The absence of Tanzania President John Magufuli from the
public has sparked off a rumour that he contracted COVID-19 and on admission in
a hospital.
Magafuli was reportedly last seen in public during a tour of
Dar es Salaam, where he had inspected projects and addressed public gatherings.
Tundu Lissu, opposition leader, had questioned the
whereabouts of the president, saying Magufuli’s well-being is “a matter of
grave public concern”.
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
Since the beginning of the pandemic, the Tanzanian president has consistently downplayed the danger of COVID-19, sparking off widespread criticism.
The country has not updated its number of COVID-19
infections since last year April as Magafuli claims that the virus had been
defeated.
The official number of infections remains at just 509 but
reports that many people have become ill with breathing difficulties have been
on the rise and hospitals have seen a rise in patients for “pneumonia”.
Magufuli warned the country’s health ministry against
“rushing into embracing the COVID-19 vaccines promoted by foreign companies and
countries”, while claiming that little has been done to help cure other
diseases like tuberculosis, HIV/Aids, and malaria.
“You should stand firm. Vaccinations are dangerous. If the
white man was able to come up with vaccinations, he should have found a
vaccination for Aids by now; he would have found a vaccination of tuberculosis
by now; he would have found a vaccination for malaria by now; he would have
found a vaccination for cancer by now,” he said in January.
“The Health ministry must know that not every vaccination is
meaningful to our nation. Tanzanians must be mindful so that we are not used
for trials of some doubtful vaccinations which can have serious repercussions
on our health.”
Africa Report quoted
a doctor as saying “We are pressured by the authorities not to attend to people
who have coronavirus symptoms rather than treating them for pneumonia and lung
infections. As doctors, we are in danger because we are not even getting
personal protective equipment. The government has to change its perception and
take this pandemic seriously”.
The country has been hit by a wave of deaths that were
officially attributed to pneumonia.
Several top-ranking government officials that have died
include Gregory Teu, former deputy finance minister; Benno Ndulu, former
governor of Bank of Tanzania, John Kijazi, chief secretary to the statehouse,
and Seif Sharrif Hamad, first vice-president of Zanzibar, whose party–ACT
Wazalendo party– had confirmed that he tested positive for the infection before
his death.
In its latest travel guide, the US Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, said Tanzania’s level of COVID-19 is “very high”. The
country advised people against travelling there.
Also, the World Health Organisation has continued to ask the
country to share its data on infections.
In February, Tedros Ghebreyesus, director-general of WHO,
asked Tanzania to take measures to protect its people from the infection.
“Many Tanzanians travelling to neighbouring countries and
beyond have tested positive for Covid-19. This shows the need for Tanzania to
take robust measures to protect both its own people and people in these
countries and elsewhere,” Ghebreyesus had said.
But speaking during a Sunday church mass in the capital
Dodoma on February 21, Magafuli appeared to have acknowledged the existence of
the disease.
Although he did not specifically name the virus, the president
asked Tanzanians to start wearing face masks for “respiratory” illnesses that
are becoming a problem.
He asked citizens to take preventive measures by wearing face masks — but only locally made ones.
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