Reported by:
Faridah N Kulumba
Tanzania’s member of parliament confirmed the appointment of Finance Minister Dr Philip Isdor Mpango as the new Vice-President during a parliamentary session in Dodoma.
This followed the new Tanzania’s president Samia Suluhu Hassan 61 year old nominating Dr Philip Isdor 63 year old as her Vice-President, and his name was forwarded to the parliament by the speaker Job Ndugai after receiving communication from president Samia.
When Mpango’s nomination was announced by Parliament Speaker, members of parliament applauded after his name was mentioned.
After swearing in, Mpango will fill the position of Vice-President that was left vacant after Samia Suluhu took over as the sixth Tanzania’s president following the sudden death of president Magufuli who died of heart condition.
Was Dr Mpango chosen by President Samia Hassan or imposed by the ruling party ?
According to Tanzania’s constitution, the vice presidency vacancy must be filled within 14 days from when it falls vacant as reported by CGTN Africa.
Tanzania’s Article 37 of the constitution states that, after consultation with the political party to which he or she belongs, the president shall propose the name of the person who shall be Vice-President, and such appointment shall be confirmed by the National Assembly by votes of not less than 50 percent of all members of parliament.
According to Tanzania’s constitution, a nominee for the Vice-President position required to be supported by 50% of the members of parliament.
But in Dr Mpango’s case, Tanzanian Parliament unanimously confirmed his appointment as the new vice president to the new president, by 363 legislators.
Who is Dr Philip Isdor Mpango, the new Tanzania’s Vice-President ?
Dr Mpango is now the 11th Tanzania’s Vice-President and he has been the 15th Tanzania’s Minister of Finance from 2015 after being appointed by president Magufuli to March 2021, born 14 July 1957 in Tanzania.
He previously held positions as the acting commissioner general of the Tanzania Revenue Authority, he served as the executive secretary in the deputy permanent secretary in the President’s office, the deputy permanent secretary at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs, he also served as the head of the President’s Economic Advisory Unit, and as senior economist for the World Bank .
Dr Mpango the intellectual
Dr Mpango was a senior economist for the World Bank and has vast knowledge in economic management, which enabled him to be among the few ministers reappointed by president Magufuli during his second term.
Magufuli’s choice to retain Dr Mpango according to Reuters, signalled confidence in a minister who helped execute policies which, according to average growth of 6.9% during his first term, propelling Tanzania to a low middle income status.
In 2015 Mpango while serving as a finance minister, helped Magufuli to push through an industrialisation drive and implementation of big infrastructure projects, including a new rail line, hydropower dam and a revival of the national carrier.
