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President Jakaya Kikwete's decision to uphold the parliament's recommendation to remove ministers involved in misappropriation of public funds is a sign that Tanzania is progressing as a democracy, political analysts and politicians told Sabahi.

Kikwete sacked six ministers on Friday (May 4th) over allegations of misuse of public funds, including Finance Minister Mustafa Mkulo, Energy and Minerals Minister William Ngeleja, Health and Social Welfare Minister Haji Mponda, Natural Resources and Tourism Minister Ezekiel Maige, Transport Minister Omari Nundu, and Industry and Trade Minister Cyril Chami.

In addition, Deputy Minister for Transport Athumani Mfutakamba and Deputy Minister for Health and Social Welfare Lucy Nkya were also removed from office.

In a televised speech, Kikwete told the nation that he had heard parliament's call to hold public officials accountable and vowed to go further to stop corruption in government.

"I had earlier promised to take to task ministers," Kikwete said "They are now accountable for the mess by their subordinates and the rot in the ministries."

"However, we are not going to end there -- permanent secretaries, chief executive officers in public institutions ... will also face the music. This is just the beginning," he said.

Kikwete also transferred eight other ministers to new portfolios and appointed seven new ones.

"This has laid a solid foundation for democracy," said Bashiru Ali, a sociology professor at the University of Dar es Salaam.

Since independence, there has never been an attempt to oust a sitting prime minister through vote of no confidence in parliament. But in April, parliamentarians moved to hold a vote of no confidence against Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda after a report released by the Controller and Auditor General (CAG) implicated cabinet members in the misappropriation of public funds.

"Certainly this brings in a sense of maturity in democracy," Ali told Sabahi. "This horizontal accountability solidifies the checks and balances principle within our government circles. From now on, no one will ever take lightly the report by the CAG, as it used to be the case."

Parliamentarians from the ruling party Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM) and opposition parties Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA), United Democratic Party, Civic United Front, Tanzania Labour Party and National Convention for Construction and Reform-Mageuzi were among those who requested the cabinet officials be removed.

Parliamentarian Zitto Kabwe, a member of CHADEMA, said he was pleased that lawmakers worked across party lines to hold the government responsible for its actions.

"The misuse is unquantifiable. You cannot imagine a key ministry like the Ministry of Finance is leading in looting this country," Kabwe told Sabahi. "We [members of parliament] dropped our partisan [politics] and joined our hands to save our nation. We said no to this kind of theft and the government has listened."

CCM Parliamentarian Deo Filikunjombe told Sabahi that the cabinet reshuffle was the only option to restore confidence and counter graft.

"The report by the CAG exposed everything. It is a shame," Filikunjombe said. "The president trusted [the ministers], but they have betrayed our president through unreasonable misuse of public funds."

Irenei Kiria, executive director of Sikika, an organisation that champions transparency and accountability within Tanzania's healthcare system, said the report exposed billions of shillings embezzled through "professional theft".

The wasted funds could have been channelled to social services like health, education, infrastructure, water and sanitation to improve living standards for Tanzanians, she said.

On Monday, Kikwete swore in Finance and Economic Affairs Minister William Mgimwa, Natural Resources and Tourism Minister Khamis Sued Kagasheki, Transport Minister Harrison Mwakyembe, Industry, Trade and Marketing Minister Abdallah O. Kigoda, Health and Social Welfare Minister Hussein Ali Mwinyi, and Energy and Minerals Minister Sospeter Muhongo to fill the vacated cabinet posts.