Members of the Tanzania Plantation and Agricultural Workers Union (TPAWU), representing workers in the agriculture and plantation sector, have conducted elections for new leaders of the Cashewnut Board of Tanzania Branch. Positions contested included Chairperson, Secretary, members of the Executive Committee, the Women’s Committee, and the Youth Committee.
In the Chairperson’s race, Mr. Andambike Emmanuel Mwakilema emerged victorious with 18 votes, defeating Azalia Sanga, who received 7 votes. For the position of Branch Secretary, Liberatus Soka who won with 24 votes in favour and 1 vote against.
The elected members of the Executive Committee are Omary Kavanga, Angelina Boaz, Salama Wakati, Allan Mrope, Winifrida Kasagula and Mahara A. Mahara. All six candidates were elected unopposed securing 25 votes in support.
Speaking after the elections, Chairperson Mwakilema and Secretary Soka expressed their gratitude to the members for trusting them with these leadership roles. They pledged their commitment to fulfilling their new responsibilities and to creating a conducive working environment for employees, aimed at improving institutional efficiency and productivity within an industry.
Earlier, while welcoming the Acting Director General to open the meeting, outgoing Chairperson Christopher Anthony Mwaya who served for two consecutive terms highlighted that during their tenure, the TPAWU leadership committee worked closely with the institution’s management to address various employee challenges through dialogue. He noted that this collaboration allowed them to complete their term without any conflicts between TPAWU and the Cashewnut Board of Tanzania management.
Mwaya advised the newly elected TPAWU leaders to maintain strong relations with management, including establishing a consistent schedule of meetings to resolve issues affecting employees. He stressed that both the Workers Union and the institution’s leadership are working toward the same goals, stating that “there is no reason to fight when we are all building the same house.”
For his part, Acting Director General Mohamed Muhidini emphasized the critical role of workers’ unions in fostering a healthy working environment between employers and employees to enhance organizational performance. He urged the new leaders to seek solutions to employee challenges and present unresolved matters to management meetings for further action.
