Adeladius Makwega – Mbagala
In early April 2026 in Tanzania, there was the dismissal of the Director General of the Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority (EWURA), Dr. CPA James Andilile Mwainyekule. Following this decision, Mwanakwetu has been in deep reflection about the authority that appoints and dismisses leaders, asking:
“Do these dismissals bring benefits or losses to Tanzanians?”
He reflects:
“If there is a file in government that collects dismissal letters, surely it must now be overflowing—especially from 2016 to 2026. These ten years can truly be called a decade of hire-and-fire.”
Mwanakwetu imagines a government officer responsible for maintaining that file—someone who sees it constantly growing but does not feel the pain of those being dismissed. Today, Mwanakwetu wants to explain that pain.
He argues that whether these dismissals have brought benefits or harm, the responsibility lies with leadership—from President John Pombe Magufuli to President Samia Suluhu Hassan.
“Every leader carries two bundles: one of good and one of bad. The question is—which one outweighs the other?”
Without mincing words, Mwanakwetu says:
Loss of Expertise and Experience:
Frequent dismissals are a major loss to the nation. A leader builds institutional knowledge—how things work, systems, processes—only to be abruptly removed. A replacement must start learning from scratch, which slows progress. In highly system-driven institutions, this can cause long stagnation.
Institutional Confidentiality Risks:Leaders gain access to both public and confidential information. When many people occupy top positions briefly and then move elsewhere, sensitive institutional knowledge spreads widely—posing potential risks.
Internal Workplace Disruption:Leaders often build strong working teams. When they are dismissed, those associated with them may suffer professionally, being unfairly linked to the removed leadership. This often destabilizes institutions and affects performance.
Financial Burden on the State:
Dismissed leaders often retain their high salaries under personal terms, even when reassigned to lower-responsibility roles. This can result in multiple individuals effectively being paid top-level salaries for a single position—placing a financial burden on taxpayers.
Human Impact:
Dismissal has emotional and social consequences: relocation stress, public speculation, family anxiety, and personal uncertainty. As one former minister, Dr. Faustine Ndungulile, noted:
“I rarely settle comfortably in a government house—I stay cautiously, because anything can happen at any time.”
These are just a few of the arguments Mwanakwetu raises.
His Conclusion
Yes, the President has constitutional authority to appoint and dismiss leaders—but this power is exercised on behalf of the citizens of Tanzania.
Therefore, when a dismissal occurs:The public deserves to know the reasons. There should be visible improvements afterward. Otherwise, it risks being unfair to the dismissed individual and unhelpful to the nation.
He also raises a striking observation:Both Magufuli and Samia once served as ministers but were never dismissed. Does that mean they were flawless? Certainly not—they are human. So why are dismissals now so frequent under their leadership?
Mwanakwetu ends with concern:
“Even the institutions meant to advise the President are themselves unstable, with their leaders frequently dismissed. Where is Tanzania heading in such a situation?”
Final Reflection:
“Tanzania, my country—where are we going under these circumstances?”
Mwanakwetu… I have now lost hope.
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