Tanzania’s newly elected President John Pombe Magufuli has cancelled Independence Day celebrations, and replaced the ceremony with a clean-up instead.
The president was quoted on state television saying that it would be shameful for the country to spend huge sums of money on the celebrations when Tanzanians are dying of Cholera.
Cholera has killed about 60 people in Tanzania in the last three months alone.
This will be the first time Tanzania fails to hold the annual celebrations meant to mark the country’s 54 years of independence from the United Kingdom.
The Chama Cha Mapinduzi party on which Magufuli won the elections has governed Tanzania since the end of the colonial rule in 1961.
The Independence Day celebrations are usually marked with a presidential address, a military parade and various performances by music groups at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam.
Since taking office, Magufuli has announced a range of cost-cutting measures, including a ban on unnecessary foreign travels by government officials.
He has been nicknamed “The Bulldozer” for reportedly having a reputation of being a no-nonsense, results driven politician.
