Tanzanian President Launches Corruption Crackdown

The government issued a nationwide audit that rooted out so-called “ghost worker” positions from the public sector, according to Reuters. The audit is in response to a wage system, which allows workers to register fake accounts to receive double or triple pay. President John Magufuli has pledged to reduce corruption throughout the government.

The government issued a nationwide audit that rooted out so-called “ghost worker” positions from the public sector, according to Reuters. The audit is in response to a wage system, which allows workers to register fake accounts to receive double or triple pay. President John Magufuli has pledged to reduce corruption throughout the government.

Magufuli rides on a wave of popularity as Tanzanians cheer his anti-graft campaign. Corruption is a primary issue holding back Tanzanian development while permeating through nearly all facets of society and government. Tanzania has anti-corruption laws, but authorities enforce them sparingly.

The problem was so severe that donor nations suspended aid to punish authorities for their alarming level of corrupted governance. In addition to reducing corruption, the president has vowed to cut wasteful spending and create a more efficient system.

Business leaders in the East African country have long warned that corruption poses a barrier to greater investment, and its leadership appears to be taking the matter seriously. Magufuli has been in office since November 2015 and has already fired senior officials tied to shady deals.

Tanzania’s Track Record

The president seems to be on the right track, but his recent restrictions of press freedom raises questions about his governing tactics, notes The Washington Post. Tanzania has had its fair share of upheaval throughout the decades, but it has been one of the more stable countries in the region.

However, the economy has faced immense pressure due to mismanagement and a lacking food supply, including the financial toll of incoming refugees from around the region. Like many nations in Africa, Tanzania’s economy is agriculture-based, exporting such goods as cotton and coffee.

Tanzania has a manufacturing base, but it is not enough to boost the economy substantially, and manufacturers largely rely on the agriculture sector to stay in business. With that, the country has a variety of natural resources that include diamonds, gold, and natural gas.

Officials must clean house and foster an honest image for the sake of attracting foreign investors and enhancing the natural gas sector.

Tanzanian Ambitions

The government is involved in numerous natural gas projects, which could enhance the nation’s sub-par energy grid. Leaders aim to introduce 2000 MW of additional electricity by 2018.

Further, policymakers plan to increase capacity to 10,000 MW by 2025, but Tanzania may have a problem going forward because of world market instability. Tanzania’s natural resources could be a factor that reduces poverty and helps diversify the economy in the future. Tanzania is not on the same level of other emerging markets in Africa, but it stands a better chance of success with a government that is free of corruption.