See Tanzanian President Sweeping the Streets on Independence Day (Photos)

 

Tanzanian President, John Pombe Magufuli surprised onlookers on Wednesday when he walked out of State House to collect rubbish off the streets, after cancelling Independence Day celebrations for a national clean-up.

AFP reports that Magufuli, who took power in November after winning the October 25 elections, has introduced a swathe of austerity cuts and crackdowns on public corruption.

Dozens of fishermen joined in the clean-up with their president, who shovelled leaves and plastic rubbish close to a fish market near the presidential palace as a crowd of hundreds looked on.

The smiling Magufuli, as he picked up litter with his hands, said: "Let us work together to keep our country, cities, homes and workplaces clean, safe and healthy."

 

Street cleaning took place across the economic capital Dar es Salaam, with plumes of smoke rising into the sky as residents burned piles of litter.

 
Former president, Jakaya Kikwete, who stepped down in November after serving his two-term limit, took part in cleaning in his home town of Chalinze sweeping and gathering rubbish.

Kikwete said: “I am happy with his exercise. Let us give our president full support in his campaign to fight cholera and other communicable diseases,” Kikwete told national television, adding that he was impressed with his successor, who is from the same political party.

“I am very happy with measures he is taking to curb inefficiency, tax evasion and other malpractices in public offices, I am very proud of him.”