Advocacy groups are lauding the decision to scrap Independence Day (December 9) celebrations and hold cleanup events instead. President John Magufuli says it would be shameful to hold celebrations while “our people are dying of cholera.” Photo: Daniel Hayduk
President John Magufuli’s decision to scrap Independence Day celebrations in favor of a day of public cleaning has got people reminiscing about the good old days.
“We are very excited about this,” says Tania Hamilton, of public advocacy group Nipe Fagio.
“One of Nipe Fagio’s core objectives is reawakening Nyerere’s old idea of monthly community cleanups … we believe this will go a long way to helping us really turn talk into action,” says Hamilton.
Using the ‘Magufulified’ slogan #HapaUsafiTu (here to clean), groups are already busy planning community cleanups in Dar es Salaam for Wednesday, December 9 as well as for Saturday, December 12.
Magufuli says it would be shameful to hold celebrations while “our people are dying of cholera.”
Cholera, which spreads in unsanitary conditions, has claimed over 150 lives in recent months.
And the money that would have been spent on the celebrations? Magufuli says that will be used to combat cholera and buy hospital supplies.
Get involved: visit the Nipe Fagio Facebook page
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Read more: No rest on Independence Day
