Tanzania: Magufuli Has Captured Our Imagination

 

editorial

Tanzania's new leader, John Pombe Magufuli, is fast becoming an international and social media sensation because of his no-nonsense approach to being his country's fifth president.

The hash tag #WhatWouldMagufuliDo, for instance, had Twitter enthusiasts share jokes about cost-cutting innovations around day-to-day problems.

Sworn in on November 5, President Magufuli has demonstrated that he wants a government that works for the common Tanzanian, as opposed to public officials that live large at the taxpayers' expense.

He has sacked a senior hospital boss, sliced foreign travel delegations, slashed the budget of a party to inaugurate the new parliament, cancelled national independence celebrations, and banned government Christmas cards - among others. What, he asked, is the use of lavish government parties when Tanzanians are dying of cholera?

And according to media reports, most Tanzanians are excited about a president showing unprecedented determination to work for them.

Dr Magufuli, who campaigned on the premise of hard work, deserves credit for the passion he has brought to his job. Yes, his stance could cost him friends; but even if leadership were a popularity contest (which it is not), Magufuli would win the popular vote for walking his talk.

Every now and then, a leader - like Magufuli - springs up who captures our imagination, just by reminding us of the possibility of things long feared unachievable.

As the former Namibian president Hifikepunye Pohamba wrote in The Observer last Wednesday, African leaders must prize the public interest over personal political interests.

Of course, it is early days and some cynics can't believe that Magufuli will still speak the same language in five years' time. No one can blame them. They have known leaders who sounded like Magufuli upon assuming power, but who now lead tragically-predatory governments.

We hope Dr Magufuli, a long-serving works minister with no evidence of theft, will not be corrupted by executive power.

Yet Dr Magufuli needs to endeavour to follow due process, as a good end will rarely justify flawed means. After the president ordered the sacking of an inefficient hospital boss, for instance, an enthused local official had colleagues locked up for arriving late for a meeting!