Facts The Economist Got Them Wrong on Magufuli

DAR ES SALAAM, East Africa: 

By Dr. Hernan Louise Verhofstadt*

“A BIT like President Donald Trump, Tanzania’s president, John Magufuli, likes to fire employees on television. In November Mr. Magufuli used a live broadcast from a small town in the north of the country summarily to dismiss two officials,” this is an extract from a recent online article I came across from the newspaper that I admired when I was growing up in Europe back in 1990’s; the Economist.

Before I venture into other serious issues, the excerpts above contains gross factual errors; my own fact-check indicates that in the named public rally during the opening of Kagera Airport, there was no summary dismissal of the two officials instantly on television, as alleged. Instead, the two, one District Executive Directors for Bukoba Urban and another for Rural were relieved their duties later through a press release from President’s Office. 

This is my prima impressio reading the Economist this week, a publication known for its top notch ethical and analytical standards, that has now vanished into a hell of sensational journalism, half baked facts, lack of objectivity and a clear sense of bias.

Contrary to the fact deprived article, it is my candid observation that to objectively critique Magufuli’s presidency in the circumstances of the transformation he is doing for his people in Tanzania, requires the level of conscious that is unfortunately lacking in the current editorial team at the Economist.

Living in Tanzania for close to half a decade now, it makes me a better eye-witness than the Westminster based editorial team. To say the least, this man Magufuli rose into power in a country that was downed by massive corruption scandals, political demonstrations that caused deaths and worse enough he found media fraternity that was being corrupted to work for interest groups.

In my stay here before and after his presidency, I have witnessed real transformation, his work is exemplary and fascinating one.  Everybody here—may be just like what Theresa May is doing in London and what Trump is focusing in Washington, is aware that Tanzania is on the move towards pro-people development; something the Economist is unhappy for and would frame it with usual western biases; suppression of democracy, violation of press rights etc etc!

Under Magufuli’s “rogueness” I have seen leaders going into prison or dismissed for lack of action in protecting public funds, I’m seeing public service regaining its lost fame and massive social projects being implemented across the country-sadly the Economist would reduce all these far-fetching achievements to nothing but “rogueness.” 

Magufuli's diplomatic acumen cannot be underestimated; He meets Israel Defense Minister in Dar es Salaam

As a European social-worker who had a rare opportunity to experience the real lives of the people in downtown Tanzanian cities and villages, I may not be best placed to analyze all of the Economist’s wrong facts about Tanzania, but for the sake of truth-an important cardinal principle in social as well as medical science, I co-own the truth of some of the major reforms on the ground and this is my scent on some of the issues raised:  

“Magufuli’s impossible tax demands”

Looking at this allegation, in the Economist team, there seems to exist a general knowledge gap. Various reports from World Bank, IMF and other international institutions and pro-development authors have pointed to how Africa is grabbed of its mineral reserves. One author, in this regard, went far to coin the term: “development without development.”

What Magufuli is doing, is to come up with policies and leadership approaches to rescind the situation in Tanzania. Acacia, who seems to enjoy warm protection from the Economist story, after prolonged discussions and confronted with impeccable evidence on their wrong doings, bowed down to negotiate and reached a better “21^st Century” deal. Why is the Economist so pained by this? Now many countries in Africa are coming up with such huge bills. 

How can the once pro development Economist be unhappy with a young and poor nation striving and trying to reap what is due for its people? If Acacia/Barrick settled to pay, albeit part of the claim, then what is impossible tax demand mean?   

“Pregnant girls to be kicked out of school”

Upon reading some of the excerpts, I wished I could sponsor editors of the Economist to come to Africa and learn the practical lessons before writing sensational half-truths. Seems no one ever knows that one of the critical social issues in the Continent is early marriages and pre-mature pregnancies.

To see a leader confronting these issues with a view to encourage parents and students to work together to prevent early pregnancies is something to loud the government of Tanzania. I wonder, a western media trying to challenge these efforts to impose its own persona on a different culture, what do we want to achieve?

In my childhood I studied around Elephant and Castle in the UK; at one time we heard about 20,000 under 18’s went pregnant in a year, later on, few secured a chance to return to school. In Tanzania, and some other African countries, the number could go by far beyond UK in a year.

With such stats, you don’t need a civilized western media to teach you what to do than support stern measures by the “Rogue President,” well intended to protect young girls from engaging into sexual life before the coming of age to enjoy their right to education.

“Locked immoral musicians who criticize him”

This is a fact that the Economist may need to prove to its esteemed audiences. I’m not a keen music fan, but I’m able to comprehend events in Tanzania and never heard of a musician who was “locked up” for criticizing Magufuli.

Like any other country, Tanzania is grappling with issues of morals and ethics in its society. Use of obscene language and pornography are some of the immoral that irks many music lovers in this part of the world. Government has taken steps to ban some from TV and redio airings. This is standard. Its everywhere.

"Democracy and political rallies”

Like in music, I may also not be better placed to justify or condemn the banning of political rallies but just to share with my fellows in the Economist; I once had to quit my social work in Arusha, the Northern tourist city, due to insecurity when opposition parties were allowed to conduct prolonged demos.

It is their civil rights which I have no doubt about it-but shops were being closed, businesses deteriorated and tourism suffered, as dozens of people lost lives in the ensuing violence and incidents of planted bombs.

I have never been back to Arusha since then, but listening to stories of how the once lost glory is back to the city after controlled political rallies, makes me thrilled to read somebody from London crying advocating for more political demonstrations!   

  “Economy is Grinding”

A mesmerizing phrase in the Economist’s article about Tanzania goes: “Rather than being freed from corruption, the economy is grinding to a halt under the weight of arbitrary tax demands.”

Reading the phrase it would cling to one’s mind that someone authoring the article is vividly a bonafide member of the pool of victims of Magufuli’s justifiable crusade on mineral resources. How can, serious a journalist, make such analogy; arbitrary tax demands and dwindling economy?” 

His negotiation skills: Agreed a deal to settle Acacia's huge tax bill by meeting top Barrick bosses who own Acacia Tanzania. Barrick will reimburse Tanzania and reform ownership of Acacia.

Yes, in Tanzania, I have heard stories of some businesses closing down due to new tax systems, still high bank interest rates as well as dwindling foreign exports. On the other hand, there are good stories too; ranging from how the country has scored high in monthly revenue collection, the Investment Center is recording huge number of new foreign investors, Africa’s wealthiest man Dangote’s cement plant is already launched and hundreds of new industries are blossoming up and the economy is steadfastly above 6 percent for the last 10 years.

Be aware: Magufuli's focus on infrastructure is unique, he has just inaugurated construction of a multi-billion Dollar modern standard gauge railway, thanks to improved own internal revenue sources.

The new Standard Gauge Rail construction is on as the country further embarks into a 2,100 megawatts historic power project along the Rufiji River Basin—of course I’m opposed to the latter on environmental consideration but I do realize the vision of the President and stand with the people of Tanzania.

It needs courage-but above all vendetta backed type of journalism to be bold enough to undermine and under write positive transformations happening in Tanzania under Mr. Magufuli in support and in favour of isolated incidents which are peculiar to the nature of politics in Tanzania and other neighbouring geo-politics.  

*The author is a Belgian health expert working with an international NGO in EAC countries who is currently ending his tenure in Tanzania. He has worked with poor communities for four years now.