Tanzania: The Trials and Tribulations of Magufuli's First Year in Office

 

It has been a year since President John Pombe Magufuli was sworn in as the fifth president of the United Republic of Tanzania.

However, his first year in office has been marked by a number of challenges that tested his government despite what has largely been seen a relatively good start. Following are some of the crises that shook his administration in its early days:

Demolitions in Dar es Salaam

The demolitions early this year targeting more than 8,000 houses built in Dar es Salaam contrary to the city's 1970s master plan was halted after some residents rushed to court. 

A few weeks after Dr Magufuli was sworn in, the government moved in and started to demolish houses built in unauthorised. The demolitions followed unusually heavy rains, which left dozens of people dead and wreaked havoc on the city's fragile infrastructure.

The government had for many years tried to convince poor families to move out of flood-prone areas, but many resisted.

 Few had money to buy plots elsewhere and many opted to build houses in risky areas such as the Msimbazi and Kinondoni valleys, which are close to the city centre.

Commentators say the government later viewed the demolitions as an ill-advised move that could alienate voters in the country's largest and most populous city, coming hot on the heels of a closely contested presidential election.

Tanzania misses out on MCC cash

The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) board revoked Tanzania's eligibility for nearly $450 million (Sh1 trillion) in funding, dealing a blow to the government's plan to implement electrification projects in rural areas. 

The negative vote meant that President Magufuli's government had to reduce expenditure even further to make funds available for the projects.

 Although the government has been reluctant to admit it, the fact remains that the withdrawal of MCC support is likely to have a long-term effect on power projects, bearing in mind that it was the largest bilateral funding by any single country.

Reasons given for the suspension of MCC support include concerns on good governance, especially following the contentious elections in Zanzibar, and enforcement of the controversial Cybercrime law, which is said to infringe on individual rights.

The sugar crisis

The country was gripped by a serious sugar crisis early this year following the government's decision to restrict importation of the commodity by private traders, ostensibly to fight tax evasion, ensure quality and protect local producers.

 The government set a maximum indicative price of Sh1,800 per kilogramme, but the acute shortage of sugar that followed pushed up prices to between Sh2,500 and Sh4,000 in many parts of the country.