Tanzanian President John Magufuli has not appeared in public for almost two weeks. The leader of the opposition ensures that the head of state has Covid-19. An entire country is now looking for its president.
But where is John Magufuli? The absence of the 61-year-old president of Tanzania, who has not appeared in public for nearly two weeks, has sparked the craziest rumors. Certainly, the Tanzanian is not the first to be a victim of the ambient noise: Paul Biya or Ali Bongo had before him been announced dead, after having disappeared from the radar screens. However over days, more and more questions torment public opinion, but above all its best enemy, the opponent Tundu Lissu.
According to several sources, President Magufuli is infected with Covid-19. A hell of an irony of fate, since the Head of State has long mocked the virus and called on his population, in order not to be sick, to make prayers or decoctions of plants. But for Tundu Lissu, the Tanzanian president is indeed affected by the coronavirus.
The opponent, who came second in the presidential election of Tanzania last October, posted a tweet last Tuesday, to put pressure on the entourage of the President of the Republic: "Do we not deserve to know what is going on? with Magufuli? He asked.
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
John Magufuli hospitalized in Kenya?
John Magufuli was last seen in public on February 27, during the swearing-in ceremony of a new minister. He then took part in a virtual summit of heads of state and attended two Sunday religious events. Since then, absolute silence. Rumors of a coronavirus infection are rife.
Which forced the government to respond. The Minister of Finance appeared last month, in a seemingly fragile state of health, to dispel doubts about contamination and the death of its president. Insufficient to dispel doubts. The founder of the Democracy in Africa site, Nic Cheeseman, assures us that John Magufuli is in serious condition, suffering from Covid-19.
Information relayed by the Kenyan media: the daily Daily Nation writes that "an African leader of a country which refused masks and health measures" was admitted to the Nairobi hospital. Asked by journalists, one of the doctors of the hospital invokes medical confidentiality so as not to have to say that Magufuli has been admitted to his establishment. On the side of the Kenyan government, we deny the information.
Tanzania took Covid-19 lightly
It has been almost a year since Tanzania stopped publishing data on Covid-19. President Magufuli had gone so far as to declare that the vaccines against the coronavirus were "harmful in the long term". Despite having a doctorate in chemistry, Magufuli has always denied the existence of the virus in Tanzania.
In February, the World Health Organization (WHO) called on Tanzania to take “immediate action” against the spread of Covid-19. The agency intervened after several travelers from Tanzania tested positive for the coronavirus.
The Tanzanian government has not implemented mandatory testing or quarantine. No serious health measures have been taken and, even worse, Covid-19 patients have been discreetly treated ... in steam rooms. A vapor containing extracts of ginger, lemon and neem, a plant with insecticidal properties!
After prayers against Covid-19, prayers for Magufuli
When he still appeared in public, John Magufuli had urged his people to fight the disease with prayers. He had organized several days of prayer… "Today for Muslims who have already started, tomorrow Adventists who pray on Saturdays and Sundays for Christians," John Magufuli announced on February 19.
The "Bulldozer", as it is nicknamed, if it is not deceased, therefore seems to be infected with the virus. Since Wednesday, Tanzanians have got it into their heads that the information is true. Especially since the fact that the president does not make any television or public appearance does not dispel any doubts. Tanzanian internet users decided to pray, this time for their head of state, with the hashtag #PrayForMagufuli.