By DAVID KWALIMWA
Tanzania President John Pombe Magufuli on Wednesday snubbed the country’s Independence Day celebrations and instead led a clean up exercise in the capital Dar es Salaam.
The East African nation celebrated its 51st independence anniversary on Wednesday, but the newly elected president cancelled the all too common practice of public speeches.
President Magufuli explained this was part of his campaign against wasteful spending as well as an effort to foster patriotism while upholding the country’s independence motto of ‘Freedom and Work’.
“It’s shameful we are spending money to celebrate independence when our people are dying of cholera,” Magufuli was quoted during a speech after his election vitory.
Among those who accompanied the president during the exercise was his deputy Samia Suluhu Hassan, Magufuli’s predecessor Jakaya Kikwete and players of top flight football club Azam.