Job Yustino Ndugai, the former Speaker of Tanzania’s National Assembly, passed away on August 6, 2025, at the age of 62 in a hospital in Dodoma. Only a few days ago, it was announced that he would be the CCM candidate for the Kongwa Constituency for the 2025 general elections.
He was a Member of Parliament for six consecutive terms from 2000 to 2022 when he decided to stop. In 2010 he was appointed Deputy Speaker and in 2015 he was elected Speaker, a position he held until he resigned in January 2022.
During his term, he was admired for his successful management of the Assembly rules as well as his energetic participation in party issues.
He retired at the beginning of 2022, saying that he was going away because of the negative response his criticism of the government’s borrowing from abroad statement got. Ndugai’s criticism was the cause of the intense media coverage and the party’s reactions.
Although he left his Speaker post, politics was still in his sphere and he was already preparing for a Parliamentary comeback.
The news of her husband Tulia Ackson, the current Speaker, conveyed to his family members, friends, and people of his constituency, and she also expressed her sympathies. She pointed out that the funeral arrangements were being organized with the parliamentary authorities and his family. The news mediately binds the political and civic communities who are sending condolences.
On the point of Ndugai’s departure, he was still a vital member of the Tanzanian political scene, especially the CCM. The demise of Ndugai releases the Kongwa constituency and likely causes a reshuffling of the CCM pre-election plans for the coming general election.
