Tanzania: The Economist’s Litany of Deceits on Magufuli Administration and the Need for A Responsible Economist Edition
By SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT – IT is no doubt that the three years of President Magufuli in power has ushered in significant progress for Tanzania but this is not good news for prophets of doom whose interests and those of their proxies have been thrashed through the purge on corruption and review of dubious contracts in their favour.
Despite major development projects being undertaken by the Fifth Phase Government not to mention the crackdown on corruption, elimination of ghost and unqualified workers from the payroll, among others, Dr Magufuli has proved wrong those elements who previously took Tanzania for granted.
The elements have been using foreign media outlets, particularly the London based “The Economist” to discredit and hurling all kind of insults not only at the President but the scholars and at a wider spectrum the people of Tanzania.
This can vividly be confirmed by series of publications of the newspaper including the just recent article of which even the author is not attributed, claiming that; “John Magufuli is fostering a climate of fear in Tanzania.”
Just like the past articles, the biased newspapers and those behind the mudsling campaign have resorted to telling unashamed lies combined with factual errors, a typical coverage of western media against Africa and its people.
For those with clear mind should however expect such kind of dirty tricks being channeled through the newspaper given Dr Magufuli purge on corruption locally and review of dubious contracts signed in the past with foreign conglomerates who looted Tanzania’s resources in broad light.
The article used upsetting words against Tanzania’s scholars describing them as “sycophantic academics,” their “mistake” being praising Dr Magufuli for his committed running of the country during the three years.
This suggests that the prophets of doom would want the patriotic scholars at the country’s oldest University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) to have blasted Dr Magufuli during the symposium to reflect on his three years in office.
Unfortunately, the 175-year-old having been established in September 1843, without any proof or tangible evidence wanted to convince the world that opposition lawmakers who have been ditching their parties willingly to join the ruling party CCM are being bribed 60 million shillings!
One would expect such as old and hitherto respected newspaper would present evidence on the claims of bribes to lay bare what could have been one of major scandals for President Magufuli and the ruling party.
It claimed to have talked to one lawyer who has represented opponents of the regime alleging that every opposition MP who has rejected a bung has a pending charge against them. At least it should have brought such evidence to the public.
The fight against corruption under President Magufuli has not only been undertaken within the central and local governments but also within his party, CCM. It should be remembered he formed a commission to probe all looting of the party assets.
As if that was not enough, President Magufuli sacked close to 20,000 ghost and unqualified workers from the payroll and hence saving billions of monies in salaries. This is however not a story publishing The Economist.
On Monday this week, Tanzania’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Dr Augustine Mahiga, was clear-cut that the European Union (EU) Ambassador in Tanzania, Mr Roeland van de Geer, was not expelled but rather recalled by the EU after mutual discussion by authorities from both sides.
Dr Mahiga, a seasoned diplomat, had to make the explanation after rumours went around claiming the envoy was called amid a diplomatic row.
As it was expected, the newspaper with its ill intention took up the blather, suggesting that the issue “had alarmed the West due a deterioration in human rights and the rule of law.
It is quite apparent that the author of the author has never set a foot in Tanzania to understand the situation on the ground or wrote the lies deliberately to please his/her master/s, adding another falsehood that; “barely a week passes without brazen displays of arbitrary power”.
Bizarrely, the London-based newspaper defends suspects who have been arraigned with cases of money laundering, corruption and economic sabotage, describing the charges as being “trumped-up.”
These very Western forces have been bitter when corruption scandals are reported and suspects left to walk scot-free.
Most of us still remember how the thrift and intolerance for corruption won Dr Magufuli attention and admiration worldwide. In the social media sphere, commentators celebrated his zeal playfully with the hashtag, “#WhatWouldMagufuliDo”.
It’s suffice to comment that, under President Magufuli, Tanzania’s fifth Five Year Plan restores industrialisation to the heart of government policy in a way unseen since the 1970s. Domestic processing and tax revenue is central to that plan. So is government discipline, thrift and tax collection.
