'Know your limits': Tanzania's president warns ministers over state secrets after late-night sacking

By Kizito Makoye

DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania (AA) – After abruptly sacking her foreign minister, Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan on Monday warned other members of her Cabinet to “know your limits.”

“Your authority as ministers has limitations,” Hassan said at a ceremony where Stergomena Tax was sworn in as the new foreign minister and Innocent Bashungwa took over as defense minister.

She also emphasized the importance of protecting “state secrets,” a comment that may indicate something grave behind Liberata Mulamula’s dismissal as foreign minister.

Mulamula was fired late on Sunday and no reason was given for the decision.

Speculation remains rife in Tanzania that government high-ups were miffed by her conduct at last month’s UN General Assembly in New York.

President Hassan did not attend the event, sending Vice President Philip Isdor Mpango to represent Tanzania at the annual gathering of world leaders.

The main point of contention, according to local analysts, was Mulamula’s photo with Joe Biden and his wife Jill at a dinner reception hosted by the US president.

That was likely viewed as a deliberate move by Mulamula to undermine her senior government colleagues, the analysts said.

In her speech on Monday, Hassan doubled down on the need for ministers to follow the government’s lead in all matter.

“Whatever the government decides, it is your decision. You should pay heed to the guidelines. You cannot act in any other manner,” she said.​​​​​​​