Steps on TRA show President Magufuli as a principled leader

By Editor

Editorial Cartoon

An earthquake of sorts has gripped the hearts and minds of many Tanzanians, not only from the steps taken so far by President John Magufuli since he took office, but, even more poignantly, the measures he took against the Tanzania Revenue Authority management on Friday.

It must be admitted that this level of acuteness, precision, resoluteness and no mincing of words in the fight against corruption is unheard of in this country which has never undergone a military ‘renewal’ or replacing of an existing regime in one way or another. It is well beyond the wildest dreams of all those who trusted in his promises, or dreamt of an opposition win.

This trend of stern and prompt measures is being instituted to lay the basis of conduct for the government he has already started putting together, appointing Kassim Majaliwa to the post of prime minister.

Not only was Majaliwa in the forefront of inspection at the port of Dar es Salaam where the star cast was TRA rather than Tanzania Ports Authority officials, he seemed to walk in step with the measures taken by the president.

Also in full view was Chief Secretary Ombeni Sefue, a veteran of the former government who also held top State House functions under third phase president Benjamin Mkapa.

In a way, the government as a whole is trying to live up to a new ethos, as even the police force has been reported shuffling traffic police officers around places, while some administrators have faced rather unfamiliar public criticism for their behaviour, one reportedly a regional commissioner and another a district commissioner.

Indeed, in Kinondoni district ten land division officials who had been lined up to meet DC Paul Makonda for official duties but reported for duty at 11 am instead of 8am, keeping the DC waiting for three hours. They spent the next six hours in remand prison for their laxity.

There are many people who feel that the systems they were used to are not working. Containers that would have otherwise been  shipped   were now  being mysteriously fingered, and the permanent secretary at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism personally arrives to take charge of the situation.

Even the Zambian High Commissioner came to the spot and explained issues on documentation of teak logs, if they were indeed harvested in Zambia. All this is rather out of habit and it means that administrators are having to live a new ethos, of working according to principles, laws and regulations, not missions and bribes.

The order that the 349 containers which reportedly went missing from the port to inland port or dry port facilities at Ubungo and elsewhere is a pertinent case in hand.

If one impounds a cargo of teak to be exported to China to create an impression that the new government is at work and serious about it, it is one thing.

But to take stock of missing tax dues from a long line of containers which, for all intents and purposes, were allowed to pass in connivance with the holders of power at the time, is audacious and out of the ordinary. Replacing the TRA commissioner general is an unmistakable signal that corruption is out.

These are still early days of the fifth phase presidency, and it hasn’t even formed a proper cabinet of ministers. But the tone of governance has been set out loud and clear, and anyone given ministerial functions will have grasped the point, the challenge and the rhythm.

One would wish to see this state of affairs taking root as the country improves its habits, and uplifts popular welfare. As the president is fond of saying, we should pray for him!

SOURCE: GUARDIAN ON SUNDAY