Dare es Salaam – The new government in Tanzania has banned the distribution of government printed Christmas and New Year season greeting cards as part of belt-tightening measures
Since his swearing-in in Nov. 5, President John Magufuli had implemented series of austerity steps including cancelling Independence Day festivities and restricting foreign travel by officials.
A statement by the presidency said that government “has prohibited the printing of Christmas and New Year cards at the government’s expense.
“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.
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Magufuli had earlier utilised 100,000 dollars that was set aside for a party marking the opening of parliament to buy hospital beds at Tanzania’s main hospital after he found patients sleeping on the floor.
The president stance on cutting government spending continued to attract commendation from the nation’s 47 million population that had long complained about abuse of public office. (dpa/NAN)