Africa-Press – Tanzania. POLITICAL pundits have welcomed President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s selection of District Commissioners, saying the new list has met expectations by considering gender and youth agendas.
They are positive that President Samia’s pace provides assurance of implementation of the development agenda, and the new DCs lineup, a mixture of young blood and experienced politicians would keep the tempo high.
On Saturday evening, the Head of State unveiled a list of 139 District Commissioners, with a host of new faces, some transfers, with a few others retained to their work stations.
The list includes appointees from almost all cadres, with gender and youth empowerment agendas evident.
The president insisted recently that she would champion the gender parity during her tenure and has included at least 30 per cent of women in the latest presidential appointees.
President Samia has notably considered ages of the appointees, as the majority of the District Commissioners are in the 30-50 age brackets.
Speaking to the ‘Daily News’ yesterday, University of Dodoma Lecturer, Dr Paul Loisulie said the President has fulfilled the pledge she made recently during her tour in the Mwanza Region.
When addressing youths in Mwanza, President Samia said she would include a large number of youths in the list of DCs, District Executive Directors (DEDs) and District Administrative Secretaries (DASs).
“In the coming appointments of district commissioners, district executive directors and district administrative secretaries, expect a long list of youths,” she told the crowd at Nyamagana Stadium.
According to her, the government was looking at preparing youths to take up public offices and decision making bodies, since they were already over 21 million by the 2012 census, and thus a major component of the country’s population.
Commenting, Dr Lousilue said: “The president lived up to her words; this is so impressive to have a leader who walks the talk… Her new list maintains the government’s slogan of the work goes on”.
Dr Lousilue expressed delight with the mixture of the new DCs, some with different political backgrounds, saying the president has maintained the political legitimacy for the government she is ruling. Loisulie expressed optimism that the DCs would deliver to the expectations, since they are all aware of the direction for which the sixth-phase government is heading.
“The appointees have a huge task of maintaining the trust that the Head of State has put on them. They must observe the rules and principles governing their offices,” he said.
His views were seconded by a political commentator, Mr Jerum Kilumile, who said President Samia has fulfilled her promises accordingly.
Mr Kilumile, who is an Assistant Lecturer at the Mzumbe University-Morogoro, said the new list is inclusive since the president has considered all the groups.
“What is needed now is hard work; I believe that all the appointees are capable of meeting President Samia’s expectations, because they were selected on merits,” he said.
Like Dr Lousulie, Mr Kilumile also cautioned young DCs to maintain the trust by working hard, putting forward national interest as well as ensuring justice to the people in their areas of administration.
On her part, Tumaini University Dar es Salaam College (TUDARco) Lecturer Ms Rachel Yusuph commended President Samia for increasing the number of women DCs in her government.
“She has proved her trust in women and youth, and the appointees have to pay back by working hard and meet her expectations,” she suggested.
According to the State House statement, the new DCs will be sworn in by their respective Regional Commissioners from today.
