Tanzanian opposition demands answers on Magufuli’s health

President John Magufuli has not been seen in public for about two weeks, raising suspicion he is receiving medical care.

Tanzanian opposition politicians are raising questions about the health of John Magufuli, the country’s coronavirus-sceptic president who has not been seen in public for more than a week. The 61-year-old Magufuli insisted for months that COVID-19 had been fended off by prayer, refusing measures such as masks and lockdowns, but last month conceded it was still circulating after the vice president of semi-autonomous Zanzibar was revealed to have died of the virus. “We’re informed when [former President Jakaya] Kikwete had prostate surgery. We’re told when [former President Benjamin] Mkapa went for hip replacement … What’s it with Magufuli that we don’t deserve to know?” opposition leader Tundu Lissu wrote on Twitter on Tuesday.