Before his current appointment, Dr Nyantahe was the chairman of the Confederation of Tanzania Industries (CTI).
He fills the position that was recently left vacant by Dr Chrisant Mzindakaya who willingly announced his departure from the position.
Speaking to journalists recently, Dr Mzindakaya (76), who revealed he tendered his letter of resignation and early retirement to President John Magufuli, said advancing age was the main reason behind his decision to quit, although he still felt mentally and physically strong.
In doing so, Mzindakaya becomes the first reasonably high-profile personality to relinquish a key public service posting of his own free will under the keen watch of President Magufuli, who has already subjected a good number of senior public officials to compulsory ‘retirement’ for various administrative shortcomings in the eight and a half months he has been in power.
The former long-serving member of parliament, deputy minister and regional administrator said he was retiring for no other reason than the fact he felt it was “the right thing to do” after years of service in successive governments.
“I served 13 years under Mwalimu Julius Nyerere in addition to 10 years as a regional commissioner under President Ali Hassan Mwinyi. Then I requested President Mwinyi to relieve me of my duties as residents of Kwela constituency in Rukwa Region asked me to represent them in Parliament, a responsibility I undertook for 45 years until I retired voluntarily,” said Dr Mzindakaya.
“Under the same spirit, I found it necessary to seek approval from President Magufuli to relieve me of my duties as chairman of NDC. The nation is blessed with highly qualified individuals who should also be given a chance to lead such institutions,” added Dr Mzindakaya.
“It is not proper to cling to power. I am old and doing what I believe is the right thing to do as a man of principle. All leaders are not here to stay. Men and women will go but the nation will remain forever,” he said.
He stepped down with a year remaining on his third three-year tenure as NDC chairman. He said his decision gave him comfort and peace of mind and wished NDC well in further advancing key development projects such as the Mchuchuma coal and Liganga iron ore mines in the Southern Highlands.
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