KONGWA Member of Parliament Job Yuston Ndugai (CCM) is the new Speaker of the National Assembly of the United Republic of Tanzania.
He was elected to the job following an in- House ballot involving all MPs present in which he scooped 254 votes out of the 365 cast, beating his closest challenger, Mr Goodluck ole Medeye of CHADEMA, who managed 109.

Eight candidates had entered the race for one of the most prestigious posts of the land, left vacant after its long-serving holder, Mrs Anne Makinda, announced that she was not standing again.
The Clerk of the National Assembly, Dr Thomas Kashililah, announced before MPs who had convened on the first day of the 11th Parliament that the landslide victory by Mr Ndugai, who served as Deputy Speaker in the 10th Parliament, represented 74 per cent of all votes cast. Mr Ole Medeye, who represented the Coalition of Four Opposition Parties, UKAWA, became second after garnering 109 votes. Two votes were spoilt.
The six other candidates who took part in the elections, notably the defeated presidential candidate in the just-ended general election, Mr Hashim Spunda Rungwe of CHAUMMA, couldn’t manage even a single vote.
Surprisingly, Mr Rungwe did not even bother to show up in the election that was coordinated by one of the long-serving MPs, attorney general and former cabinet minister, Mr Andrew Chenge.
Other defeated candidates were Mr Peter Leonard Sarungi from the Alliance for Tanzania Farmers Party (AFP, Mr Hassan Kisabya Almas of the National Reconstruction Alliance (NRA), Dr Godfrey Raphael Malisa of Chama Cha Kijamii (CCK), Mr Richard Shedrack Lyimo from Tanzania Labour Party (TLP) and Mr Robert Alexander Kasinini from the Democratic Party (DP).
Mr Ndugai becomes the sixth House Speaker since independence, preceded by Ms Makinda, Mr Samuel Sitta, Mr Pius Msekwa, Chief Adam Sapi Mkwawa and Chief Erasto Mang’enya. Immediately after being announced the winner, Mr Ndugai marched to the podium within the debating chamber where he took oath of office before assuming his official duty of overseeing House proceedings.
He thanked the MPs for trusting him and electing him to the post and promised to work tirelessly to support the Fifth Phase Government led by Dr John Magufuli. The parliamentarian told the House his election to the noble position was a turning and defining moment of his life history, calling on all lawmakers to join hands in ensuring that the business of the House is conducted in accordance with the Constitution and Parliamentary Standing Orders.
In an emotional account of his childhood at a point in his brief appreciation speech, Mr Ndugai recalled once asking his mother why he was her only child and, therefore, lonely. He could not tell the exact reply his mother gave to the query. “I did not know then that in later life I would amass a wealth of relatives… and that is you, thank you very much,’’ he quipped, referring to all the MPs.
The new Speaker said that he was aware of the needs and expectations of the people and pledged to work closely with the MPs for the interest of the nation. In a true show of civility and democratic ideals, the other defeated candidates around gave brief speeches in which they congratulated the new speaker, expressing their confidence that he would deliver as expected, considering the fact that he possessed enough experience and was knowledgeable enough to handle the proceedings.
Mr Ndugai was among the 21 CCM members who had picked forms to vie for the post. However, the party’s Central Committee last Sunday endorsed three names out of the whole lot to represent the party. The other two were the former Deputy Attorney General, Dr Tulia Ackson Mwansasu and a Member of the East Africa Legislative Assembly, Mr Abdullah Ali Mwinyi.
However, the two withdrew their names in support of Mr Ndugai. Other CCM members who had sought candidature for the post but were not successful include former Speaker of the National Assembly and Constituent Assembly, Mr Samwel Sitta, and former Member of Parliament (MP) for Songea Urban, Dr Emmanuel Nchimbi.
Other candidates include former Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (Policy, Coordination and Parliamentary Affairs) Philip Marmo, former Ambassador to Italy and seasoned lawyer, Professor Costa Mahalu, and Kasulu Rural MP-Elect and former deputy minister, Mr Daniel Nsanzugwanko.
In the same boat were former Dar es Salaam Mayor Didas Massaburi, former deputy Minister Rita Mlaki, MP-Elect for Chato, Dr Medard Kalemani, former Member of the East Africa Legislative Assembly, Mr George Nangale, and former MP for Karagwe, Mr Gosbert Blandes.
The rest were former presidential candidate in the just ended general election, Dr Kalokola Muzzamil, Goba (Dar es Salaam) Councillor Mwakalika Watsion, Mr Julius Pwatila, Ms Agnes Makune, Ms Simon Rubugu, Mr Sanda Sonoko, Mr Leonce Mulenda and a 28-year university graduate, Veraikunda Urio.