x

Tanzania’s president, John Magufuli dies at 61 after heart complications

Tanzania’s President John Magufuli has died aged 61, the country’s vice-president has announced.

He died on Wednesday from heart complications at a hospital in Dar es Salaam, Samia Suluhu Hassan said in an address on state television.

Magufuli had not been seen in public for more than two weeks, and rumours have been circulating about his health.

Opposition politicians said last week that he had contracted Covid-19, but this has not been confirmed.

Magufuli was one of Africa’s most prominent coronavirus sceptics, and called for prayers and herbal-infused steam therapy to counter the virus.

“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,” Vice-President Hassan said in the announcement.

She said there would be 14 days of national mourning and flags would fly at half mast.

According to Tanzania’s constitution, Ms Hassan will be sworn in as the new president and should serve the remainder of Magufuli’s five-year team which he began last year.

Magufuli was last seen in public on 27 February, but Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa insisted last week that the president was “healthy and working hard”.

He blamed the rumours of the president’s ill-health on “hateful” Tanzanians living abroad.

But opposition leader Tundu Lissu told the BBC that his sources had told him Magufuli was being treated in hospital for coronavirus in Kenya.

Hot this week

Editors Urge Government To Create Safe, Enabling Environment For Journalists

· Ask security agents to find missing Vanguard journalist As...

EXCLUSIVE: Buhari orders probe of Isa Funtua, AMCON over keystone and Etisalat

Following the controversy generated by the leading opposition party,...

6 Signs your boyfriend thinks you are ugly -Take note of No. 2

They say there are three kinds of people; the...

2023: South-East, Middle Belt Forum Endorses Peter Obi

The South-East and Middle Belt Forum has endorsed the...

NTAC Director-General Receives Honorary Doctoral Fellowship for Excellence in Leadership

By Jabiru Hassan The Director-General of the Nigerian Technical Aid...

Sokoto L-PRES Trains Livestock Stakeholders on Antimicrobial Resistance

By Muhammad Ibrahim, Sokoto The Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support...

Uba Sani Condemns Killing of 12 Travellers, Urges Respect for Freedom of Movement

By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State...

Gunmen Kill Police Inspector, Seize Rifle in Plateau

By Israel Adamu, Jos Gunmen suspected to be herders have...

Lagos Government Urges Property Owners to Renovate Building Exteriors

The Lagos State Government has called on property owners...

Africa’s Most Expensive Countries to Rent a Home in 2025

As urbanisation accelerates across Africa, housing demand is soaring—leading...
spot_img

Related Articles

Popular Categories

spot_imgspot_img