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Research and education non-partisan think tank, Africa Center for International Law and Accountability (ACILA) has commended President John Pombe Magufuli’s administration for demonstrating political will in combating corruption but urged the government to transform the political will into implementing lasting anti-corruption and good governance reforms in Tanzania.

ACILA said that even though the anti-corruption measures taken by Magufuli demonstrate political will, it noted that combating corruption requires more than a few ad hoc measures and directives, adding that there must be investigation, public education, prosecution, and punishment.

“These measures must also be backed by reforms in all sectors of Tanzania, a country that suffers from endemic corruption”, ACILA said in a statement.

Since taking office six months ago, Magafuli has taken personal steps aimed at combating corruption and promoting governmental accountability. He cancelled the Independence Day’s extravagant celebrations and proclaimed a new National Day of Cleanliness where he personally participated in collecting trash.

In addition, he modified other events with extravagant price tags, such as an expensive banquet for the official opening of Parliament and reduced his inauguration costs from $100,000 to $7,000. The money saved from those activities were allocated to buy 300 hospital beds after the president, in a surprise visit to the country’s biggest referral hospital, found patients sleeping on the floor.

In another action, he gave a two-week deadline to newly appointed governors to clean up local governments by cracking down on ghost workers that cost the government millions of dollars in taxpayers’ money. The crackdown revealed more than 5,000 ghost workers, saved millions of dollars, and led to the firing of a governor who had denied the existence of ghost workers on the payroll even though the president’s investigation team found more than 40 ghost workers on the local government payroll.

Since December, tax collections have far exceeded targets by more than 20% after the head of the Tanzanian Revenue Authority was suspended on suspicion of corruption. The treasury has spent $75 million from December to March on school grants, water projects and electricity plant, money that was previously not available.

While ACILA commended Magafuli for such efforts, it said that such ad hoc measures need to be transformed into lasting reforms to develop strong institutions that would ensure day-to-day accountability even when Magafuli is no longer president.

ACILA also urged Magafuli to discontinue actions aimed at clamping down on the media, a key Fourth Estate institution that will shine light on corruption and hold his government accountable.