By Kusekwa Kusekwa
Tanzania’s 13th Parliament opened in Dodoma on Tuesday, November 11, 2025 with key appointments to the country’s top leadership positions beginning with the election of the Speaker and some two days later, endorsed former Finance Minister, Dr Mwigulu Lameck Nchemba (50), as the new Prime Minister. Dr Mwigulu’s confirmation—369 votes out of 371 cast—marked one of the early milestones in President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s new administration. Mr Mwigulu takes over from Mr Majaliwa Kassim Majaliwa who has retired after serving 10 years as Prime Minister. Immediately after being approved as Prime Minister on Thursday, Dr Nchemba delivered a firm message to public servants, signalling a tougher approach to discipline, integrity and performance in government. He told the equally newly sworn-in MPs that his commitment to poverty alleviation was rooted in lived experience, saying: “I understand the poverty in this country because I have lived in that condition for more than 32 years.” He also issued a stern warning to civil servants who neglect their duties, engaged in corruption or mistreated citizens. He vowed a clean-up of the public sector with the declaration: “I am coming with a machete to clean up public offices.”
Dr Nchemba stressed that lazy, corrupt and abusive officials “will have no place” during his tenure of office. He also extended cooperation to opposition and smaller political parties, emphasising that national development required contributions from all sides. During the same sitting, MPs overwhelmingly elected Mussa Azzan Zungu as Speaker of the National Assembly with 378 out of 383 ballots. Zungu, a former Deputy Speaker, promised open and accessible leadership, assuring MPs: “My office will remain open and I will welcome all views on how best we can run parliamentary business.” He also reaffirmed Parliament’s commitment to governance reforms, including the long-standing push for constitutional review, noting: “The President has made the constitution agenda a priority. As Speaker, I will ensure this quest is realised.”
Lawmakers later elected MP for Babati, Daniel Baran Sillo, as the Deputy Speaker, who pledged to support the Speaker in ensuring efficient and accountable parliamentary operations. With the parliamentary leadership now firmly in place, the government of President Samia Suluhu Hassan begins its new term with a renewed emphasis on discipline in the public service, citizen-centred governance and across-party cooperation. President Samia was expected to address Parliament yesterday evening as we went to press (full coverage in next week’s edition). The President, from the ruling CCM won with 97.6 per cent of vote in the October 29 General Election, is expected to announce her cabinet this week.
