President Magufuli taking part in the clean-the -city exercise

Tanzania’s new President, John Magufuli, has joined hundreds of residents in the main, city Dar es Salaam, to, according to a BBC and Daily News report, take part in a public clean-up operation.

Mr Magufuli swept and picked up rubbish from the street as part of the scheme, which he had ordered to replace independence day celebrations. The move is, according to the report, being seen as symbolic of the president’s promise to tackle corruption.

Thousands of people across Tanzania are reported to have joined the clean-up. Last month, Mr Magufuli cancelled traditional independence day celebrations, which usually include a military parade and concert, saying it would be “shameful” to spend huge sums of money while the country was facing a serious cholera outbreak.