WEEKLY ANALYSIS: Why Africa’s Renaissance Architecture Is Fond of Magufuli

By Staff Reporter

PRETORIA,S.A, 29-11-2018:

 

WHEN President Magufuli’s ongoing reforms continue to receive worldwide accolades making African Union (AU) appealing to members to emulate him, Norway showered a sizeable praises on his stance to fight corruption and improve revenue collections.

 

Being the latest admirer of Dr John Pombe Magufuli’s reforms agenda, Norway, a rich European nation, was too satisfied to announce an additional US$ 56 million to support Tanzania’s development resolve to realize a middle income nation by 2025.

 

Fifty years on, independent Africa reviews its offering and takes steps to realize its highest potential, economic independence, which has now excited one of Africa’s architectures of its reinnassance agenda, Thabo Mbeki. Mbeki alongside other great African minds Olusegun Obasanjo, Benjamin Mkapa and others championed reforms in late 1990’s to see Africa undertake major reforms for accelerated development. One of their brain-child being Africa’s only peer review process (The African Peer Review Mechanism, APRM).

 

                           Mbeki’s Appeals to Members to Emulate DrMagufuli

“It is of no doubt that efforts undertaken in Tanzania ought to be emulated by other countries in Africa,” said Thabo Mbeki, Chairman of African Union (AU) High Level Panel on Illicit Financial Flow (IFF) from Africa when he met Magufuli in Dar es Salaam this week.

 

A former South African leader, whose voice on African social economic development is globally respected, recognized President Magufuli’s committed fight to uproot graft, tax evasion by both local and multinational firms and infiltrates a new culture on accountability and discipline.

 

Mr Mbeki lauded the efforts by the reformist Tanzanian leader who pioneers reforms which influence the minds of most African leaders, the philosophy a Kenyan law Professor PLO Lumumba christens, “Magufulification of Africa.”

 

Mr. Mbeki does not hide his impatience with Africa’s failure to fulfill its greatest potential. The American Graduate, Mr. Mbeki leads a war against illicit financial flows (IFFs) from Africa, as head of African Union’s 10-member High-Level Panel on IFFs.

Most of the funds are lost through multi-national corporations such as mining contracts in Tanzania, Ghana, South Africa, Botswana and also oil and gas in Nigeria, Banking and financial services that fail to pay appropriate tax.

 

It is estimated that Africa loses, through multinational corporations, an annual approximation of US$80 billion.

 

                                    Mbeki’s Outreach Efforts

While in the United States, Mr. Mbeki and his team held talks with the World Bank and IMF in Washington, D.C. They met with United Nations officials in New York, including former Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).

 

Earlier they had been in Paris, France, to meet with the OECD, and to the European Parliament in Brussels to engage with the World Customs Organization.

 

The results of their outreach are impressive. The World Bank was reported to be preparing a programme of action on IFFs, the IMF had also expressed its commitment to fightIFFs. The UN expressed its readiness to support it.

 

Mr. Mbeki’s appeal is good news and reinforcement for Tanzania and Dr. Magufuli’s direction he took in fighting grand corruption, tax avoidance and illicit financial flows by mining companies in Tanzania. Indeed this is Magufulification of Africa.

 

                                  Norway Departs From the Rest

Tanzania’s strategic leadership potentials in Africa and local reforms to transform its socio-economic development, continue to impress many global countries beyond Africa.

 

Nikolai Astrup, Royal Norwegian’s Government Minister for International cooperation assured DrMagufuli of his Government’s continued commitment to supportTanzania’s resolve to realize industrial economy which would also help achieve an envisaged middleincome country by 2025.

 

Mr. Astrupis on a four (4) day tour of Tanzania. On meeting President Magufuli, the Norwegian’s International Development Minister affirmed his country’s commitment to enhance development cooperation with Tanzania.

 

The visit revealed to the world Norway’s admiration on the exciting work performed in office by DrMagufuli. How could one invest in a country rocked with corruption? The bold stance against corruption, graft and illicit financial flow from Tanzania pleased MrAstrup to announce additional US$ 56 million for Tanzania in development aid.

 

The Norwegian Minister was also thrilled by the historic increase in tax collection and overall tax regime in Tanzania. Since President Magufuli came to power, tax collections has increased from around US$340.4m (TSh800m.) to US$553m (TSh1.3tr).

 

This is unmistakably evidence of trust in the Tanzanian leader and the impetus he employs in pursuit for change and development.

 

A testament by the former South African leader Thabo Mbeki just continues to reconfirm Tanzania’s peculiar role in emanating change and development in Africa. This step is yet economic liberation.

 

                          What the Visits mean to Tanzania

Tanzania is a model nation of civility and strong commitment to democracy, peace, growth and development. As former South African President Thabo Mbeki reiterated his statement, Tanzania has been friendly, helping to build and strengthen governance structures of most southern African nations. It is a civilized and pro-development nation.

 

Tanzania ratified various international conventions and it is an absolutely important pillar for the regional peace and stability. It has been playing a mediatory role in most African conflicts also provided home for war refugees.

 

The nation has long term cooperation partnership with Europe who have always been appreciating the need for the country to formulate own development strategies and also devise appropriate approaches that seekto drive its development agenda. 

 

Tanzania is a country rich in natural resources with talented people and naturally respects other nations. This is a win for its quiet diplomacy. 

Being the fourth fastest growing economy for the next decade, according to Harvard University’s Centre for International Development (CID), the country remained a motivation for civility, international diplomacy, peace, development and stability in the region.

It is virtuous tidings. Norwegian’s approval of Tanzania, EU, AU and other long term development partners, were critical at a time Tanzania’s development resolve could probably be deliberately distorted with misinformation by ill-wishers.

 

The support voiced the EU’s Acting ambassador accredited to Tanzania, Charles Stuart, Norwegian’s Minister for International Development Nikolai Astrip and China’s Ambassador to Tanzania Ms Wang Ke’s reaffirmation continued cooperation is clearly a nod for the reforms President Magufuli’s fifth phase Government’s continue to implement which were also praised by Mr Mbeki.