GEORGE MCHECHE MASAJU NEW TZ ATTORNEY GENERAL

By Sylivester Domasa, THE GUARDIAN, Tanzania.  

6th January 2015

 

President Jakaya Kikwete swears in George Mcheche Masaju as Attorney General at State House in Dar es Salaam yesterday. 

The newly appointed Attorney General, George Mcheche Masaju was yesterday sworn in to succeed Fredrick Werema who resigned last month after being implicated in the Tegeta escrow account scandal.

Masaju who will be the country’s eighth Attorney General was sworn-in at the State House in Dar es Salaam, in presence of President Jakaya Kikwete.

Also in attendance at the ceremony were Vice President Dr Mohammed Gharib Bilal, Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda, Chief of Defence Forces, General Davis Mwamunyange, Chief Justice Mohammed Chande Othuman and Speaker for the National Assembly, Anne Makinda.

Others were cabinet ministers, senior government officials, members of the Attorney General Chamber as well as his family members.

Addressing journalists, Masaju acknowledge having a load of tasks to do but appealed to be given enough time to acquaint himself with his new position. 

He declined to state his priorities as the new Attorney General amid alarming corruption scandals in the country. 

Masaju who has served as Deputy Attorney General and legal adviser to the President, called on Tanzanians to trust their government and President Kikwete’s administration.

“There are a number of issues to work on… but I need some time to go through them and I will exclusively invite you in my office to inform the public,” he told journalist who were eager to know his strategies as he takes over the AG office, adding: “My doors will be open for any clarification on legal issues.”

He expressed gratitude to the President for trusting him with the new task, requesting for cooperation from the government and Members of Parliament in executing his duties.

The former Attorney General Werema resigned on December 16, after being in office for five years. 

In his resignation letter, Werema said he resorted to resign on account that his advice on the Tegeta escrow account scandal “had been misunderstood and had in turn polluted the air.”

President Kikwete accepted Werema’s resignation, thanking him “for the diligence and trustworthiness he demonstrated during his time in office.”

The previous Attorney Generals are Johnson Mwanyika (2005-2009), Andrew John Chenge (1993-2005), Justice Damiani Lubuva (1985-1993), Justice Joseph Sinde Warioba (1976-1985), Justice Mark Bomani (1965-1976) and Roland Brown (1961-1965).

According to the Constitution of 1977 of the United Republic of Tanzania, the Attorney General handles the Bills before they go to Parliament. 

Article 59(3) of the Constitution states that: ‘The Attorney General shall be the advisor of the government of the United Republic on matters of the law and for that purpose shall be responsible for advising the government of the United Republic on all matters of the law and to discharge any other functions pertaining to or connected with the law which are referred or assigned to him by the President and also to discharge such other duties or functions which are entrusted to him by the Constitution of the United Republic or by any law.’

The Constitution makes the AG a nominee of the President, who also has no security of tenure, and remains the chief legal advisor to the government. 

The AG is also mandated to promote, protect, and uphold the rule of law, and defend the public interest.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN.