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Mzindakaya quits of his own free will as NDC chairman

VETERAN local politician Chrisant Mzindakaya has announced his intention to step down voluntarily as chairman of the state-run National Development Corporation (NDC), a position he has held for the past eight years.
Speaking to journalists in Dar es Salaam yesterday, Dr Mzindakaya - who turns 76 next month - said advancing age was the main reason behind his decision although he still felt mentally and physically strong. 
He said he tendered his letter of resignation and early retirement to President John Magufuli on Monday.
In doing so, Mzindakaya becomes the first reasonably high-profile personality to relinquish a key public service posting of his own free will under the keen watch of President Magufuli, who has already subjected a good number of senior public officials to compulsory ‘retirement’ for various administrative shortcomings in the eight and a half months he has been in power.
The former long-serving member of parliament, deputy minister and regional administrator said he was retiring for no other reason than because he felt it was “the right thing to do” after years of service in successive governments.
Said Mzindakaya: “I served 13 years under Mwalimu Julius Nyerere in addition to 10 years as a regional commissioner under President Ali Hassan Mwinyi. Then I requested President Mwinyi to relieve me of my duties as residents of Kwela constituency in Rukwa Region asked me to represent them in parliament, a responsibility undertaken for 45 years until I retired voluntarily.”
“Under the same spirit, I find it necessary to seek approval from President Magufuli to relieve me of my duties as chairman of NDC. The nation is blessed with highly qualified individuals who should also be given a chance to lead such institutions.” 
“It is not proper to cling to power. I am old and doing what I believe is the right thing to do and remain a man of principle. All leaders are not here to stay. Men and women will go but the nation will remain forever.”
He is stepping down with a year still remaining on his third three-year tenure as NDC chairman. He said his decision gave him comfort and peace of mind and wished NDC well in further advancing key development projects like the Mchuchuma coal and Liganga iron ore mines in the Southern Highlands.
Mzindakaya also called on people entrusted by President Magufuli to serve in public office to reciprocate such trust by doing a good job since anything less would only expose the appointee’s own weakness and not that of the appointing authority.
He expressed support for the Magufuli government’s plan to embrace an industrial economy, saying proper planning together with effective implementation should lead to prosperity.
“Tanzanians are not lazy. Proper planning on day-to-day duties will keep everyone busy…we stand a better chance to attain higher levels of economic prosperity,” he said, adding: 
“Tanzania will eventually emerge the economic powerhouse in the region. We all have the obligation to work diligently.”
On the tendency of some cabinet ministers in previous governments to accuse those former administrations of not doing enough in some areas, Mzindakaya described this as “hypocrisy of the highest standard” since they were members of the same governments and therefore had the opportunity to rectify matters at the time.
On the upcoming CCM national congress where the ruling party chairmanship is expected to change hands from ex-president Jakaya Kikwete to current incumbent John Magufuli, Mzindakaya called on all delegates to rally behind their new party leader.
“Those (delegates) who are scared and perhaps feeling uncomfortable should do some soul searching and realize that strengthening the party includes weeding out bad elements. Corruption has to be dealt with within CCM to have in office only deserving party leaders,” the veteran politician said.

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