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Tanzanian President John Magufuli, one of the most skeptical African leaders of the coronavirus, has died at the age of 61. The official cause of death was “heart failure,” according to an announcement made by the country’s vice president, reports AP News. A few days ago, it was reported that Magufuli was hospitalized in serious condition with COVID-19 at a Kenyan hospital.
Last week, an opposition leader said Magufuli was hospitalized in serious condition at a Kenyan hospital after contracting the novel coronavirus, the threat of which he repeatedly trivialized. John Magufuli has not been seen in public since late February, his absence being unusual given that he appeared on state television several times a week.
Subsequently, four people were arrested by the Tanzanian police on suspicion of spreading rumors on social media that President John Magufuli is ill.
Government officials denied the information at the time, and Vice President Samia Suluhu Hassan said the president was working hard.
The vice president also said that Magufuli died in a hospital in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
John Magufuli has repeatedly denied that the disease caused by the new coronavirus, COVID-19, is spreading in the East African country and has argued without evidence that vaccines are dangerous, suggesting instead that people pray and inhale the vapor of the plants.
Despite numerous requests from the World Health Organization, Tanzania has not released any statistics on cases since May, when it recorded 509 infections. There is no known testing program and health officials have been banned from mentioning the virus.
Editor: Mihnea Lazăr
