President John Magufuli of Tanzania died on Wednesday in the port city of Dar es Salaam.
He was 61.
His death was announced by the country’s vice-president, Samia Suluhu Hassan, who said the president died of heart disease. Magufuli has a long history of heart problems and wore a pacemaker.
“The president of the United Republic of Tanzania, the honourable Dr John Pombe Joseph Magufuli … [has] died of a heart condition, at hospital Mzena in Dar es Salaam, where he was receiving treatment,” she via a local broadcast.
Magufuli won a second term in October. He was heavily criticized by western world leaders and mainstream media, opting to treat the covid-19 with ” local herbs,” instead of the big pharma vaccines.
The US state department released the following statement:
“We extend our condolences to Tanzanians mourning the passing of President John Pombe Magufuli. We will continue to work with the Government of Tanzania to improve ties between the American and Tanzanian people,” department spokesperson Ned Price wrote. “The United States remains committed to continuing to support Tanzanians as they advocate for respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms and work to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. We hope that Tanzania can move forward on a democratic and prosperous path.”
Hassan will be sworn in as president to serve the remainder of Magufuli’s five-year term, becoming Tanzania’s first female leader.
South African President Cyril Rampahosa sent his country’s condolences over the death of President Magufuli, a loyal ally.
“I spoke to Her Excellency, Vice-President Hassan, this morning and conveyed the condolences of the people of South Africa to the government and the people of Tanzania, our sister country, on their loss. As we all know, Tanzania is a country that stood with us during our struggle for freedom and sacrificed a lot, halting and delaying their own development so that we could be free.”
