Tanzanian President John Pombe Magufuli has passed away at the age of 61, the country’s vice-president reports. He died on Wednesday following heart complications at a hospital in Dar es Salaam, Samia Suluhu Hassan disclosed this in a televised address to the nation late on Wednesday.
“It is with deep regret that I inform you that today on the 17th of March, 2021 at 6:00 pm we lost our brave leader, the President of the Republic of Tanzania, John Pombe Magufuli,” said vice-president Samia Suluhu Hassan.
It was revealed that Magufuli has not made a public appearance in recent time, prompting Tanzanians to ask for the whereabouts of their president.
He had first been briefly admitted to the Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute on March 6, but was subsequently discharged, Hassan said.
But Magufuli had again felt unwell and was on March 14 rushed to hospital, this time to the Emilio Mzena Memorial Hospital in Dar es Salaam.
In her statement: “Our country shall be in a mourning period of 14 days and the flags shall fly at half-mast,” said Hassan, adding that funeral arrangements were under way.
Magufuli last appeared in public on February 27, and the pious Catholic had missed three Sunday services, where he would often address the congregation, raising concern.
Meanwhile, the opposition leader, Tundu Lissu, said the president was on admission in a hospital due to COVID-19. Although it has not been confirmed. Lissu said that Magufuli was flown to Kenya last Monday but rather quietly. He added that Magufuli may have suffered a cardiac arrest in his illness.
