Upon his return to Tanzania, he joined the Foreign Ministry as a Foreign Service Officer (Grade II). Jakaya Kikwete, the Foreign Minister at the time would later on vie for the presidency in the 2005 election. Makamba joined his campaign team and traversed across the country visiting all the districts. Following Kikwete's landslide victory of over 80 percent, he was appointed as an aide to the President. His formal title was Personal Assistant to the President – Special Duties (PAP-SD); a position that he would serve for five years until 2010.[5]
Political career
Western Usambara in Lushoto district is Makamba's ancestral home
In 2010, he contested in the election as a Member of Parliament for his home constituency of Bumbuli and was elected unopposed.[6] In the 10th Parliament, he served as the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee for Energy and Minerals.
In April 2011, he replaced Bernard Membe as CCM's Political Affairs and International Relations Secretary and served in this post until November 2012 when he was succeeded by Asha-Rose Migiro at the 8th National Congress of the CCM.[7] Makamba was also elected as one of the ten members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) from the mainland part of the country. He received the second highest number of votes (2,093).[8]
In October 2014, Makamba was quoted advocating dictatorship as a means to end graft in politics.[14][15]
2015 presidential campaign
On 2 July 2014, he announced on BBC Television in London that he was 90%
certain that he would contest in his party's primaries
for the presidency, he was the first candidate to declare IKULU position for
the 2015 election, and after that slew of candidates announced.[16]
On 9 July 2014, President Kikwete whilst on a four-day official tour
of Tanga
Region, addressed Makamba's constituents and praised their MP for his work.
On his presidential ambition, Kikwete advised him to look at him as an example.
President Kikwete ran first time for the presidency in 1995, he did not succeed
but second time in 2005 he was elected. President Kikwete told Makamba that
when the time comes, he would get the presidency.[17]5].
During his 2015 presidential campaign, Makamba launched a book authored by Fr. Karugendo titled 40 Questions 40 Answers: A Conversation with January Makamba.[18]
The book was prefaced by retired
President Ali Hassan Mwinyi, was detailed with his
vision for #TanzaniaMpya meaning The New Tanzania with top priority on job creation
and if elected, he will introduce a jobs bill that will need about $2 billion.
Other priorities were social services, and good governance.
During the CCM presidential primaries, January Makamba was
the youngest of the five politicians that made it to CCM’s top 5 presidential candidates,
beating CCM veterans including former Prime Ministers, Vice President, and
party veterans. After Dr. John Magufuli
secured CCM nomination, Makamba returned to Bumbuli constituency where he was
re-elected into second term by 84% of the total votes. Also, during 2015
Presidential elections, he was part of 32 cadres that made up CCM Campaign Committee, doubling as
spokesperson of the campaign and in-charge of CCM communications during the
entire campaign. Makamba also was a member of small team selected by CCM
Chairman to prepare party’s manifesto (Ilani
ya uchaguzi) for five years period 2015-2020.
Cabinet Positions
In December 2015, he was appointed as a Minister of State in the Vice President’s Office for Union Affairs and Environment. On 12 September 2021 he was appointed as Minister of Energy by the President Samia Suluhu Hassan. Following the third cabinet reshuffle by Samia Suluhu on 1 September 2023, January assumed the position as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation.[19]
^Butahe, Fidelis; Yamol, Ibrahim (11 October 2014). "Makamba: Tunahitaji 'udikteta'" [Makamba: We need a 'dictatorship'] (in Swahili). Mwananchi. Retrieved 8 December 2014.
^Kikeke, Saleem (3 July 2014). "January Makamba atangaza 'nia'" [January Makamba announces his intention] (in Swahili). BBC Swahili. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
