Africa-Press – Tanzania. A DRAMA unfolded at Dodoma’s Chamwino State House on Monday when one of the 23 Deputy Ministers failed to take the oath of office, with his appointment eventually revoked by President John Magufuli.
Mr Francis Ndulane was among 23 lucky lawmakers who were appointed by President Magufuli as deputy ministers on December 5.
The North Kilwa legislator was appointed Deputy Minister for Minerals.
Dressed in his dark suit and white shirt, Mr Ndulane arrived at State House in the morning, with high expectations that he was due to officially kick off his duties as a new deputy minister at the end of swearing-in exercise.
He was in the company of his family members who looked happy all the time, presumably hoping that their breadwinner and first time Member of Parliament was now becoming one of the bosses in the minerals docket.
If wishes were horses, beggars would ride. Little did he know that his wishes would end up into total disappointment.
When his name was called, the joyful man matched to the podium prepared for administering oaths to ministers and their deputies.
Chief Secretary, Engineer John Kijazi, handed over to him a bible and a paper containing the words that ought to be read as oath of allegiance. Immediately after he started reading, Mr Ndulane started stammering.
His flow of words was disrupted by involuntary repetitions and prolongations of sounds, syllables, words, and phrases. At some point, there were involuntary silent pauses.
He was given the second and third chance to re-start reading but he couldn’t make it at all. Finally, the Chief Secretary told him to leave the podium and go back to his seat and take a rest.
Delegates who attended the function started murmuring; with others whispering that maybe, the Head of State would reconsider him by calling him again after all deputy ministers had finished taking oath of office, so that he could make another trial.
Unfortunately, it was not the case. The President when giving his speech declared that he would appoint another person to replace him.
“I will give this position to someone who can take the oath properly,” the president said.
He told Mr Ndulane that he will keep his MP seat but “we will have to get a replacement”.
“I understand that you have a Master’s of Science in Accounting and Finance, but we will have to review your certificates to determine the authenticity,’’ said Dr Magufuli.
Immediately after Dr Magufuli’s speech, it was time for a photo session. This is when all ministers and their deputies went to a place prepared by the State House Protocol persons to have photographs with the Head of State.
Looking disappointed, Mr Ndulane did not attend the photo session, instead, he walked out of the State House compounds with his family as tears rolled down his cheeks.
If he had managed to be sworn in, he would have left the State House with a V8 that was parked in the compound with his driver waiting for him.
Unfortunately, the driver was forced to take back the posh car to the ministry headquarters as his expected boss failed to recite the oath that would have cleared him to become a deputy minister.
