In Africa, TANZANIA seem to be getting it right in terms of the economy and leadership by example.
Tanzania is fast becoming the cleanest countries in Africa because of his exemplary lifestyles. He goes out to clear refuse at random. Often with his family.
President John Kpome Magufuli of Tanzania was a former school teacher, industrial chemist and ex-minister of works. He is the son of a peasant farmer. He’s from a humble background.
He’s been channeling Tanzania’s monetary sources to more important ventures. Not long after assuming office, he took drastic measures to boost government coffers, which includes:
A. He put a stop to the public procurement of goods and services at inflated costs. He declared that anyone found procuring public goods or services on inflated prices will face the music.
B. Immediate ban on foreign travels by public servants. He did this ON HIS THIRD DAY IN OFFICE!
He stated that all tasks that necessitated government officials to travel abroad will now be done by the country’s high commissioners and ambassadors abroad.
C. He called on all public institutions to cut expenditure on refreshments during meetings.
Magufuli decried “unnecessary heavy refreshments” being offered at meetings and directed that lunch be served “in very rare and exceptional circumstances”, where a meeting that starts in the morning is expected to continue into the evening.
D. He issued a directive for unnecessary physical meetings to be stopped and for public servants to conduct conference calls instead.
This is to cut unnecessary costs that the government incurred from meetings and conferences held at various venues.
E. He takes commercial flights for his engagements.
F. Regularly visit hospitals and public instititions unannounced.
Rather than doing the disappearing act, or practicing “do as I say not as I do”, he’s been acting out what he preaches. Let’s give you some examples: For Tanzania’s Independence Day in 2015, rather than spend money on celebrations that would promptly have been forgotten the next day, he ordered a clean-up exercise. And he didn’t just order it, he joined in. This caused thousands of Tanzanians to come out and join as well, because if their president could do it, who are they not to?
When going to officially open parliament Magufuli didn’t go by plane, he drove all the way. He has reduced the size of the presidential convoy, as well as the size of presidential delegation that travels with him. What a guy!!
He goes to the federal hospitals unannounced and made sure he visit all the wards, including those kept from high profile visitors like himself.
Recently, after discovering the sorry state, he fired the Chief Medical Director, the Hospital Board and ordered that the equipment that weren’t working to be repaired within two weeks, otherwise he would fire even the newly appointed director. The repair happened in three days!