Tanzanian President Magufuli dies in office at 61

Tanzania’s President John Magufuli has died, according to the country’s Presidency.

Vice-President Samia Suluhu Hassan who announced on Wednesday, said Magufuli was 61 years.

He was Tanzania’s first president to die while in office.

His death was announced after more than two-week absence from public life, that led to speculation about his health.

The opposition said he was struck with COVID-19, but VP Hassan said he died from the heart disease that had plagued him for a decade.

She said burial arrangements were under way and announced 14 days of mourning and the flying of flags at half staff.

State television broadcast mournful and religious songs.

Magufuli, had not been seen in public since Feb. 27, sparking rumours that he had contracted COVID-19.

Officials denied on March 12 that he had fallen ill.

“Dear Tanzanians, it is sad to announce that today 17 March 2021 around 6 p.m. we lost our brave leader, President John Magufuli who died from heart disease at Mzena hospital in Dar es Salaam where he was getting treatment,” the vice president said on state broadcaster TBC.

Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa said on Friday that he had spoken to Magufuli, and blamed the narrative of the president’s ailment on some “hateful” Tanzanians living abroad.

Tundu Lissu, Magufuli’s main rival in the October election when the president won a second five-year term, had suggested Tanzania’s leader had been flown to Kenya for treatment for COVID-19 and then moved to India in a coma.

After the death was announced, opposition leader Zitto Kabwe said he had spoken to Vice President Hassan to offer condolences for Magufuli’s death.

“The nation will remember him for his contribution to the development of our country,” Kabwe said in a statement published on Twitter.