Ashatu Kijaji Explained

Ashatu Kijaji
Office:Minister of Industry and Trade
Term Start:10 January 2022
Term Start1:12 September 2021
Term End1:8 January 2022
Office2:Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning
Term Start2:December 2015
Term End2:September 2021
Term Start3:November 2015
Constituency3:Kondoa
Birth Date:26 April 1976
Birth Place:Kondoa District, Tanzania
Alma Mater:Mzumbe University
University of Agder

Ashatu Kijaji (born 26 April 1976) is a Tanzanian academic and politician belonging to the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party. She is a Member of Parliament for Kondoa Constituency in Dodoma Region and the Minister of Industry and Trade.[1] [2]

Background and education

Kijaji was born on April 26, 1976, in Kondoa District, Dodoma Region. She completed her primary school in Kalamba Primary School in 1990, then completed her Ordinary level secondary education in Kilakala secondary school in 1994 and thereafter from 1995 to 1997 joined Shinyanga Commercial School commonly known as SHYCOM for her Advanced level secondary education. In 2001, she received her Advanced Diploma in Economic Planning from the then Institute of Development Management - Mzumbe which is equivalent to Bachelor of Science in Economics currently offered by now Mzumbe University. She then acquired her Master of Science in Business Administration specialized in International Management from the University of Agder, Norway in 2008. She also acquired her PhD in International Management Majoring in Economics from the same University of Agder, Norway in 2013.

She worked as a Planning Officer for the Kisarawe District Council from March 2002 to August 2002 and then as an Assistant Lecturer from 2005 to 2009, Lecturer in Development Economics and International Management from 2009 to 2012 and Senior Lecturer in DevelopmentEconomics and International Management from July 2012 to October 2015 at her alma mater Mzumbe University where she later became the Director of Planning.[3] [4]

Political career

Kijaji became involved with the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi party in 2004.[3] She first became a Member of Parliament after she won as the ruling CCM party's candidate for Kondoa in the 2015 Tanzanian general election. She faced Yasin Shabani of the Civic United Front and two other minor candidates. She won receiving 37,795 votes to Shabani's 23,570.[5]

Kijaji was appointed Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Finance and Planning in the newly elected President John Magufuli's administration in December 2015.[6] As part of this role, she was involved in the drafting of the second Five Year Development Plan, which she presented to Parliament in February 2016. The plan seeks to encouraging industrialization to drive economic growth and social development.[7] She was appointed Minister of the newly established Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade since 10 January 2022. In July 2023, she retained her cabinet position; however, the Ministry of Investments was moved under the president's office.[8]

Publications

Books and research reports

Refereed journals

Refereed conference proceedings

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Owere. Paul. Wambura. Bethsheba. President Samia rings changes in cabinet. The Citizen. 9 January 2022. 8 January 2022. 9 January 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220109000710/https://www.thecitizen.co.tz/tanzania/news/president-samia-rings-changes-in-cabinet-3676040. dead.
  2. Web site: 2022-01-10. Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu reshuffles Cabinet. 2022-01-15. The East African. en.
  3. Web site: Profile: Hon. Dr. Ashatu Kachwamba Kijaji . Parliament of Tanzania. October 26, 2016.
  4. News: These women came, saw and conquered . November 7, 2015. The Citizen. Saumu Mwalimu. October 15, 2016.
  5. News: Tanzania Parliamentary Polls: CCM sweeps Dodoma, vote counting continues. Afrika Reporter. October 27, 2015. October 26, 2015. Sylivester Domasa.
  6. News: Tanzania's president reappoints energy minister in new cabinet. https://web.archive.org/web/20161027124901/http://af.reuters.com/article/tanzaniaNews/idAFL8N13Z2NP20151210. dead. October 27, 2016. December 10, 2015. October 26, 2016. Reuters.
  7. News: Tanzania: Why Govt's Five-Year Growth Plan Failed to Impress MPs . allAfrica.com. October 27, 2016. Peter Nyanje. February 3, 2016.
  8. News: 2023-07-06 . Tanzania: President Samia Makes Minor Cabinet Reshuffle, Forms New Docket . en . Tanzania Daily News . 2023-07-13.