Tanzania’s Magufuli ‘Admitted to Nairobi Hospital’ in Critical Condition

EAST AFRICA | COVID-19 UPDATE: Tanzanian President, John Pombe Magufuli, is reportedly admitted at Nairobi Hospital in neighbouring Kenya, with flu-like symptoms.

Magufuli who is said to be in a critical condition has not been seen in public for weeks. This has led to many unconfirmed rumors about the President’s state of health.

There are also rumors that in fact, the President who won his second term in October last year, could be battling the dreaded COVID-19.

A Kenya’s Nation newspaper was quick to say that an East African leader had been admitted to a Nairobi hospital, without confirming their name.

However, others sources have told The Daily Express that Magufuli is in a Dar-es-Salaam hospital, suffering from Covid-19-like symptoms.

Other unconfirmed reports suggest that Magufuli was reportedly airlifted to the Kenyan capital this past weekend. He is said to be suffering from COVID-19.

When contacted by DailyExpress, Tanzania’s ambassador to Uganda, Dr. Aziz Ponary Mlima described the reports as “fake news” but could not however give information on the whereabouts of the president.

Tundu Lissu, an opposition figure in Tanzania, has since questioned why citizens have not been informed about the President’s State of health.

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

And now, several sources on social media have reported that there is heavy security at the VVIP wing of a prestigious hospital in Nairobi. The security point at the presence of a very big patient.

Magufuli has made international headlines for downplaying the virus, arguing that God has cured his people. He refused to put in measures to contain the virus and even declared Tanzania COVID-19 free in April last year. He has also discouraged his people from taking vaccines.

However, there is a concern about the number of high-profile deaths witnessed in Tanzania in the past several weeks. The Tanzanian Ministry of Health has also advised citizens to use traditional methods to contain a certain type of cold.

Covid-19 seems to be wreaking havoc in Tanzania.

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