Dr Mwinyi unveils new cabinet, invites ACT to join GNU

ZANZIBAR: THE Zanzibar President, Hussein Ali Mwinyi, today, November 13, 2025, announced a new cabinet featuring new faces, structural changes, and a strong message of accountability and faster performance.

In a ceremony held at Stone Town-based State House, Dr Mwinyi unveiled his new team of ministers, increasing the number of ministries from 18 to 20 — a move he said was aimed at enhancing efficiency and addressing new national priorities.

“To improve performance, I have added two new ministries after reorganizing some of the existing ones. I have also left four ministerial positions vacant for the opposition party, ACT-Wazalendo, to join the Government of National Unity in accordance with the Zanzibar Constitution,” Dr Mwinyi said.

ACT-Wazalendo has been given 90 days (from November 01) to decide whether to join the unity government, a decision widely seen as a test of Zanzibar’s post-election political direction.

President Mwinyi emphasized that his second-term administration will move “with greater speed” and will be more demanding on ministers’ performance. “I have been advised to be a little tougher, and I can say I will be much stricter this time. We will closely monitor performance because we want tangible results for the people,” he declared.

The President reaffirmed his administration’s guiding philosophy of “performance for results”, a slogan that has defined his governance style since 2020.

The new Cabinet marks both continuity and generational transition. Several long-serving ministers have been dropped, including former Minister for Information, Tabia Maulid Mwita, and former Minister at State House, Ali Suleiman Ameir.

In their place, younger leaders and technocrats have been appointed, a move political observers view as part of President Mwinyi’s broader strategy to inject new energy and prepare future leadership.

Among the key appointments: Dr Juma Maliki Akil — new Minister of Finance and Planning, formerly the Permanent Secretary in the same ministry, signalling continuity and experience in economic management.

Dr Saada Mkuya Salum, a former Minister of Finance in the Union Government, has been appointed Minister of State, President’s Office – State House; and Mr Idrisa Kitwana Mustafa, former Regional Commissioner for Mjini Magharibi, now leads the Ministry of Regional Administration, Local Governments, and Special Departments of the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar — one of the most influential ministries in the Isles.

Dr Mwinyi announced the creation of two new ministries: The Ministry of Communication, Information Technology and Innovation — to drive the government’s digital transformation agenda and ensure all public services and revenue systems are digitized; and The Ministry of Youth, Employment and Empowerment — designed to tackle youth unemployment and enhance economic inclusion for all citizens.

“During my campaign, I pledged to make government operations more digital. To achieve this, communication and innovation must be managed under an independent ministry,” he said.

In line with the 1984 Zanzibar Constitution, which provides for a Government of National Unity, President Mwinyi reserved four ministerial positions for ACT-Wazalendo. These include: The Office of the First Vice President, The Ministry of Trade and Industrial Development, The Ministry of Health, and The Ministry of Tourism and Heritage.

“As I said during the opening of the House of Representatives, I am ready to work with ACT-Wazalendo to form the GNU. These positions will remain vacant for 90 days as stipulated by the Constitution,” he added.

President Mwinyi said the appointments were based on a variety of criteria, including regional representation, educational background, professional expertise, experience, gender balance, and equitable inclusion of leaders from both Unguja and Pemba islands.

President Mwinyi said he expects his ministers to show strong discipline, commitment, and direct engagement with citizens rather than confining themselves to offices.

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“This time I do not want ministers, deputies, and directors who sit in their offices. I want them to go out to communities, listen to the people and solve their challenges,” he emphasized.

He announced plans to establish a performance evaluation system for all senior officials to ensure accountability and delivery on the ruling CCM’s election manifesto, the national development plans, and Vision 2050.

“Those I have appointed must perform — or make way for others. There will be no room for excuses or complacency,” he warned.

Dr Mwinyi also said the government Service Office (GSO) has been tasked to monitor public servants’ performance and recommend disciplinary action where necessary.

The President underscored his commitment to steering Zanzibar toward a digital economy, saying “there is no alternative in today’s world.”

He concluded by commending journalists for their contribution to peaceful elections and urged continued collaboration in promoting transparency and national development.

List of Mwinyi’s New Appointments

1) President’s Office – State House: Dr Saada Mkuya Salum

2) President’s Office – Constitution, Public Service and Good Governance: Dr Haroun Ali Suleiman

3) President’s Office – Regional Administration, Local Governments and Special Departments: Idrisa Kitwana Mustafa

4) Second Vice President’s Office: Hamza Hassan Juma

5) Ministry of Finance and Planning: Dr Juma Maliki Akil (Minister), Dr Hamad Omar Bakar (Deputy)

6) Ministry of Labour and Investment: Sharif Ali Sharif

7) Ministry of Land and Housing Development: Rahma Kassim Ali (Minister), Salha Mohammed Mwinjuma (Deputy)

8) Ministry of Education and Vocational Training: Lela Mohammed Mussa (Minister), Khadija Salum Ali (Deputy)

9) Ministry of Information, Arts, Culture and Sports: Riziki Pembe Juma (Minister), Ali Abdulgulam Hussein (Deputy)

10) Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, Natural Resources and Livestock: Suleiman Masoud Makame (Minister), Salum Soud Hamid (Deputy)

11) Ministry of Water, Energy and Minerals: Nadir Abdullatif Alwardi (Minister), Seif Kombo Pandu (Deputy)

12) Ministry of Blue Economy: Masoud Ali Mohammed (Minister), Mboja Ramadhan Mshenga (Deputy)

13) Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport: Dr. Khalid Salum Mohammed (Minister), Ms Badria Attai Masoud (Deputy)

14) Ministry of Social Development, Gender, Elderly and Children: Anna Attanas Poul (Minister), Zawadi Amour Nassor (Deputy)

15) Ministry of Communication, Information Technology and Innovation: Mudrik Ramadhan Soraga (Minister), Mohammed Sijiamini Mohammed (Deputy)

16) Ministry of Youth, Employment and Empowerment: Shaaban Ali Othman (Minister), Hassan Khamis Hafidh (Deputy).