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Tanzania mourns the death of their President

Dear Editor, This is the most shocking news of 2021 yet, the death of President John Magufuli, a very promising African leader and of course it does not matter what happens to him while he was alive but we cannot take away the amazing records he has left behind in the country and should be copied by other African leaders. Within a short time, he has done more than many who have been there for more than three decades. I express my deep condolence for the death of the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Honourable John Pombe Joseph Magufuli. Our condolences and solidarity to his family, his government and the brother Tanzanian people. May he rest in peace! Eventually we all would return to our maker. Let’s live knowing we’re mortal, and that one-day we shall be no more. The legacy we leave behind especially as leaders is important, so let’s serve our countries diligently & treat people right, because one day we shall be no more. Goodbye Magufuli. By Joel Ssenyonyi Kampala, Uganda

Teenage pregnancy on the increase in Ghana

Dear Editor, Since the government shut down high schools a year ago to fight the coronavirus, the number of early pregnancies has increased dramatically and the government seem not to be bothered about this new baby boom in Ghana. Many of these girls are disadvantaged teenagers and from poor homes. While sexual activity among adolescents has increased, the vast majority are not using any form of contraception or protection, so the fears of increase infections including HIV/Aids are on the increase. According to a Ghanaian health survey, in 2020, only 18.6 percent of sexually active adolescents were using contraception. And abortion is not an option in this highly religious country either so who is to address this problem. Voluntary termination of pregnancy (VTP) is only allowed in cases of rape, incest, fetal impairment, or danger to the physical or mental health of the mother. What would happen to these children when born and to their teenage mothers? I am just worried and crying out loud and clear. The government should engage these teenagers.

Eritrea is treated unfairly

Dear Editor, The EU did not give further details on the sanctions placed on Eritrean accusing them of operating in Ethiopia northern province of Tigray but if they do not take this necessary action, the violence would spread into their country and it may result in total break out of war between the two countries. I wonder why the same measure is not taken against Ethiopia who is the aggressor in this matter. The atrocities of Ethiopia army are well documented and yet European Union or the United Nations has not sanction the Prime Minister. Rather the EU blacklisted Eritrea’s National Security Office, which is responsible for intelligence, interrogations and arrests. “The National Security Office is responsible for serious human rights violations in Eritrea, in particular arbitrary arrests, extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances of persons and torture,” the EU said after foreign ministers of the 27-nation bloc agreed to the measures. Eritrea’s foreign ministry reacted by saying the EU’s decision was “malicious” and accused the bloc of bridging a divide between Eritrea and Ethiopia. It also said the EU was trying to bring back power to the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). “The EU has no legal or moral prerogative for its decision and has merely invoked trumped-up charges to harass Eritrea for other ulterior motives,” the foreign ministry said in a statement. Thousands have been killed amid the fighting in Tigray and hundreds of thousands have been forced to flee their homes since the conflict erupted in November last year. Both Ethiopia and Eritrea have denied Eritrea using troops to fight in the Tigray conflict despite an Ethiopian general and witnesses reporting their presence. Who can help to mediate in this crisis and do not allow it to generate in full civil war. The civilian people are already displaced. By Farhan Mohamed Asmara, Eritrea www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com 15

Born on October 29, 1959, Magufuli earned his master’s and doctorate degrees from the University of Dar es Salaam in 1994 and 2009, respectively. After a short stint of teaching at Sengerema Secondary School and later working as an industrial chemist, Magufuli went into politics under the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party. He was elected a member of parliament in 1995 and that same year appointed deputy minister of works, receiving the title of minister in 2000. In 2010, he gained popularity after he was appointed Tanzania’s minister for works and transportation for the second time. His bullish leadership style and fight against graft in the road construction industry was endearing for Tanzanians, who later nicknamed him “the bulldozer.” He ran as president in 2015 and won 58% of the vote, defeating Edward Lowassa of the Chadema opposition party. In 2020, he was re-elected — a win that opposition presidential candidate Tundu Lissu decried as fraudulent. In his inauguration address, Magufuli was full of praise for the country’s electoral conduct. “As you are aware, elections have been a source of conflict in many countries, but we Tanzanians have safely passed this test. This is proof to the world that Tanzanians are peace-loving, and we have matured in our democracy.” Adored at home — but not abroad In Tanzania, President Magufuli was a popular figure. His lean government and cost-cutting measures greatly earned him respect among citizens. For example, in 2015, he suspended the country’s independence celebrations, instead urging citizens to clean up their communities to fight a cholera outbreak. He also embarked on major infrastructure projects such as the port of Bagamoyo, a new railway, and upgrading the Dar-es-Salaam International Airport. His hands-on war against corruption was admired not just in Tanzania — but the entire continent. “Magufuli came in on the platform of fighting corruption and empowering the masses,” Martin Adati, a Kenyan political analyst, told the press. “It is the people who have been benefiting from corruption and all these other funny things who are not very happy with him.” However, his popularity at home was tainted abroad by human rights groups who accused him of trampling on basic rights such as freedom of press and expression. In 2020, his government introduced a law that made it a punishable offense for local media to publish international content without authorization.

For exiled opposition leader Tundu Lissu, Magufuli’s presidency was riddled with autocratic tendencies despite his accomplishments.

“Yes, he has built all these things, but that does not justify misrule, that does not justify the draconian and very authoritarian policies that he has imposed on the country,” Lissu told the press, adding that the late president’s actions did not legitimize the destruction of the country’s democratic processes.

Tributes has continued to pour in to celebrate the life of Late John Magufuli, the President of Tanzania who last month suddenly passed away from heart disease according to the government while the opposition continues to claim he died of Covid-19 related sickness. Whatever the reason for his death, it does not rub off the shine he brought to Tanzania and how he tried to transform the country and made Tanzania a middle Income country in Africa. According things he accomplished in his first five years in office includes he strong and firm stand against rapid influence of China on many East African countries, rejected a $10 billion loan from China which would have given them dominance and key

players in the economy of Tanzania. He was also credited with reducing high cost of running government institutions his inception of his administration, he refused to engage in foreign trips rather making use of the country’s diplomatic missions abroad; he is on record has not making any state trips outside Africa during his tenure in office; reduced the size of his cabinet from 30 ministers to 19; he also flew economic class when he did travelled within Africa and made his cabinet to follow his lead. In fact he banned Government officials from foreign trips & abolished their tax exemptions. Late President Magufuli accused UK company, Acacia

Mining of illegal mining and ordered them to pay $193 billion for undervaluing Tanzania’s gold exports. Over 250 containers of theirs were seized at Dar es Salaam port. They paid $300 million and gave Tanzania 16% ownership in 3 mines owned by the company in the country Magufuli introduced free education in government schools in 2016. He acquired 6 Air Tanzania planes, expanded Terminal III of Julius Nyerere International Airport. He built Tanzania Standard Gauge Railway, Mfugale Flyover, Julius Nyerere Hydropower Station, Ubungo Interchange. Dr. Magufuli built Selander Bridge, Kigongo-Busisi Bridge, Huduma Bora Za afya, Vituo Bora Za Afya, expanded Port of Dar es Salaam, Dodoma Bus Terminal, an LNG plant, a water project, a wind farm project, Uhuru Hospital project, a gold refinery plant, and Magufuli Bus Terminal. Late President Dr. John Magufuli excelled in infrastructure and financial affairs for the advancement of his country. He faced numerous accusations of human rights abuses and was accused of repressing the opposition. He also banned explicit images or videos online. He wasn’t a saint, but was a true son of Tanzania who meant well for the generality of the population and you can see it how the nation is at a standstill to mourn his passing. He was truly a son of Africa. His memory would live long and the woman he has entrusted with the job as his deputy President would have to finish what he has started.