What Does Markel’s Call to Magufuli Means In Modern Diplomacy?

The German Chancellor, Angela Merkel congratulated President John Magufuli of Tanzania for his great performance in attracting local and foreign investments through fighting corruption and constructing infrastructures to make Tanzania an industrial economy. 

A statement issued by the state house in Dar es Salaam few days ago stated that President Magufuli’s efforts to build the national economy have also attracted Chancellor Merkel and his government to send a team of Germany investors to build the largest African fertiliser factory in Tanzania.

Chancellor Merkel told President Magufuli via a phone call discussion on which she declared the much needed diplomatic support in that the government of Germany intends to support the government of Tanzania to build its economy through industrialisation process adding that the fertilizer factory to be constructed in the country will contribute much in the national economy.  

Diplomatically the call is a major achievement to the Dar diplomacy and it came at a time some European countries had declared to review their diplomatic engagement with the Magufuli administration.

“This is a big score to Dar and Magufuli administration. If you lose a friend and get a new one it keeps the much needed comfort,” says Zacharia Maya, an expert in modern diplomacy based in Jarkata.

On his party, President Magufuli showed great appreciation to Chancellor Merkel for phoning him and showing her intention of developing relationship with Tanzania.  He also thanked Chancellor Merkel for ensuring that the Germany continues to cooperate with Tanzania in business and other investimates.   

                                               Magufuli’s Achievements

Since assuming office in November 2015, Magufuli has done a lot of things to move Tanzania to middle income status economy by 2025. President Magufuli has been rebuilding lost trust with Western donors by firing public officials deemed to be incompetent and corrupt.

For example, in 2016 Magufuli fired six senior officials in the Tanzania Revenue Authority, including Commissioner General Rashid Bade. Also suspended was 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.

He has revived the national airline carrier (ATCL). Six new planes have been bought so far. Among these are two Airbus 220-300 jets, Boeing 787 Dreamliner and three new bombardiers.  

Since 2016 the government of President Magufuli started implementing the policy of free secondary education to all Tanzania. This is the history that had never been made in this country. The government allocates more than US$ 62 million in the national budget each year to cater the purpose.

The signing of the a three-billion-US dollar landmark deal with an Egyptian company for the construction of the Stiegler's Gorge hydroelectric project in a game reserve is another impossible project that President Magufuli has worked hard to implement.

The project will generate 2,115 megawatts which is more than all electricity generated from all other sources in Tanzania which currently stood at 1,560 megawatts

It was not a surprise that Mr. Magufuli has started to win several awards. The African Leadership 

Magazine announced him the winner of the award of the African Peson of the Year-Political Leadership for the year 2018. 

The publisher of the Magazine Dr. Ken Giami unveiled that President Magufuli scooped 62.66 percent ahead of other three African Presidents namely: Bola Ahmed Tinubu, National Leader, APC, Nigeria (10.41%), H.E. Cyril Ramaphosa, President of South Africa(8.82%) and H.E. Nana Akufo-Addo, President of Ghana(18.11%) .

This is the second award after the Africa 54 online Magazine named President Magufuli the second best Africa President for the year 2018 after the former President of Botswana Ian Khama. According to the Africa 54 online Magazine President Magufuli did wonders for the country of Tanzania probably than any other African Leaders.