{UAH} Pojim/WBK: Decision to scrap Uhuru fete the right way to go - Opinion/Editorial | The Citizen
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Decision to scrap Uhuru fete the right way to go - Opinion/Editorial
It is official. This year's Independence Day won't be marked by the usual pomp and pageantry. Instead, all Tanzanians are expected to participate in clean-up campaigns aimed at putting in check the cholera scourge.
A closer scrutiny will show that orders such as this one are crucial if discipline is to be instilled within the government and public at large.
There has been concern that some government officials tend to use national celebrations as an opportunity to steal public funds without fear of detection. Their excuse has always been that money must be spent in public interest.
The President's decision against the traditionally extravagant Uhuru bash is meant to send a message to all and sundry, that the culture of having fun at the taxpayers' expense are coming to an end. As a nation, we need to cut down on expenditure that doesn't reduce our people's hardships.
There have been numerous complaints about how public affairs are generally conducted. In some cases, when you have a problem that needs fixing at a public office, you should brace yourself to waste days or even weeks. All this is traceable to indiscipline.
We have just too many government officials with virtually no qualm about squandering public funds. These must be put in check.
That is why we see the President's move as an apt reminder to us all that every event must be an opportunity to do something that improves our people's lives. We must consider it immoral to stage extravagant functions with no substantive bearing on our people's welfare, more so during periods of economic hardships.
Already, there is concern that we have too many public holidays, parties, travelling, tax exemptions and officialdom.
President Magufuli's priorities listing should entail cutting down on unnecessary expenditure if this country is to transform itself from a poor to a middle income economy.
PREVENT ACCIDENTS THIS SEASON
The announcement by the Surface and Maritime Transport Regulatory Authority (Sumatra) that it will roll out its plan to control passenger vehicles using a speed monitoring device could not have come at a better time.
The festive season is around the corner. Unfortunately, it is that time of the year we tend to lose too many of our loved ones in road accidents across the country.
Granted, this is not a new plan. Cash problems have been cited as the reason for delays in implementing the speed monitoring plan before. But we are glad the device has been acquired, at a cost of Sh3 billion, according to Sumatra officials.
This is a worthy investment in efforts to curb road carnage. Many people will be travelling in the coming weeks until the festive season is over. Sadly, we already have lost 295 lives since the beginning of the year.
In the first 10 months of last year, 316 people were killed on our roads. Most of these accidents were due to speeding. This can be changed. But planning is key.
We urge Sumatra and other transport stakeholders to start raising awareness now. Measures should be in place on how to handle and manage traffic during this season. Let's not allow preventable road accidents to ruin the celebrations.
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