DAR ES SALAAM NOVEMBER 24, 2015(CISA)-Tanzania’s President John Magufuli has cancelled Independence Day celebrations, and has ordered a clean-up campaign instead.
“It would be shameful to spend huge sums of money on the celebrations when our people are dying of cholera” BBC News quoted President Magufuli as saying.
According to reports, cholera has killed about 60 people in Tanzania in the last three months
This will be the first time Tanzania has not held celebrations to mark 54 years of independence from the British.
Independence Day celebrations are usually marked with a presidential address, a military parade and performances by music groups at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam.
President Magufuli has announced a range of cost-cutting measures since he took office, including a ban on unnecessary foreign travel by government officials.
Last week, he ordered the cost of a party to inaugurate the new parliament to be slashed from $100,000 (£66,000) to $7,000.
He also sacked the head of the main state hospital after finding patients sleeping on the floor during a surprise visit to the facility.
Nicknamed “The Bulldozer”, President Magufuli is reputed to be a no-nonsense, results-driven politician.
He was the works minister, before being elected president.
