Tanzania’s President Magufuli Dies After Covid Rumours

Tanzania’s President John Magufuli has died aged 61 at a hospital in Dar es Salaam following heart complications. 

The president had not been seen in more than two weeks prior to his death, sparking rumours from opposition politicians that he had contracted Covid-19. This has not been confirmed. 

The country’s Vice President, Samia Suluhu Hassan, announced Magufuli’s death on state television on Wednesday night:

“It is with deep regret that I inform you that today… we lost our brave leader, the president of the Republic of Tanzania, John Pombe Magufuli,” he said.

According to Tanzania’s constitution, Ms Hassan will now be sworn in as the new president within 24 hours and will serve out the remaining four years of Magufuli’s term in office. 

Magufuli was last seen in public on 27 February but Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa insisted that the president was “healthy and working hard”. He blamed rumours about the president’s ill-health on “hateful” Tanzanians living abroad. 

Contrastingly, opposition leader Tundu Lissu had previously told reporters that Magufuli was being treated for coronavirus at a hospital in Kenya. 

Magufuli was a notable sceptic of the coronavirus pandemic, famously declaring his country “Covid-19 free” last June. He questioned the efficacy of masks, expressed doubts of testing and mocked neighbouring countries which imposed restrictions to curb the spread of the virus. 

Tanzania has not published details of its coronavirus cases since May and the government has refused to purchase vaccines, instead promoting the use dubious ‘herbal remedies’. 

On Monday, police arrested four people across the country for spreading rumours on social media that the president was ill.