Tanzania’s newly elected President John Magufuli has cancelled Independence Day celebrations, and has ordered a clean-up campaign instead.

It would be “shameful” to huge sums of money on the celebrations when “our people are dying of cholera”, he was quoted on state television as saying.
Cholera has killed about 60 people in Tanzania in the last three months.

This will be the first time Tanzania has not held celebrations to mark 54 years of independence from the UK.

Mr Magufuli’s party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), has governed since colonial rule ended on 9 December 1961, winning a new mandate in elections last month.

Many people were caught by surprise by Mr Magufuli’s announcement but have welcomed the move.