TANZANIA’s information minister Nape Nnauye has been removed from his post following an outcry over comments he made suggesting that elections could be rigged.
Mr Nnauye was filmed at a rally on 15 July, saying that he would help a fellow ruling party MP win in the 2025 election.
He added that “election results are not necessarily those in the [ballot box], rather they depend on the person counting and making announcements”.
Following a public backlash after a video of his controversial remarks went viral, Mr Nnauye said he had made them in jest.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan sacked him from the cabinet on Sunday as part of a wider reshuffle. She did not give reasons for her decision.
The video, filmed on Mr Nnauye’s visit to the northern city of Bukoba, also showed the former minister saying: “Because I’m good at election tricks, I will assist to emerge victorious.”
He said there are various methods to ensure a win – “legal, half legal and illegal”.
“All of them could be used provided after the conclusion you seek God’s forgiveness,” Mr Nnauye added.
Many Tanzanians criticised the former minister, arguing that he had violated the principles of electoral democracy and did not respect the decision of voters.
In his apology, Mr Nnauye said he believed in “free and fair elections”.
Mr Nnauye also came under fire during the run up to the 2015 elections, when, using a football analogy, he said the ruling CCM party would win the poll by all means – even if this meant scoring a “handball goal”.
CCM – short for Chama cha Mapinduzi – is the one of longest-reigning parties in Africa.
It has been in power since its formation in 1977, with opposition leaders accusing it of winning recent elections through fraud and state repression.
The electoral commission, however, denies that results are rigged.
Mr Nnauye has served CCM “since his primary school days”, a biography on the information ministry website says.
He was first appointed as information minister by the late President John Magufuli, before being removed in a reshuffle.
President Samia reappointed Mr Nnauye in January 2022.
He will now be replaced by former land and housing development minister Jerry Slaa.
Foreign minister January Makamba has also been sacked, with Tanzania’s ambassador to Italy, Mahmoud Thabiti Kombo, chosen as his successor.