EAST AFRICAN GOVERNANCE
Tanzania’s strong hand needs more adroit touch to nurture investment
The Bulldozer president’s forceful approach is cleaning up waste and corruption but makes business uncertain, writes David Christianson
The election of John Magufuli to Tanzania’s presidency in December 2015 has disrupted a relatively quiet progression from African socialism to capitalism. Tanzania, originally the homeland of African socialism under revered independence leader Julius Nyerere, has been incrementally moving towards capitalism since the mid-1980s, privatising state-owned enterprises and improving the investment climate. Some of Magufuli’s actions since taking office deepen this process by unwinding the grip patronage and corruption hold on public institutions, but others have made private investors nervous. Magufuli is known as The Bulldozer, a nickname that reflects his reputation for "getting things done" when he was minister of works under his predecessor, Jakaya Kikwete. He brought the same energy and determination to the presidency and earned plaudits for attacking waste and corruption. Expenditure on international travel and public ceremonies was slashed within days of Magufuli assuming office, a...
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