The spokesperson for the Tanzanian ruling party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi, Paul Christian Makonda is causing panic among ministers as he goes around engaging with the public on individual performance.
Most ministers and directors of various parastatals are not happy that President Samia Suluhu Hassan has given so much power to Mr Makonda—who is also the CCM Ideology and Publicity Secretary—to harass them through phone calls to participate in public debate about their commission and omission.
Mr Makonda has adopted a style similar to that of the former president, John Pombe Magufuli who could summon government offices to answer questions about their performance infront of the public.
It appears that the government has adopted a similar style to discipline lazy government officials who have been given the mandate to supervise and control the government projects, but instead end up in shoddy performances.
The move is aimed at ensuring that the party’s manifestos which were endorsed during the 2020 general election are effectively implemented ahead of the general elections slated in November 2025.
With this plan of action currently going on in the country, tension has reigned among some appointed Ministers of CCM
The whole supervision work is being inspired more vigorously by Mr Makonda who takes strong measures against all government officials who have failed to discharge their duties diligently.
The presence of Makonda in public gatherings, as well as the way he speaks, is a major subject of debate as most Tanzanians view him as a person who offers instant solutions to their problems.
He could sometimes pick up the telephone and talk to the Minister in charge of any sector in a rowdy manner after having discovered that has failed to solve a problem linked to the economic development of any particular sector and apparently no action has been taken to remedy the situation.
He does this in public view and without fear, a factor that has given him more prestige and courage, although what he does seems to be causing uncertainty amongst high-ranking officials including ministers who are directly concerned.
His major topics of discussion revolve around social and economic challenges facing the majority of citizens in local communities such as land issues, inefficiency of water supplies, and sudden rise in prices of basic products.
An example is the current sugar crisis which recently caused a mutual misunderstanding between him and the Minister in charge of Agriculture Mr. Hussein Bashe who was not in a position to answer such queries when needed to do so in a public telephone call Makonda made while addressing a mammoth in his tour visit of Manyara region.
Unlike others who have been responding to his call when needed, the agriculture minister remained adamant. “I am directly responsible to the President, Vice-President, Prime Minister or his deputy”, Mr Bashe responded afterward when interviewed by local mainstream media.
Political analysts have hailed Mr Makonda’s style saying that this is how to make people work, whatever he does is good as the ruling CCM party has never fallen short of tricks to skillfully find ways to circumvent any failure by its cadres.
Before previous elections, Mr Makonda served as a Regional Commissioner for Dar es Salaam region which is among 26 administrative regions that make up the United Republic of Tanzania found within the country’s territorial borders.
He is said to be the youngest RC at that time of the fifth government phase under the reign of the late President John Magufuli who was nicknamed bulldozer.
Mr Makonda was picked to serve in this position in October 2023 by members of CCM’s National Executive Committee and his leadership style immediately manifests the party’s true image and identity which is fighting for survival.
He fits well in this new approach as he strives to be the voice of the voiceless in Tanzania. His leadership style is applauded by a section of party members who believe he has what it takes to endear CCM in the hearts of Tanzanians like the Late Magufuli did.
Mr Makonda gained popularity during a constitutional amendment referendum, where he was among a few members of a special parliamentary session, commissioned with the task of preparing a draft for a new Constitution in 2014.
While serving as a Regional Commissioner, he became a controversial leader often accused of oppressing the opposition through malicious means such as accusing them of involvement in the drug business.
Despite his popularity, the US Embassy office in Dar es Salaam in January 2020 issued a press statement signed by the then US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that barred him from entering the United States due to “his involvement in gross violations of human rights, which include the flagrant denial of the right to life, liberty, or the security of persons”.
The statement also stated that the US had credible information that Mr Makonda was “implicated in oppression of the political opposition, crackdowns on freedom of expression and association.
