via Pres: No Uhuru party, lets clean Tanzania – New Zimbabwe 24/11/2015
NEWLY ELECTED Tanzanian President John Magufuli has scrapped independence day celebrations to spend the money on a clean-up campaign, an official statement said.
“It is so shameful that we are spending huge amounts of money to celebrate 54 years of independence when our people are dying of cholera,” Magufuli said in a statement read on state television late on Monday.
Magufuli, who took power earlier this month after winning October 25 elections, has introduced a swathe of austerity cuts and crackdowns on public corruption.
Those include the suspension of unnecessary foreign travel for government officials, allowances for seminars and meetings as well as lavish cocktails and dinners by public institutions.
“The money should instead go to delivery of social services,” Magufuli said, announcing the street cleaning exercise.
Tanzania last month saw a major cholera outbreak with nearly 5 000 cases and dozens of deaths, according to the World Health Organisation.
Annual independence celebrations usually see military parades, choirs and traditional dances at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam. No official cost has been given of the savings made by cancelling the revelries.
Magufuli ordered government officials to oversee the clean-up exercise in their districts.
Tanzania, then Tanganyika, won independence from Britain on December 9, 1961.
COMMENTS
How heartening to discover that there may be a few enlightened and intelligent African politicians who actually care about their people and country more than their own egos.
These are the benefits of a new leader, he/she will look at things differently and will bring in new ideas.
An old leader like Mugabe will never change anything because all he is concerned about is power retention at all costs.
Also Magufuli knows he has ten years max to make a difference and so he will start working hard from the beginning. For people like Mugabe they just aim at nothing hence the mess in Zimbabwe.
the benefits of regime change !!!!
Its a he “tonomunamataishe” well the man is bringing high hope hopes in every Tanzanian, sometimes i wish i ws Tanzanian,iv been working here since 2004,iv seen 2past Presidents but this magufuli is promising to be the best let alone kumusha kwangu kurikuenda kumawere
Great, great- there is hope in Tanzania. Cry beloved Zimbabwe- no hope until the corrupt party is no longer.
To the Annual Conference COMRADES pay up for your seats!!