Magufuli's remarks yesterday, at a State House function where he received the National Electoral Commission (NEC)’s official report on last year’s general election, came against the backdrop of growing criticism that his government is intent on cracking down on dissenting voices and freedom of speech.
But he asserted that it was time for petty politicking to be put on hold to allow his administration to go about keeping all the promises made to voters during the campaign period leading up to last year’s polls.
“I was voted to be the president of all Tanzanians and I promised to serve them, therefore I will not sit back and watch someone try to deliberately derail my efforts to do this over the five years of my mandate,” he said.
He added: "I would like to urge my fellow politicians to conduct their political business through the people's duly-elected representatives, using appropriate platforms such as parliament."
Leaders of the main opposition parties in the country recently disclosed plans to stage nationwide public rallies and demonstrations to call for broader democracy in the country.
The police then swiftly moved in to ban the planned rallies, saying they were aimed at causing civil disorder.
Some opposition leaders have also complained that they were similarly prohibited by law enforcement officials from holding internal party meetings.
But Magufuli yesterday stressed that life must go on in Tanzania after the conclusion of the 2015 general election.
"We have decided to work and we will cooperate with all political parties to ensure that we solve the people's problems. That is my duty, and I will do everything in my power to fulfill it," the president said.
Nicknamed 'The Bulldozer' for his previous reputation as a cabinet minister for getting things done, Magufuli won the October election on the back of his catchy "Hapa Kazi Tu” ((It's all about work) campaign slogan.
Since formally assuming office in November, he has so far literally lived up to his word in the form of spearheading a vigorous anti-corruption campaign, announcing a raft of measures to drastically cut wasteful government spending, and enforcing far-reaching moves to restore discipline and service delivery in the public service.
Some opposition party leaders have accused Magufuli of showing "dictatorial tendencies", but the president has responded by insisting that this is not so.
At yesterday’s State House function, the president applauded NEC for conducting a "successful election to ensure that Tanzanians freely exercised their constitutional right of voting for national public leaders."
He also commended security and defence forces for maintaining national peace and security during the hotly-contested elections.
The NEC chairman, Judge (rtd) Damian Lubuva, said some 23.16 million Tanzanians were registered to vote in last year’s polls with the actual turn-out on election day being 67.34 per cent of that figure.
Magufuli secured over 58 per cent of the votes to emerge winner in the presidential race while the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party grabbed the majority of seats in the National Assembly despite some gains by the opposition.
Responding to the president’s remarks yesterday, one CCM legislator described it as a “strong message to the opposition to engage in constructive rather than destructive politics.”
“Reading between the lines, Magufuli alerts us of a new era in town and his want of new ways of conducting politics for CCM and opposition,” Kigamboni member of parliament Faustine Ndugulile said in a message on the popular social media platform Twitter.
“President Magufuli reiterated that there is time for politics and time for development. He is now focusing on development - No time for politics
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