Dr. Wilbrod Slaa (L) Reports to Emperor Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden for Duty as Tanzania Ambassador
By TZ Business News Staff.
Dr. Wilbrod Slaa, the former Secretary General of Tanzania’s lead opposition party Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA) has presented his credentials to Emperor Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden as he starts his duty as Tanzania’s ambassador to Sweden.
President John Pombe Magufuli appointed Dr. Slaa to that post November 23, 2017. The President swore him in February 2018 describing him as a good man who would represent Tanzania well in Sweden.
Dr. Slaa left CHADEMA in the heat of the 2015 general election following a disagreement with the party Chairman Freeman Aikaeli Mbowe on accepting into the opposition party former Prime Minister Edward Lowassa as the party’s Presidential candidate.
Dr. Slaa said he found it impossible to compromise his committed understanding which he had uttered in political rallies that Edward Lowassa was a corrupt politician, an understanding his party chairman was willing to compromise.
President Magufuli (L) Swears in Dr. Slaa as New Ambassador to Sweden.
The politician with a Roman Catholic clergry background told a press conference in Dar es Salaam he asked Chairman Mbowe to answer whether Lowassa was an asset or a liability to the opposition party, but he got no reply. He then vacated his position as Secretary General and announce to retire from all political activity.
Lowassa had taken forms to contest the presidential candidate nomination in the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM). He was dumped by the rulling party some three months before elections. CHADEMA accepted him as ‘flag bearer’. The opposition party lost the presidency.
Dr. Slaa fled the country and settled in Canada until his appointment in November 2017. At the swearing in ceremony, he thanked President Magufuli for giving him this opportunity to serve the country in the capacity of Ambassador to Sweden.
“Thank you Mr. President for the faith you have on me, and I also promise to use my knowledge and experience to successfully make Tanzania move a step forward towards attaining the industrial development,” Dr. Slaa said.
