Newly elected Tanzanian President John Magufuli has
scrapped independence day celebrations to spend the
money on a clean-up campaign, an official statement
said.The president has instead decreed that on that day
everybody should pick up their tools and clean their
backyards.
“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 Monday.
Last weekend the Tanzanian parliament was going to open
and there was a state dinner planned for all guests that was
going to cost about 300million Shillings.President Magulufi
cut the budget to 25million Shillings and ordered that the
rest be taken to buy hospital beds for Muhimbili they got
300 beds and mattresses and 600 bed sheets from that
money.
On Saturday 21st November 2015 a group of 50 people were
about to set off for a tour of commonwealth countries but
President Magulufi cut that list down to 4 people, saving
government 600m shillings in tickets, accommodation and
per diems.
It is said when John Magufuli was confirmed winner of the
presidential election people started congratulating him and
sent gifts to his place which he turned back, saying he will
receive all congratulations over the phone and nobody
should visit him.
Some other austerity measures include:
No more foreign travel, embassies will take care; if it’s
necessary to go, special permission must be sought from
him or Chief Secretary
No more 1st class and business class travel for all officials
except President, Vice, and Prime Minister.
No more workshops and seminars in expensive hotels when
their so many ministry board rooms available.
President Magulufi asked how come engineers are given V8s
when a pick-up is more suitable for their jobs.
No more sitting allowances, how the hell are you paid
allowance for a job which you have a monthly salary; that
also applies to MP’s.
All individuals/firms that bought state companies that were
privatized but haven’t done anything (20years later) are to
either revive the industries immediately or hand them back
to the government
Tanzania’s say President Magulufi has literally pressed the
reset button; returning Tanzania to default factory settings
which was the Tanzania Julius Nyerere left.
On the day after he was brought to power, as State House
officials were showing him round he decided to take a walk
to ministry of finance, told government workers to get their
act together. He asked why some employees weren’t in
offices and ordered the TRA to scrap all tax exemptions,
everyone must pay taxes especially the big guys
President Magulufi went to Muhimbili Hospital unannounced
and walked through the worst parts that they keep hiden from
important visitors and fired the director, the hospital board
and ordered that all machines that weren’t working (so that
people go to private hospitals owned by some doctors) to be
repaired within 2 weeks otherwise he would fire even the
new director.The machines were repaired in 3 days.
Finally, last week when going to officially open parliament
President Magulufi didn’t go by plane, drove the whole
600km from Dar to Dodoma.
President Magulufi has reduced the size of the presidential
convoy, even reduced the size of presidential delegation that
travels with him.
President Magulufi chose a Prime Minister most had never
heard of before, a man with a reputation for hard work and
no corruption.All the big guys Tanzanians expected would be
PM have been let wondering what hit them.
https://www.lusakatimes
