President Jakaya Kikwete has appointed nine new directors in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation who will also assume diplomatic status.

A statement issued in Dar es Salaam on Wednesday by the Chief Secretary, Ambassador Ombeni Sefue, said that the appointments became effective on May 2, this year.

The appointed directors include Mr Vincent Kibwana (Department of East Africa); Naimi Aziz (Department of Regional Cooperation); Celestine Mushy (Department of Multilateral Cooperation); Yahya Simba (Department of Middle East) and Bertha Somi (Department of Diaspora).

Others are Irene Kasyanju (Legal Department); Dorah Msechu (Europe and America Department); Mbelwa Kairuki (Austral-Asia Department) and Silima Haji (Foreign Affairs Department, Zanzibar).

Before the appointments, Kibwana, Simba, Somi and Haji were Principal Foreign Service Officers whereas Aziz, Msechu and Kasyanju were Deputy Directors in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

On the other hand, Mushy was Acting Personnel Secretary to the Prime Minister in the Prime Minister's Office while Kairuki was personal assistant to the President, President Office (speech writing).