Tanzanian President John Magufuli is reported to be seriously ill with breathing challenges and has been hospitalized.
Details are still scanty about his condition but those familiar with the development say he contracted Covid-19.
The President who was hoping to avoid hospitalization given his stance had to give in due to reported deteriorating health condition.
Magufuli is said to be on admission at a hospital in Kenya’s capital Nairobi, but officials from both Tanzania and Kenya are refusing to comment on the matter.
African leader admitted to Nairobi Hospital #NationPrime https://t.co/Fjp2fmmGPy pic.twitter.com/bgywL0cKyu
— Nation Africa (@NationAfrica) March 9, 2021
Top media outlet in Kenya, Daily Nation reported on Tuesday that an African leader had been admitted at a Nairobi Hospital.
The news outlet however stayed away from mentioning the name of that leader saying government officials from both countries haven’t confirmed the identity of the person.
Magufuli was last seen publicly in February this year and for weeks hasn’t been feeling well.
Magufuli Pombe is hospitalized.
— Lord Abraham Mutai (@ItsMutai) March 9, 2021
Opposition calls for transparency
Opposition Leader, Tundu Antiphas Lissu wrote on Twitter that Tanzanians deserve to be informed of President Magufuli’s health condition.
He said “The President’s well-being is a matter of grave public concern. We’re informed when Kikwete had prostate surgery. We’re told when Mkapa went for hip replacement.
We’re not kept in the dark when Mwalimu fought leukemia. What’s it with Magufuli that we don’t deserve to know?”
The President’s well-being is a matter of grave public concern. We’re informed when Kikwete had prostate surgery. We’re told when Mkapa went for hip replacement. We’re not kept in the dark when Mwalimu fought leukemia. What’s it with Magufuli that we don’t deserve to know?
— Tundu Antiphas Lissu (@TunduALissu) March 9, 2021
Last year, President Magufuli declared his country “coronavirus-free” saying the success was due to prayers by citizens.
He told worshippers in a church that “The corona disease has been eliminated thanks to God.”
Magufuli criticized for Covid-19 handling
Magufuli has been under criticisms for how his government has handled the entire pandemic in Tanzania.
UPDATE: Tanzanian President John Magufuli reportedly hospitalized. He is said to be battling with breathing difficulties.
Opposition Leader @TunduALissu who posted on his Twitter account, wants Tanzanian public to be informed of President Magufuli’s health condition. pic.twitter.com/ux3ipErGS7
— Zoom Afrika (@zoomafrika1) March 9, 2021
The World Health Organization (WHO) expressed concern over the government’s strategy after it stopped publishing data the virus.
Last month Tanzania said that it doesn’t have plans of importing Covid-19 vaccines to protect citizens.
The country’s Health Minister Dorothy Gwajima said Tanzania is yet to decide whether or not it wants to import the Covid-19 vaccines.
Tanzania hit hard by virus
Tanzania is already reeling under surge in infections and the virus related deaths.
“For now the government has no plans to receive the Covid vaccine being distributed in other countries,” Dr Gwajima said.
How President Magufuli is dealing with COVID-19 in Tanzania.
This man is very sick!!! pic.twitter.com/LICv0MH7Ua
— Robert Alai, HSC (@RobertAlai) February 10, 2021
President John Magufuli has already warned health officials in his country against acquiring coronavirus vaccines.
Magufuli had said that the vaccines could harm the population, but he didn’t provide any evidence to back that claim.
“The ministry of health should be careful, they should not hurry to try these vaccines without doing research, not every vaccine is important to us, we should be careful. We should not be used as ‘guinea pigs’,” Mr Magufuli said.
He added that “Vaccinations are dangerous. If the white man was able to come up with vaccinations, he should have found a vaccination for Aids, cancer and TB by now.”
President Magufuli who believes in prayers and taking precautions, said “Many countries have lockdown, but in Tanzania there are no plan of lockdown and we’ll never introduce lockdown because our God is alive and he will continue to protects us.”
Tanzania says it has ‘no plans to receive’ Covid-19 vaccines
Source: Africafeeds.com
