Pinda speaks out as reshuffle looms

Dar es Salaam. Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda, who faces mounting pressure to resign, has told The Citizen that he would be willing to discuss his fate after the end-of-the-year holidays.

Speaking by telephone on Monday evening from his Kibaoni home village in Mlele District, Katavi Region, Mr Pinda said he wanted some peace and quiet during the festive season after a tumultuous parliamentary sitting during which a select committee tabled an explosive report that led to the sacking of four Cabinet ministers last week.

The report detailed gross human rights abuses by security forces and government officials during Operesheni Tokomeza Ujangili (Operation Eradicate Poaching) that was meant to stamp out the slaughter of elephants in the country’s national parks, game reserves and other protected areas.

Several MPs called for the Prime Minister’s resignation, accusing him of dereliction of duty in his capacity as the most senior minister in the Cabinet. But Mr Pinda asked to be left alone until after the holidays when contacted by The Citizen.

“After the parliamentary sitting in Dodoma, I went on leave…let me rest with my grandmother and grandfather. Contact me after the holidays, and I will be ready to talk to you about what you want to know,” he said.

His press secretary, Ms Irene Bwire, later clarified that the Prime Minister usually refers to his mother and father as grandmother and grandfather, respectively.

Several MPs from across the political divide appealed to President Jakaya Kikwete to sack Mr Pinda following the revelation of atrocities committed during Operesheni Tokomeza Ujangili.

President Kikwete fired four ministers for failing to oversee the operation, which has been suspended indefinitely amid claims of abuses, torture, extortion and murder.

Mr Khamis Kagasheki (Natural Resources and Tourism), Mr David Mathayo (Livestock and Fisheries), Mr Emmanuel Nchimbi (Home Affairs) and Mr Shamsi Vuai Nahodha (Defence and National Service) were relieved of their duties following fierce debate in Parliament during which MPs from the ruling CCM and opposition, who rarely see eye to eye, closed ranks and demanded justice for victims of the operation.

Mr Pinda admitted in Parliament that the operation was generally conducted in a “disgraceful” way and many of the acts of those charged with protecting Tanzania’s wildlife were “totally unacceptable”.

“It was a well intentioned plan. However, it’s clear there were major problems with how the operation was carried out,” he said.

A section of the media yesterday reported that President Kikwete had decided not to sack Mr Pinda to avoid burdening taxpayers even further because his removal would mean that Tanzania would have six former prime ministers on generous state benefits. The Citizen could not independently verify the reports.

Meanwhile, two of the four ministers who were sacked last week have declined to comment on their dismissal from the government.

Mr Nahodha and Dr Mathayo said separately by telephone that they had no comment.

“I don’t have anything to say about the matter,” said Mr Nahodha.

Dr Mathayo said: “I have only two words. The first word is ‘no’ and the second is ‘comment’, thus you get ‘no comment’.”

Reported by By Lucas Liganga and Bernard Lugongo; read separate analysis on cabinet reshuffle in today’s Political Platform maga