Tanzania now wants to make President Magufuli a life president

Tanzania is mulling over making President John Magufuli a life president.

Chemba Member of Parliament, Juma Nkamia is next month expected to table a motion before Parliament to extend presidential terms from five to seven years, as is the case of that of Rwanda.

Just weeks prior to Mr Nkamia’s motion, another MP Stephen Ngonyani said President Magufuli should rule for 20 years.

In July a politician from the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) Laurence Mabawa, started a social media campaign dubbed “Baki Magufuli” (Stay Magufuli) and said he would transverse the whole country to have President Magufuli’s tenure in office extended.

And It is not MPs alone who want President Magufuli to serve for eternity.

In April, former President Ali Hassan Mwinyi said that a law allowing President Magufuli to extend his tenure in office for four terms should be considered.

Also read: A TANZANIAN NEWSPAPER HAS BEEN SUSPENDED FOR 'INSULTING' PRESIDENT MAGUFULI

The former president argued that the incumbent needed the extra two terms to continue installing discipline in the civil service and enhance access to healthcare.

“If it wasn’t for term limits, I would have suggested that Magufuli should be our president for eternity,” he said.

Two months later, a section of residents from Geita in northwestern Tanzania, where the president comes from called for amendments to the Constitution to allow him to serve for 20 years.

The opposition Chadema party believes the president is behind the campaign that is gaining momentum but Dr Magufuli has repeatedly said at public rallies that he would respect the Constitution and step down after serving his two terms in office.

President Magufuli has faced criticism for shutting down the accountability space in Tanzania and not respecting the independence of the three arms of government and therefore many critiques find it hard to take him up on his word.

Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely, therefore it should not come as a surprise that Chama cha Mapinduzi which has majority say in the parliament pass the law extending Magufuli’s term in office by 2 years and come the next elections by ‘hook and crook’ ensure Magufuli is elected effectively ensuring that he serves at least for 14 years if not 20 years as Geita residents want.