Now Nyalandu sends TTB boss packing

 

Chairman of the Tanzania Tourist Board (TTB, Mr Charles Sanga, briefs the media in Dar es Salaam yesterday. With him is minister for Natural Resources and Tourism Lazaro Nyalandu. PHOTO | MICHAEL MATEMANGA 

By Frank Kimboy,The Citizen Reporter

Posted  Tuesday, March 25  2014 at  08:01

In Summary

• Process to look for a new CEO to start immediately and the Board has  been given 21 days to finish the task of shortlisting candidates

Dar es Salaam. The government has relieved Tanzania Tourism Board managing director Aloyce Nzuki of his duties.

Natural Resources and Tourism minister Lazaro Nyalandu said Dr Nzuki was dropped from the plum docket due to poor performance. He did not elaborate.

He said the TTB board of directors wrote to him and advised him that Dr Nzuki’s position in the organisation was untenable. TTB is tasked with promoting the country’s tourism potential around the world.

In the letter signed by TTB board chairman Charles Sanga, the board said Dr Nzuki had failed to discharge his main responsibility.

“I received a letter from TTB board which asked me to reconsider Dr Nzuki and after consultation with the deputy minister and permanent secretary, I agreed with the board’s recommendations,” said Mr Nyalandu, who was flanked by his deputy, Mr Mahmoud Mgimwa, and Mr Sanga.

According to the minister, Dr Nzuki, who is a presidential appointee, will be assigned other responsibilities at the ministry.

He said he had the powers to remove the TTB boss from office, adding that the government had appointed Ms Devotha Mdachi to hold the post in an acting capacity.

The minister also said he had directed TTB board of directors to immediately advertise the CEO’s position for interested candidates to apply.  A private firm would select suitable candidates from which three names would be sent to the President for final appointment of the new TTB boss, he added. Dr Nzuki’s removal comes just a month after Mr Nyalandu also sacked two top officials of the Wildlife Department.

Those sent packing were the Director of Wildlife, Prof Alexander Songorwa, and his assistant, Prof Jafari Kidegesho, who was responsible for sustainable use of wildlife resources.