Tanzania scraps independence day revelry

Tanzania’s newly elected President John Magufuli has cancelled independence day celebrations, and has ordered a clean-up campaign instead. “It is so shameful that we are spending huge amounts of money to celebrate 54 years of independence when our people are dying of cholera,” he was quoted on state television as saying. Cholera has killed about […]

Tanzania’s newly elected President John Magufuli has cancelled independence day celebrations, and has ordered a clean-up campaign instead.
“It is so shameful that we are spending huge amounts of money to celebrate 54 years of independence when our people are dying of cholera,” he was quoted on state television as saying.
Cholera has killed about 60 people in Tanzania in the last three months.
Tanzania achieved independence from the UK on 9 December 1961.
Mr Magufuli’s party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), has governed since then, winning a new mandate in elections last month.
Many people have welcomed Mr Magufuli’s announcement, as it shows his commitment to ending lavish spending and tackling the cholera outbreak which has caused widespread concern.