President Magufuli: ‘Tanzania defeated Covid-19 last year and would win again this year’

The World Health Organization has urged Tanzania to start reporting coronavirus cases and share its data.

Tanzania is one of the few countries in the world to not publish data on Covid-19 cases.

It last did so in May, when about 500 cases and 20 deaths were recorded. The following month, President John Magufuli declared Tanzania coronavirus-free.

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But ‘concern’ is growing about the possibility of a hidden epidemic.

The WHO’s plea comes after the death of vice-president of the island of Zanzibar, Seif Sharif Hamad. Seif Sharif Hamad, died on Wednesday after his party said he had contracted Covid-19.

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President Magufuli with Namibian President Hage Gottfried Geingob

World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a statement: “We extend our condolences to our Tanzanian sisters and brothers on the recent passing of a senior Tanzanian leader as well as the government’s chief secretary.”

He then went on to urge Tanzania to start reporting Covid-19 cases and share its data.

Tanzania's President-elect John Pombe Magufuli (R) and outgoing President Jakaya Kikwete share a moment before addressing members of the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) at the party's sub-head office in Dar es Salaam on October 30, 2015.
Tanzania’s President-elect John Pombe Magufuli (R) and Tanzania’s former President Jakaya Kikwete

While it is difficult to know the extent of the spread of coronavirus in Tanzania without this data, he said that Tanzanians travelling outside the country have tested positive for coronavirus.

“This underscores the need for Tanzania to take robust action both to safeguard their own people and protect populations in these countries and beyond,” he said.

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President Magufuli (R) with Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame (L)

President Magufuli had previously played down the virus and refused to take measures to curb its spread.The health minister said earlier this month that Tanzania had no plans to vaccinate.

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President Magufuli with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa

Friday, while giving a speech at funeral of the head of the civil service of Tanzania, Mr Kijazi’s funeral, President Magufuli said Tanzania had defeated Covid-19 last year and would win again this year.

Then on Sunday Mr Magufuli encouraged people to wear masks to avoid infection. But he urged people to use locally-made masks, saying that some of the imported ones were not safe.