Tanzania’s newly elected president, nicknamed “the bulldozer”, has become a Twitter sensation across Africa after introducing radical government cost-cutting measures.
Immediately after his inauguration, John Magufuli scrapped independence celebrations, choosing instead to spend money on sanitation, fighting cholera and new beds and equipment for hospitals.
Declaring it shameful to be “spending huge amounts of money to celebrate 54 years of independence when our people are dying of cholera”, Magufuli said that on independence day, every household will be required to participate in a nationwide cleanup campaign.
A state dinner for the official opening of the country’s parliament, for example, was going to cost 300m Tanzanian shillings (£92,500). Magufuli slashed the budget to 25m and ordered that the rest of the money be used to buy 300 hospital beds and 600 sheets.
Other austerity measures include a moratorium on foreign travel, meaning no more first-class tickets for government officials (with the exception of the president, vice-president, and prime minister) or expensive hotels and cars. Lavish cocktail parties and dinners hosted by public institutions have also been cut back.
The president has also prohibited public officials from sending Christmas and New Year cards from the government’s budget. The funds set aside for the printing of these cards will instead be used to pay off government debts. Another bold move was that, instead of sponsoring the annual World Aids Day exhibition, the money budgeted for the event will be used to buy drugs for HIV patients.
#WhatWouldMagufuliDo
Impressed by Magufuli’s performance since he was inaugurated on 9 November, Twitter user Talkative Rocker suggested that his influence should spread beyond Tanzania. Indeed, users across Africa have been showing their appreciation for the austerity measures by using the hashtag #WhatWouldMagufuliDo.
Here’s what Twitter users think:
When she wants some silverware jewelry but then you're smart so you start thinking: #WhatWouldMagufuliDo pic.twitter.com/etvFZy9iPx
— Given Edward (@GIVENALITY) November 26, 2015
My girlfriend wanted money for eye-liner, I asked myself #WhatWouldMagufuliDo ; we used office marker pens instead pic.twitter.com/mdQL7OdRFr
— Dave (@MyUglyMustache) November 26, 2015
After my Iron stopped working before buying a new one i asked myself #WhatWouldMagufuliDo and Voila!! pic.twitter.com/v3PIhvAlOA
— Mahmud (@MahmudKullane) November 26, 2015
I wanted to buy a cap but the I thought of #WhatWouldMagufuliDo pic.twitter.com/wIlsCqW7fx
— Victor Mochere (@VictorMochere) November 26, 2015
I seriously wanted to increase Uganda's defence budget but then tweeps asked me #WhatWouldMagufuliDo and I was like pic.twitter.com/Z617mEJoCo
— Allan Ssenyonga (@ssojo81) November 26, 2015
We might be making fun of H.E Magufuli but deep down we know tht many African C’tries need “Magufuli” 4 president & MPs #WhatWouldMagufuliDo
— Maureen Agena (@maureenagena) November 26, 2015
A version of this article first appeared on Global Voices
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