This is why Magufuli is the world’s best president

Dennis Tarus

November 1, 2016 11:48 AM

In August, Magufuli was announced as the world’s best president by the United Nations Economic and Social Council during their annual review.

In August this year, John Pombe Magufuli was announced as the world’s best president by the United Nations Economic and Social Council during their annual review.

A technical committee made up of experts from reputable international civil service organisations and think tanks globally made the finding based on political, social and economic indexes.

“I am very honoured with such a prestigious recognition. I believe this feat has been achieved through hard work and transparency of my government,” Magufuli said upon receiving the award.

The tough talking president who was elected in October last year, has radically transformed Tanzania into a global model for a corrupt-free country following his raft of austerity measures.

Education

His philosophy has been guided by his humble background, transparency and sheer hard work that saw him rise from a school teacher to president.

Magufuli was born in 1959 in Chato District near the shores of Lake Victoria and studied at local schools for his primary and A-levels before joining the University of Dar es Salaam where he earned a B.Sc Ed. (Hons) in Chemistry and Mathematics.

He also has a Masters Degree in Chemistry from both the Universities of Dar es Salaam and Salford in the UK. He currently holds a PhD in Chemistry from the University of Dar es Salaam.

No-nonsense leader

Magufuli has earned himself a reputation as a no-nonsense leader.

His passion and zeal to end wasteful government spending, curb corruption and improve public service delivery, has endeared him not just with the low income Tanzanians but also many others in the region.

"I'm telling government officers who are lazy and negligent to be prepared: They were tolerated for a long time. This is the end," Magufuli warned during his maiden speech before the Tanzanian parliament.

#WhatWouldMagufuliDo

#WhatWouldMagufuliDo trended for several days on Twitter after President Magufuli cancelled the lavish Independence Day celebrations and mobilized his citizens to do a nationwide clean-up instead.

He then slashed the budget for a state banquet to mark the official opening of parliament in order to cut down on “unnecessary spending”.

In his first days in office, Magufuli made surprise visits to ministries and hospitals, firing the board of the country’s biggest hospital after finding patients sleeping on the floor.

Magufuli slashed the cabinet from 30 to 19 posts, merging some ministries and dispensing with others and banned inessential foreign travel for politicians, and business class flights for all but the most senior figures.

Nicknamed “the Bulldozer”, President Magufuli in January this year banned all senior public officials from using fuel guzzlers and the use of presidential red carpets.

Dennis Tarus