NCCR: WEAK PRESIDENCY UNDERMINES KIKWETE’S TENURE

August 2011

By Elias Mhegera

THE chairperson of the National Convention for Construction and Reform (NCCR-mageuzi), James Mbatia has called for the presidency to assume its duties.

Speaking exclusively to The Express on Thursday last week he said that there are indications that Tanzania’s President Jakaya Kikwete does not have enough support from such an important institution which seems to function well in many other countries.

Referring to the specific case of David Jairo, he said that the dramatic suspension-reinstatement-suspension is a lopsided decision which has created confusion and unnecessary commotions.

Jairo’s fate still hangs in balance because the Parliamentary Committee that has been formed to probe the whole sage has not yet submitted its report. All in all the whole public is eagerly waiting for that report.

Mbatia a one time legislator and an engineer by training sees a lot of controversies in the functioning of the Central Government due to the fact that this is not the first time such confusions have been uttered by senior Government officials.

It was strange to hear threatening statement from the Philemon Luhanjo due to the fact that some officials have divulged “state secrets” that was indeed an oversight by the chief secretary, he doubted if at all there was enough consultation prior to the controversial speech that cleared Jairo.

Delineating the functions of the presidency Mbatia said that they are: being the Head of State and Government, as well as being the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Tanzania and Chairman of the Cabinet.

He said further that the president is instrumental as a far overseer of all cabinet committees apart from being assisted by the prime minister in such functions. In general the president is an overseer on matters of security and foreign relations and he is the chief manager of organization of Government and Government Business

He elaborated further that he is the one who appointment the prime minister and cabinet ministers, deputy ministers, permanent secretaries, judges, ambassadors and high-commissioners.

Mbatia said these are functions which the president is supposed to carry after prior consultation with a team of experts and other wise people well versed in the science of government. Therefore he was surprised that they do not support him while they get paid salaries from the tax payers.

“We at the NCCR mageuzi demands that the president act quickly and in time in order to avoid people to speculate unnecessarily,” said Mbatia who was flanked by other senior official of his party Sam Ruhuza and Faustine Sungura.

He further asked that next time if there are such allegations they should be sent to the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB), rather end up with mere political statements.