This archive report was first published on 14 September 2019.
On September 14, 2019, Tanzanian President John Pombe Magufuli made a significant move by sacking the country's intelligence chief, Modestus Kipilimba, just one year before the general elections.
Dr. Kipilimba had served for three years out of the five years of his term, making his tenure one of the shortest since Tanzania's independence in 1961, according to The Citizen.
The move is seen as 'indicating a shake-up of the intelligence network ahead of elections next year,' as reported by Reuters.
According to the press statement announcing his sacking, Dr. Kipilimba will be assigned other duties, but the specifics of his new responsibilities remain unclear.
Dr. Kipilimba had previously served as the director of the National Electoral Commission (NEC) voters register before being appointed to head intelligence in 2016, just a few months after President Magufuli's inauguration.
He has been replaced by Diwani Athumani, who was sworn in as the new intelligence chief. Prior to his appointment, Commissioner Athumani headed the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB).
