MWE Correspondent
President Samia Suluhu Hassan has appointed new board chairpersons to several major national institutions in a leadership reshuffle aimed at reinforcing governance standards, regulatory oversight, and strategic sector performance.
The latest appointments affect agencies responsible for national statistics, rail transport development, environmental monitoring, and higher education regulation.
The changes were announced through an official statement released by the Chief Secretary on February 11, 2026, confirming that the new leaders will guide institutional boards considered central to economic planning, infrastructure expansion, and academic quality control.
Former National Assembly Speaker Anne Samamba Makinda has been appointed to chair the Board of Directors of the National Bureau of Statistics, the body mandated to produce and coordinate official statistical data used in national development planning and policy evaluation. Her appointment places an experienced senior public servant at the helm of the country’s principal data authority at a time when evidence-based planning is receiving renewed emphasis across government systems.
In the transport sector, Jaffer Machano has been named chairperson of the board overseeing the Tanzania Railways Corporation. He replaces the outgoing board head as the institution continues to supervise railway modernization projects and long-term network upgrades. The rail sector remains a cornerstone of regional trade and logistics strategy, with ongoing investment programs designed to improve cargo movement, passenger services, and cross-border connectivity.
Environmental governance is also reflected in the new appointments. Dr Albina Andrew Chuwa will lead the board of the National Carbon Monitoring Centre, an institution that supports carbon tracking, climate reporting systems, and environmental data management. The centre plays a growing technical role in climate change monitoring as governments and development partners expand accountability frameworks and carbon measurement standards.
In higher education oversight, Prof Makenya Abraham Maboko has been appointed chairperson of the Tanzania Commission for Universities, the statutory regulator responsible for accreditation, quality assurance, and compliance across universities and tertiary institutions. Analysts say leadership stability at the commission is essential as university enrollment expands and cross-border academic partnerships increase.
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Governance observers note that board leadership appointments often signal policy direction and administrative priorities. Strengthening institutional boards can improve compliance controls, strategic execution, and stakeholder confidence, particularly in sectors that influence investment, infrastructure delivery, and human capital development.
The latest selections draw from senior public service, academia, and sectoral expertise, suggesting a continuity approach that blends institutional memory with technical competence. Such moves are typically intended to improve decision oversight while aligning agencies with broader national development frameworks.
While no immediate operational changes were announced alongside the appointments, transitions at board level frequently precede procedural reviews, performance benchmarking, and updated strategic roadmaps. Sector watchers will be monitoring how the newly constituted boards shape regulatory enforcement, project supervision, and long-term institutional reforms in the months ahead.
The appointments take effect immediately, according to the official notice, with handover processes expected to proceed within established public service guidelines.
