The unsettled truth behind Tanzanian “Bulldozer” President John Magufuli’s death

DODOMA-(MaraviPost)-Several people questioned the mystery behind Tanzania’s President, John Pombe Magufuli’s death.

Magufuli’s death was pronounced by the country’s Vice President Samia Suluhu Hassan on Thursday, March 17 which came under scrutiny following weeks of rumours that he had contracted coronavirus after his disappearance from the public for over two weeks.

The rumours were disputed by the country’s Prime Minister Hassan Majaliwa who denied reports that Magufuli was ill claiming he had spoken with him over the phone and he was “fit and working hard as usual.”

According to reports, a number of people were also arrested in the country for allegedly spreading false information about the president’s health.

However, unconfirmed reports circulating on social media soon after the news of his demise was made public revealed that the president had died over 3 days earlier before the country’s vice president confirmed the death.

According to the country’s vice president, the populist leader died from heart complication after suffering from chronic atrial fibrillation for more than a decade.

Whether he really died of Covid-19 related complications or heart illness is still a puzzle, however masses have condemned his handling of the coronavirus since it started.

The country’s fifth president came under intense condemnation locally and international after he stopped sharing data on the coronavirus with the World Health Organization in April, 2020.

In 2020, Magufuli reportedly railed against masks and social distancing in the country and promoted steam therapy, herbal remedies and prayers. He also dropped a bombshell that he had secretly sent samples of papaya and goat and they came out positive which came like a bolt from the blue in the country engendering controversy on the existence of the virus.

While other African countries were seeking millions of doses of vaccine developed in attempt to fight the virus, Magufuli reportedly questioned whether the vaccines work and criticized people who received a dose of the jab aboard claiming they had brought viruses into the country.

Born on Oct. 29, 1959, in the district of Chato in northwestern Tanzania, Magufuli started as a teacher at Sengerema Secondary School after earning his bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Dar es Salaam.

He later obtained a doctorate in chemistry from the same university and started working as an industrial chemist before he joined politics under the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party.

In 1995, Magufuli was elected a member of parliament and was also appointed deputy minister of works. He gained popularity after re-appointed Tanzania’s minister for works and transportation.

In 2015, he became the country’s head of state after scooping 58% of the votes in presidential election defeating Edward Lowassa of the Chadema opposition party. He was later dubbed “The Bulldozer” because of his leadership style.

Magufuli was reelected into power after getting 12.5 million votes, representing 85% of the total votes defeating his main challenger, Tundu Lissu of the Chadema party who got 1.9 million votes during October 2020 election.

Until his death, Magufuli was still the head of state of Tanzania and he survived a wife, Janeth and two children.

Angella Semu

I hold a Bachelor of science degree in Agriculture Development Communication that I obtained from Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources. I previously worked with The Nation Publications Limited since 2018 before joining The Maravi post particularly on Agriculture Desk as an intern before I became a correspondent. Currently I am reporting for The Maravi Post mainly in International News and locally in the Southern region of Malawi.