The popular conjoined twins Maria and Consolata Mwakikuti from Tanzania have died at the age of 21, with officials saying they died from respiratory complications.
They shared organs together including the liver and lungs although they had two hearts, separate heads and arms and kicked against any move to separate them.
Local media reported of their death on Saturday after they were admitted to a local hospital in December for heart disease.
The death of the twins who were joined from the navel downwards shocked many Tanzanians including the country’s President John Magufuli who wrote on his twitter account saying he was “saddened” by their deaths, adding that Consolata and Maria had “dreamed of serving the nation”.
The twins were born in Tanzania’s Makete district in Njombe province in 1996, were schooling at Ruaha Catholic University until their death. Despite their condition, the girls performed so well.
Nimesikitishwa na kifo cha Maria na Consolata. Nilipokwenda hospitali waliliombea Taifa. Walikuwa na ndoto ya kulitumikia Taifa. Poleni familia, Masista wa Maria Consolata na wote walioguswa, pumzikeni mahali pema wanangu. BWANA ALITOA NA BWANA AMETWAA JINA LA BWANA LIHIMIDIWE.
— Dr John Magufuli (@MagufuliJP) June 2, 2018
Their parents died when they were just infants but were raised by the Catholic charity Maria Consolata. They told the BBC in an interview last year, that they wanted to become teachers in future.
“We will teach using a projector and computers,” they said.
Source: Africafeeds.com
