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John Magufuli, President of Tanzania and one of Africa’s most skeptical of COVID, has died.
The 61-year-old man had been out of public view since February 27, prompting speculation that he was seriously ill with COVID-19.
Magufuli’s main electoral rival suggested that he be transferred to the Kenyan capital Nairobi for treatment, while other reports claimed that he had been transferred to India in a coma.
The president had not been seen in public since February 27. Photo: AP
Tanzania’s Vice President Samia Suluhu Hassan said Magufuli died of a heart condition at a hospital in Dar es Salaam, one of the country’s largest cities.
Unconfirmed reports emerged last week of the president’s death, hours after officials said Magufuli was in good health and working normally.
The African leader had become famous for his views on the coronavirus. In June of last year, he declared the country of 60 million people “free” from COVID-19 after three days of prayer.
Magufuli also resisted imposing blockades and condemned preventive measures such as social distancing and the closure of shops and restaurants.
The president dismissed the test kits as faulty and described the vaccines as “not good,” while insisting that inhaling steam and eating potatoes could cure COVID.
He won the presidency for the first time in 2015 and had faced accusations from Western countries and opposition parties of eroding democracy.
Mr. Magufuli had held rallies where no social distancing measures were in place. Photo: AP
Magufuli was also nicknamed “The Bulldozer” due to his reputation for pushing policies despite opposition.
Tanzania’s constitution states that the vice president must assume the presidency for the remainder of the five-year term that began in 2020.
This would make Samia Suluhu Hassan the first female leader of the East African nation.
Boris Johnson was one of the world leaders who paid tribute to Magufuli and tweeted: “My thoughts are with his loved ones and with the people of Tanzania.”
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