Magufuli’s maiden speech received warmly

Dar es Salaam/Tanga. President John Magufuli needs both individual and institutional support to deliver and implement the list of priorities he outlined in his maiden speech when inaugurating Parliament on Friday, political commentators and academicians said yesterday.

Most of those who spoke to The Citizen on Sunday were of the view that the President would not manage to carry out all that he promised but would need the help of his technocrats and all citizens in general.

A senior lecturer at the Ruaha University College, Prof Gaudence Mpangala, said in order for Dr Magufuli to implement his pledges first he has to reform the entire system.

Prof Mpangala said currently Tanzania was relying heavily on donor support in implementing its national budget.

According to Prof Mpangala, it wasn’t the first time that a new president outlined a catalogue of priorities only to fail delivering due to limited funds financial resources.

“Currently, Tanzania is a ‘dependent capitalism’ economic system where we depend a lot on donor support; so for Magufuli to succeed he needs to make sure that we have enough resources from within,” said Prof Mpangala.

He added that the society also needed to change its mindset when it comes to paying taxes. The Ruco don said Tanzanians needed to cultivate a culture of complying with tax regulations.

For his part, Morogoro-based lawyer Emmanuel Gideon said Dr Magufuli should come up with policies that would make it possible for him to deliver on his promises.

Mr Gideon said further that Dr Magufuli should set a time frame for implementation of the promises by government.

“Even if Dr Magufuli’s promises are genuine there should be a mechanism on how they will be implemented. Every government official must understand his role in the implementation of the promises,” said Mr Gideon.

He noted that Dr Magufuli needed support from all other organs, especially Parliament.

Dr Benson Bana of the University of Dar es Salaam argued that it was important that Tanzanians owned the priorities laid down instead of viewing them as Dr Magufuli’s.

He said for the President and his government to implement what he had promised Tanzanians and all other institutions should cooperate fully.

“Tanzanians should be responsible by paying tax. Tax compliance is crucial for implementation of all the priorities listed,” he said. 

He said Parliament as an institution should also be supportive by passing laws will support the implementation of the priorities.

“For example, the President mentioned of the Public Procurement Act. This is one of the laws that the President says if passed would help him in fast-tracking the fight against public fund embezzlement,” he said.

A distinguished lawyer and senior lecture from the University of Dar es Salaam, Prof Chris Peter Maina, said the President has a very good record in implementing what he believed in, adding that what he needed now was the support from bureaucrats.

He said his juniors should understand the President’s priorities and vision if all were to take off at the needed speed.

Prof Maina said the President had shown through his speech that he was determined to serving Tanzanians faithfully.

“I believe that he will deliver but the needed support should be from the people he has entrusted with various positions to help him,” he said.

Stakeholders in the sisal industry in Tanga yesterday urged President Magufuli to revive the crop by discouraging importation of cheap goods that suffocated local industries.

“We’re greatly encouraged by President Magufuli’s determination. We wish him the energy to continue bringing the change we need in our economy,” said Mr Salim Shamte, who is the managing director of Tanga-based Katani Limited.

The sisal industry player said he was happy to hear the President banning importation of furniture because such items could be made within the country.

He said the move would open up a lot of opportunities for local investors and job seekers.

Tanga residents welcomed the speech with joy expressing their confidence that the President would deliver accordingly.

One Abdallah Shekimweri said he wished to see the President’s words being translated into action, particularly, in fighting corruption.

Additional reporting by George Sembony in Tanga