The new president of Tanzania John Magufuli stunned onlookers when he helped clean the streets outside his official residence.
Tanzania President John Magufuli was photographed outside his official State House residence helping in a public clean-up operation.
The 56-year-old, who has been nicknamed 'The Bulldozer' for his new road construction programme, was seen helping volunteers picking up rubbish.
Mr Magufuli, who came to power in October on his birthday, cancelled the country’s independence day celebrations and instead ordered the clean-up.
He was joined by dozens of fishermen from a market outside the palace, in the commercial port of Dar es Salaam, as he shovelled leaves and rubbish.
“Let us work together to keep our country, cities, homes and workplaces clean, safe and healthy,” he told a crowd.
One Dar es Salaam resident told AFP: “Tanzania has changed. This is a new Tanzania.”
Thousands of people across the country, which is struggling to contain a major cholera outbreak, reportedly took part in the clean-up.
The president, who is the son of a peasant farmer, scrapped the Independence Day celebrations saying it would be “shameful” when people are dying of cholera.
“I am happy with this exercise. Let us give our president full support n our campaign to fight cholera and other communicable diseases," he said.
“I am very happy with measures he is taking to curb inefficiency, tax evasion and other malpractices in public offices, I am very proud of him.
'The Bulldozer' has promised to tackle corruption and has pursued a programme of austerity since coming to power.