By Special Correspondent,
Addis Ababa
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| Tanzanian Premier, Kassim Majaliwa who represented President Magufuli in Addis Ababa Assembly |
The great
performance of President John Magufuli against corruption has been commended as
“high, great and an example” in the continent by the African Heads of State and
Government of the African Union (AU).
Briefing
international media at the end of the 32nd Ordinary Session of the Assembly in
Ethiopia, Tanzania Premier Kassim Majaliwa who represented President Magufuli in
the Assembly said the just concluded Assembly mentioned Tanzania “as one of the
best examples in fighting corruption in Africa.”
Since
assuming power in 2015 President Magufuli has been sweeping away the country's
reputation for endemic corruption and poor public services. For example,
he fired six senior officials in the Tanzania Revenue Authority, including
Commissioner General Rashid Bade, because of corruption.
He
also suspended the Director General of the Tanzania Ports Authority, Ephraim
Mgawe, over a scandal involving the non-payment of $40 million (35.1 million Euros)
in import taxes.
Magufuli
also sacked Edward Hoseah, the long-serving Director General of the Prevention
and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB), due to the slow pace of the fight
against graft.
According
to a local newspaper, Tanzania
Daily News, besides cutting costs and taking
administrative action against incompetent and corrupt public servants, more
than 596 cases related to corruption are currently before the courts in
Tanzania.
International Surveys
Further to the
AU citation, the Transparency International has ranked Tanzania the second
country in East Africa after Rwanda in the war against corruption. The 2018
Corruption Perception Index (CPI) report released yesterday put Tanzania at an
average score of 36 points behind Rwanda which has scored 56 points.
Tanzania
which is placed 99th out of 168 and moving up from 117 position in
2015 has improved because of the efforts made by President John Magufuli who
has earned himself credibility and acclaim, both in and outside Tanzania, for
his fight against corruption and a no-none-sense stance.
On the other
hand, the 2017 Afro barometer research network, shows that over 70% of
Tanzanians believe corruption in the country had decreased “somewhat” or “a lot”
in the previous year. This is in stark contrast to the results of a similar
survey in 2014, when only 13% reported they believed corruption had decreased
in the previous year.
A recent 38-nation Pew Research report stated that “Trust in the national government is highest in Tanzania. About
nine-in-ten people in Tanzania (89%) trust their government to do what is right
for their country, including 48% who say they have “a lot” of trust,” states
the research
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