SOURCE:Â The Citizen
Dar es Salaam — President John Magufuli's first days in office have been characterized by his usual management style. Impromptu visits to public offices to catch lazy public servants unawares.
On Friday President Magufuli visited the Treasury and found some few empty chairs. On Monday he paid a visit to the Muhimbili National Hospital. He visit led to the suspension of both the board of directors and the acting executive director.
There is no indication that he would change his management style anytime soon. Tanzanians would keenly watch how effective that style is in improving the ineffectiveness of the civil service.
Key to the delivery of his administration is the kind of people he would appoint to assist him, analysts say. "Dr Magufuli must appoint people who can really help him move forward. The country needs ministers who can supervise and give proper directives to their subordinates," said Dr Benson Bana, a political scientist from the University of Dar es Salaam.
Much anticipation is, therefore, expected on the kind of the cabinet President Magufuli will appoint.
Expectations are high that he will select a no nonsense Prime Minister. Hopes are also high that he would appoint a lean cabinet. This is a promise that he made in the campaign trail.
There is also a high possibility that President Magufuli would appoint more women in his cabinet to comprise at least half of the whole cabinet.
After the 2010 General Election retired President Jakaya Kikwete appointed a 55 person cabinet comprising of 30 senior cabinet ministers and 25 deputy ministers.
But only 13 of all these were women, equivalent to 23 per cent. Nine women were in senior cabinet positions while four were appointed as deputy ministers.
As he accepted the CCM nomination in July in Dodoma President Magufuli said his choice of a female running mate, Samia Suluhu Hassan, was informed by the contribution women have made in his political career and in their role in nation building.
If he chooses to appoint half of all women in his cabinet President Magufuli will not be alone. Justine Trudeau, the new Canadian Prime Minister has just done so. President Magufuli will also be following in the footsteps of Sweden (52 per cent) and Finland (62 per cent).
Despite calls on President Magufuli to dump all Kikwete's ministers there is a possibility of continuation. Retained ministers are more likely to be women who have acquired experience while serving former President Kikwete. At least seven former female ministers have made a comeback both through the ballot and nomination.
The major stumbling block to a more female cabinet would be the rule employed by past presidents on equal representation from all regions. This is especially the case in all regions where there are few or no female MPs whether elected or nominated, like in opposition strongholds of Arusha and Kilimanjaro. Fortunately President Magufuli has the powers to elect ten MPs who could very well help him get the kind of ministers he wants.