Tanzania’s President Fires 10,000 Civil Servants Over Forged Qualifications · Global Voices
Tanzania's President <PERSON> addressing a crowd during the 2017 May celebrations. Press photo from State House.
On the eve of May Day, a day where the world pauses to honour its workers, the government of Tanzania shamed thousands of civil servants in the country.
On April 28, President <PERSON> ordered the immediate firing of almost 10,000 civil servants after an investigation found that some government workers had been occupying their positions with forged qualifications.
“They are thieves like any other thieves,” <PERSON> was quoted as saying. “They could be jailed for seven years as the law says.”
#Today‘s editoon #TheCitizenToday pic.twitter.com/W3Jak3P1sg
— The Citizen Tanzania (@TheCitizenTZ) 1 de mayo de 2017
This purge comes a year after the government found that it was losing billions of shillings annually to tens of thousands of “ghost workers.”
The report, which looked at verifying the authenticity of 450,000 government employees’ qualifications, found that district municipalities led in the number of civil servants with forged certificates at 8,716. They were followed by other government-run institutions like the Sokoine University of Agriculture which had 33 people with fake qualifications and the Tanzania Railway Cooperation with 24.
‘Safi sana’ news
It didn't take long for the internet to share its two shillings on the news.
Some people expressed some sympathy for the sacked civil servants, asking <PERSON> to give those with fake certificates strength.
<PERSON> tu hayo majina yanayopita huko Whatsapp but hii ishu inaumiza sana kimaisha na kisaikolojia#Mungu awatie nguvu wenye#VyetiFeki
— Dr <PERSON> (@emgeni) 29 de abril de 2017
Just take note of the names circulating on WhatsApp but something like this is heart-breaking and can affect someone psychologically. 424
May God give strength to those with fake certificates.
Others were cracking jokes about the whole thing.
<PERSON>, <PERSON>, <PERSON>, <PERSON>
— Charles Mtekateka (@mtekatekajr) April 29, 2017
Starting next Tuesday, if you see a public official not going to work, playing with the kids at home, don't ask too many questions!
Generally, the news received a lot of “poa sana” (very cool) “safi sana” (very nice) as people are pleased that some action is being taken over the issue. Even former President <PERSON> came out publicly supporting <PERSON>'s move, saying the decision was “overdue.”
‘…they love to give jobs to their family members…’
Of course, there were people who took the matter less lightly.
<PERSON> went on Twitter arguing for an independent commission to adjudicate the matter.
Kuwepo na Tume Huru itakayopokea malalamiko ya wafanyakazi #vyetifeki . Serikali can not judge its own case. @MariaSTsehai @humanrightstz
— <PERSON> (@hyphym) May 1, 2017
There should be an independent commission that will listen to the complaints of workers with fake certificates. The government cannot judge its own case.
Meanwhile, one opposition party, Alliance for Change and Transparency (ACT), tweeted that although they supported the government's drive against fake certificates in the civil service, they questioned whether the exercise went far enough.
Jambo la Pili lisilokuwa sawa, madai ya Waziri @AngellahKairuki kuwa mchakato wa uhakiki wa vyeti haujawagusa wanasiasa na wateule wa Rais
— <PERSON> ✋ (@ACTwazalendo) April 30, 2017
The second issue that's not right are the statements by Minister <PERSON> that the process of verifying certificates does not implicate politicians and government appointees.
The party went on to suggest that the decision amounted to the government protecting some of its appointees.
<PERSON> wa kisiasa katika zoezi la uhakiki wa vyeti ni ushahi wazi jinsi serikali inavyohaha kuwalinda baadhi ya wateule wa Rais pic.twitter. 424