President John Pombe Magufuli, the Tanzanian President and Executive, the Chama-Cha Mapinudzi leader, the one who is running the succession of the ruling regime that has ruled since independence in the East African nation. He was hailed for his stern controlling and stopping of corrupt behaviour, as he cut wages and cleared state organizations. His smiles and grins on the inauguration was a proof of a peaceful democratic nation, even as MCC of USA had suspended aid-projects in Tanzania as they we’re not impressed by the last election on Zanzibar. So the year of 2016 has been a roller-coaster in Tanzania and it continues where it left of.
The Tanzanian President has with stern hand, detained journalists, and opposition figures and also used the police force to stop opposition rallies around nation. This has been done in silence as he has been hailed with #WhatWouldMagufuliDo? Since his works has extended and showed that their hope of good governance and possible accountability from the Tanzanian authorities. Instead, he now turns into a man who cannot manage that people questions his actions and planned legislature. Like he only want to be hailed and not become a villain. Though with his threats and wishes to silence the local media, he will only give the nation state propaganda fitted to his views and belief, instead of growing balls and actually see the misgivings that a government can have, as the media will display and reason with the citizens. Their trying to find and see at the imperfections of government and their regulatory state, can give the citizens a fair balanced experience of the leadership. That is apparently something that isn’t in high regard from President Magufuli. He wants lies, deceit and deception of the Tanzanian citizens.
As he said himself:
“Dr Magufuli warned the media against writing or airing inflammatory stories that may endanger peace at it happen in Rwanda where radio and other reports instigated the 1994 genocide. “The government, which specializing in ‘lancing boils’, cannot let such newspapers to continue operating. It cannot leave Tanzania to be a dumpsite of seditious news. This will not be allowed under my rule, never”, said Magufuli. “And its only two newspapers. Whenever you read them they always incite people… when you say this they turn it into something else. I want them to hear me. Their days are numbers” (Mwalimu & Ibengwe, 2017).
So clearly the President cannot handle the pressure and the temperature certain newspapers put out. Not that I now directly what they said, but saying that criticism of his reign will bring genocide is harsh and disrespectful for those who died in the genocide. Misunderstood and forged news are by all means a problematic field, as sources and credited writers has to pick their sources and verify the reports before publishing it. With the easy extent of information and the many outlets, there are more possibility to get information and therefore spread it to the public. A President cannot contain or control it the way they could do just a generation back in time. They are open online, on the telly, on air on the radio and also still in the papers.
By all means, with the extent of population of the United Republic of Tanzanian, there will detractors and people of opposite political base that reasons for tarnishing President Magufuli. They will do and should do it they feel like it, even if it is true or not. Still, the President can address them and undress them if their wrong in their assessment and understanding of the legislation or budgets post. But say that he will sanction and stop their press, proves that Magufuli is coward, a man who cannot handle the pressure of his throne, of his office and his station. He has to silence the media who looks critically into his acts and his motions. Like he expect fanfare and processions of glee journalists to bow their knees when they are entering the gates of the National Assembly or the State House, as the President is the most Nobel and grandest man in the Republic.
President Magufuli is the executive and the one who reins the United Republic, but that doesn’t mean everybody going to cheer and enjoy all of his decisions. Some going to scrutinize and question the reasons for the work he does as the Executive. There will be people who cheers and are proud who wouldn’t dare to question the President, but they would never say their honest opinion or control their words when addressing the ruler and the regime. So, the need for a strong and various outlet for news and discussion of what the President is important.
I thought Magufuli we’re stronger, smarter and had audacity to handle pressure, but I was so damn wrong. He cannot manage pressure or questions to his rule, he cannot manage newspapers and radio. Like he did during 2016 he arrested MP Singida Tindu Lissu for calling him a dictator.
The Opposition Member of Parliament Tindu Lissu saw something many others didn’t, Magufuli, the good doctor cannot handle opposite opinions and cannot accept that people are assessing his acts. They are supposed to eat it out of the hand of the President without questions and with a grin on their faces. Nothing else is acceptable. The President speak, the President act and the people bow their knees to the almighty. Peace.
Reference:
Mwalimu, Saumu & Ibengwe, Stella – ‘Fear as Magufuli threatens media’ (14.01.2017) link: http://www.thecitizen.co.tz/News/Fear-as-Magufuli-threatens-media-/1840340-3516910-1123b5hz/index.html
MinBane 