Tanzania's Magufuli Shuffles Cabinet, Splits Energy and Mining

(Bloomberg) -- Tanzania President John Magufuli split the Ministry of Energy and Mining into two agencies Saturday as part of a shuffle that expanded the cabinet to 21 ministers from 19, according to an emailed statement from his office.

Medard Kalemani was to head the Ministry of Energy minister, promoted from deputy in the energy and minerals agency. Angellah Kairuki, a lawyer, was named to head the new Ministry of Mining. She had been at the Ministry of State for Public Service Management and Good Governance.

The president also split the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries. Charles Tizeba will take over Agriculture and Luhaga Mpina will head the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, promoted from deputy at the Ministry of Environment and Union Affairs. Deputy Health Minister Hamisi Kigwangalla was promoted to lead the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, replacing Jumanne Maghembe.

Magufuli is overhauling the mining industry in sub-Saharan Africa’s sixth-biggest economy, with a target to double its contribution to gross domestic product to 10 percent by 2025. In March, he banned mineral exports and ordered an audit that found London-based Acacia Mining Plc understated the taxes it owes Tanzania, a finding the company disputes.

Petra Diamonds Ltd. halted production at its mine in Tanzania in September after the government seized a shipment of diamonds suspected of being undervalued. The company has resumed operations and won authorization to export its diamonds late last month. The government in July approved laws that would enable the state to renegotiate contracts with mining and energy companies.

To contact the reporter on this story: Omar Mohammed in Dar es Salaam at omohammed4@bloomberg.net.

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Bernard Kohn at bkohn2@bloomberg.net, Steve Geimann at sgeimann@bloomberg.net.