appoints army generals as RCs of border towns

 
 President John Magufuli yesterday named 26 regional commissioners, promoting the Kinondoni District Commissioner, Paul Makonda, as the new Dar es Salaam regional boss and naming at least five senior ex-army and police officers as bosses of crime-prone border towns.

 

The president appointed 13 new RCs, retained 7 in their current positions, shuffled five and names one to the newly-created Songwe region, State House said in a statement.

 

The youthful Makonda, who this week marked exactly one year in his previous post as Kinondoni DC, was handed the key docket of regional commissioner of Dar es Salaam, the nation's commercial capital and newly-turned opposition political stronghold.

 

Magufuli recently singled out Makonda for public praise, saying he has passed the test of leadership due to his innovative and firm approach to issues.

 

The president has also appointed several senior retired army and police officers as RCs of border regions with a high crime rate caused by refugees and cross-border criminals.

 

They include retired army Maj.Gen. Ezekiel Kyunga (Geita), Maj.Gen. Salum Kijuu (Kagera), Maj.Gen. Raphael Muhuga (Katavi), Brig.Gen. Emmanuel Maganga (Kigoma) and ex-police commissioner Zelothe Steven (Rukwa).

 

The army generals appointed as regional commissioners are among 16 high ranking officers of the Tanzania People’s Defence Forces (TPDF) who retired earlier this month.

 

Maj. Gen. Muhuga has just retired as the Chief of the National Service, while Maj. Gen. Kijuu is the retired land force commander of the TPDF.

 

Brig. Gen. Maganga retired as chief of the army's defence inspection unit and Maj.Gen. Kyunga served as head of the army's command and discipline school in Duluti, Arusha, before his retirement.

 

Several young faces were also appointed as regional commissioners, including Anthony Mtaka (Simiyu), Martine Shigela (Tanga), Jordan Rugimbana (Dodoma), Halima Dendego (Mtwara) and Amos Makalla (Mbeya).

 

Other new faces in the lineup of regional commissioners include Godfrey Zambi (Lindi), Dr. Steven Kebwe (Morogoro), Aggrey Mwanri (Tabora), Anna Malecela Kilango (Shinyanga) and Mathew Mtigumwe (Singida).

 

Also in the list of appointees are Said Meck Sadick (Kilimanjaro), Magesa Mulongo (Mara), John Mongella (Mwanza), Daudi Ntibenda (Arusha), Amina Juma Masenza (Iringa), Joel Bendera (Manyara), Dr. Rehema Nchimbi (Njombe), Evarist Ndikilo (Coast Region), Said Thabit Mwambungu (Ruvuma) and Chiku Galawa (Songwe). The new RCs will be sworn in at State House tomorrow. 

 

Some notable previous RCs who have been dropped in the new appointments include Mwantumu Mahiza former Tanga regional boss, Abbas Kandoro (Mbeya), Issa Machibya (Kigoma), Magalula Magalula (Katavi), Ludovick Mwanzanzila (Lindi), Fatuma Mwassi (Tabora) and Parseko Kone (Singida).

 

Meanwhile, President Magufuli has confirmed Alphayo Kidata as the Commissioner General of the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) and Valentino Mlowola as the Director General of the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) with immediate effect.

 

Kidata and Mlowola were appointed acting heads of TRA and PCCB respectively after Magufuli dismissed the previous chief executives of the two key institutions as part of his ongoing purge of top public officials aimed at tackling corruption and improving government efficiency.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN