#death
Tanzania's President John Magufuli has died at a hospital in
Dar es Salaam, the country's vice president announced in a televised address on
Wednesday. He was 61.
"President John Magufuli died of a heart ailment that
he has battled for over 10 years," Samia Suluhu Hassan said.
She added that the president had been receiving treatment at
Mzena hospital since Sunday, and announced 14 days of national mourning.
Hassan is now the acting president of Tanzania. While a date
for her swearing-in has not yet been announced, she will be Tanzania's first
female president.
Tanzanian President John Magufuli attended the inauguration
of Incumbent South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on May 25, 2019.
Tanzanian President John Magufuli attended the inauguration
of Incumbent South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on May 25, 2019.
After days of speculation that Magufuli was ill with
Covid-19, the country's Prime Minister dispelled the rumors last week.
Magufuli, who usually made weekly public appearances at Sunday church services,
had not been seen since February 27, fueling reports that he was ill and was
being treated abroad.
Kassim Majaliwa said he was surprised people were
questioning the president's whereabouts, adding that the leader was "fine
and continuing with his daily activities," as he spoke during a Friday
prayer session at a mosque in the country's Njombe region, according to state
broadcaster Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation.
Covid denials
Magufuli was one of Africa's most prominent Covid skeptics.
Early on in the pandemic, Magufuli dismissed the seriousness
of coronavirus in Tanzania, urging his citizens to "pray coronavirus
away," believing the "satanic virus can't live in the body of Jesus
Christ," and blaming the growing number of positive cases on faulty test
kits.
In June, he claimed his country had eradicated coronavirus
"by the grace of God," questioned the safety of foreign Covid-19
vaccines and made no plan to procure any shots for his country, instead pushing
for the use of herbal medicine and steam treatments.
Tanzania hasn't reported Covid-19 figures since April 2020,
prompting the World Health Organization to call for Tanzania to publish data on
the coronavirus and ramp up public health measures.
Last month, the US Embassy in Dar es Salaam warned that
Covid-19 cases had been surging since January.
''The Bulldozer'
Known as "The Bulldozer" for his tough stance
against corruption and for his hardline policies, Magufuli swept to victory in
October 2015 as Tanzania's fifth president.
But excitement over Magufuli's intolerance for corruption
was shortlived as he began a clampdown on democracy and critical voices.
Magufuli oversaw closures and suspensions of numerous media
outlets, while his government undermined judicial and parliamentary
independence, implemented a partial ban on public rallies, harassed MPs, closed
online political space, and prosecuted critics under defamation and sedition
laws.
In June 2017 Magufuli announced that pregnant students would
not be allowed to return to school after giving birth.
"In my administration as the President no pregnant girl
will go back to school... she has chosen that of kind life, let her take care
of the child," he said at a public rally in 2017.
The countries making dubious claims over Covid-19 -- and
what that means for the world
The countries making dubious claims over Covid-19 -- and
what that means for the world
Tributes to a populist leader
As news of the president's death emerged, opposition leader
Zitto Kabwe offered his condolences to Magufuli's family. "This is an
unprecedented moment for our United Republic of Tanzania, and one that will
undoubtedly move us all in very personal ways," the leader of the
ACT-Wazalendo party said in a statement. "My immediate thoughts are with
Mama Janeth, and the whole family of our deceased President."
He also offered "blessings, courage and patience"
for Hassan. "My fellow Tanzanians, let us continue to pray for patience
and understanding. This is a moment to show our maturity and integrity as a
nation," Kabwe added.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was one of the first
world leaders to express their sympathy at the death of Magufuli. "My
thoughts are with his loved ones and the people of Tanzania," he wrote in
a post on Twitter.
Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta paid his respects to
Magufuli in a televised address Thursday morning and declared a seven-day
period of national mourning in Kenya.
"Africa and the world has lost an illustrious leader
whose vision, passion and immense leadership propelled the nation of Tanzania
forward... in the passing on of President Magufuli, I have lost a friend, a
colleague and a visionary ally whom I worked closely, particularly on our
commitment to forge lasting bonds between Kenya and Tanzania," he said.
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