Tanzania: Top leader admits President is sick, urges citizens to unite through prayers

Tanzanian Vice President Samia Suluhu Hassan has implied that President John Magufuli, who has not me a public appearance for two weeks, could be indisposed but urged people to refrain from rumour-mongering. Magufuli has been leing list of COVID-19 sceptics and refused to publish country's coronavirus statistics since May last year. Despite repeated requests by WHO, his ministration has reported only initial 500 cases and 20 deaths, triggering speculations of a hidden pandemic. 

'flu or fever' 

Meanwhile, Hassan, speaking to state-owned KDRTV, revealed that president might be suffering from flu or fever. “It is quite normal for a person’s body to be indisposed and contract flu or develop a fever… this is time for Tanzanians to be united through prayers,” she said referring to Magufuli. This comes as a huge revelation from ministration which previously denied his illness and even arrested one person who claimed that president was unwell. Hassan also asked country's residents from spreing and believing in rumours. Calling for unity,  she said that most of misinformation and rumours were created by foreign forces. 

“As Tanzanians, we must work toger, be united and build our nation. Most of rumours you hear don’t originate in Tanzania. y come from outside country. I ask you to ignore m. If it is about prayers, pray, but all in all, we should remain united and take Tanzania forward. We are safe,” she said.

Meanwhile, Tundu Lissu, an opposition leer has urged authorities to publicly disclose health condition of Magufuli. "He has not been seen in public since Feb. 24," he told press reporters. He also claimed that president was hospitalized in Dar es Salaam for three days. “When his condition deteriorated he was taken abro,” he said. Last week, a report circulating in Kenyan media reported that president was mitted to a top hospital in Nairobi.  

Last month, Magufuli has formally acknowledged that re was a “covid problem” within nation. dressing local press on February 21, President John Magufuli asked citizens to ‘wear locally manufactured masks’ and take health safety precautions amid fears of COVID-19 spre and surge in confirmed cases. 

(Image Credits: AP)