Reuters | Tanzania’s New President Scraps Government Christmas Cards to Save Cash
Tanzania’s President elect John Pombe Magufuli salutes members of the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi Party (CCM) at the party’s sub-head office on Lumumba road in Dar es Salaam, October 30, 2015. REUTERS/Sadi Said
DAR ES SALAAM (Reuters) – Tanzanian officials will not be allowed to send out the usual government printed Christmas and New Year cards this year as part of belt-tightening measures by the new president.
John Magufuli has implemented a series of austerity steps since being sworn in on Nov. 5, including cancelling independence day festivities and restricting foreign travel by officials.
The president’s chief secretary “has prohibited the printing of Christmas and New Year cards at the government’s expense,” the presidency said in a statement. “Anyone who wants to print those cards should do so at his or her own personal cost.”
“The funds set aside for the cards should be used to pay off debts that government ministries, departments and institutions owe citizens and other creditors for goods and services rendered or should be directed towards other priority areas,” it said.
Source — Reuters.
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