WILL MAGUFULI SAVE TANZANIA?

                                                 BY MOHAMED MATOPE              

I’m not the kind of guy who jumps in the political bandwagon without diligently giving a critical examination of the issues at stake. I speak my mind without fear or favor, calling out, any government wrong doing, as well as giving credit where credit is due.   I have never written a column like this. Readers may hardly believe it, but I am not on any political team. Being incline to throw my support toward the high and mighty, isn’t among my few virtues.

It’s important, however, for this to be said : Tanzanians, this time, may count themselves lucky to have John Magufuli as president.  We should wake up and appreciate, throw our support behind him, now that he’s attempting to eradicate corruption and bring back memories of good governance, we once enjoyed during the early years of independence.   

One can hate CCM, or be unhappy with the result of the election or even dislike his bluntness,-in-your face style or be disappointed the excitement of his election didn’t last. But his accomplishments, ambitious goals and efforts to form a competent government and commanding nationwide as well as the entire continent of Africa’s appeal, is worthy of our admiration and appreciation.

If you haven’t been following the news, let me put it into prospective of what this man has been able to accomplish in a rather short period of his presidency:

During his campaign, he promised putting together a cabinet of hard working and uncorrupt individuals. Well, that box is checked off with the appointment of Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa. A Highly respected public servant, hardworking and above all, he’s scandal-less as of now. Although this‘s his first and only cabinet appointment so far, however, it’s important steps in the right direction.

He publicly walked into the Muhimbili Hospital and saw for himself, how neglected and abandoned the patients looked, one woman for instance,  was on admission for a couple of  months, just to  wait  for MRI machine -the only machine in the entire hospital- repaired before she could receive a  treatment on her broken leg. Amazingly, the MRI machine was not only repaired in two days, but also, he diverted millions of Shillings that were appropriated for Wabunge’s post –election celebrations, to refurbish the hospital.  

He has consistently said he would halt excessive government spending, that also is checked off; he has slashed government official overseas travel fund, alternatively, he expanded Ambassadors roles, to those of representing local officials abroad. He has turned down the funding for Independence Day Celebrations, instead he directed the money to fund public development projects. He has vowed   to eliminate tens of ministries, as well as to shrinking the government to the pre Mkapa administration level.

What’s perhaps most intriguing on his ambitious goals is emphasizing on ending revenue bleeding through curbing corruption and tax evasion , as opposed to traditional ways of slashing the ministry of education’s budget. He had fired almost the entire top leadership of the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) and prosecuted several of them for tax frauds, he has given cargo tax cheaters one week to pay up what they owe, he had cracked down hundreds of cargo tax defaulters, as a result trillions of shillings will be recovered.

Perhaps, it’s too early to jump into conclusion on his accomplishments just yet,   I get that.  After all, he has been a president for just little over a month, I get that too, However, let’s acknowledge this man’s efforts, considering that  it has been  a long time  since we had a government that draws   the admiration of a whole continent and beyond.

MOHAMED MATOPE IS THE COLUMNIST FOR VARIOUS BLOGS