Tanzania's Speaker Job Ndugai resigns after fallout with President Suluhu

In a statement on Thursday, Speaker Ndugai submitted his resignation letter to his Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) secretary-general notifying of his move to step down.

“I want to notify the Tanzanian Citizens that today being 6th January 2022, I have written a letter to the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) Secretary-General seeking to resign from the position of Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Tanzania,” read the statement.

Ndugai explained that he had settled for the decision without any interference.

“This decision is personal and optional and was made with the interests of my country, the government and my CCM party,” he noted.

Ndugai went forth to state that he had already informed the parliamentary authorities of the decision as stipulated in Tanzanian laws.

“I have already submitted the copies of my resignation letter to the secretary-general of the Republic of Tanzanian Parliament in regard to the process as required in the constitution so as to facilitate the appointment of another speaker,” the statement read.

“I, therefore, take this opportunity to thank my fellow lawmakers, her Excellency President Salma Suluhu Hassan and the government at large, my fellow county residents of Kongwa and all Tanzanian citizens for their uniting support in the period that I was in your service,” he noted.

The move by the speaker comes barely a week after he crossed paths with the Head of State.

In a video clip that went viral, the Speaker criticized the government's borrowing trend, saying it was unhealthy.

 The Speaker said Tanzania risks being auctioned due to rising national debt.

However, days later, Ndugai issued an apology to President Suluhu alleging that the video clip was edited to put tension between him and the president.

Tanzania's local daily The Citizen reports that President Suluhu, later on, criticised the Speaker's remarks saying the sentiments were political and had everything to do with the next elections.

“That is what is going on. It is inconceivable that the head of one of the pillars of the State can stand up and say what he said. It all has everything to do with 2025,” President Hassan said.

She was reportedly addressing her Cabinet ministers, regional commissioners as well as regional chairpersons of the ruling CCM on Tuesday.