(Photo: Pulse Nigeria)
By Landing Ceesay
The Tanzanian President, Samia Suluhu has ordered police officers in the country with “big belly” to return to training school, Citizen TV, Kenya reported Wednesday.
“They should come back here (for training) so that they shed them off and be swift again in executing their duties,” Citizen TV Kenya quoted President Suluhu as saying.
The President is reported to have made the remarks at a ceremony marking the completion of the training of officers in Boma Kichaka Miba in Tanga in Tanzania.
“As I was inspecting the parade, I noticed those leading the march were veteran officers and among them were big-bellied officers. I have seen big bellies. We are not supposed to have officers with big bellies,” she is quoted as saying.
Her comments came two months after she sacked the country’s Inspector General of Police before dispatching him to Zimbabwe as an envoy.
Local media reported that Suluhu fired Simon Sirro on the night of July 19, 2022 amid talk that he had a terrible human rights record.
Time Magazine in May recognized Suluhu one of its list of The 100 Most Influential People of 2022.
Former Vice President, Ms. Suluhu took over the country’s presidency following the death of then President, John Pombe Magufuli in March 2021.