Pombe Magufuli directs Tanzanians to start wearing masks as Covid19 kills

Story by Oduch Brian

Pombe Magufuli, Tanzania’s President bows down to the pressure of Covid19 urging members of the public to wear masks.

The prayer warrior statesman has made a U-turn on the pandemic’s existence. However, In his address He has insisted that Tanzanians should only don facemasks produced locally citing the imported ones as dangerous.

Mugufuli’s turnaround on the existence of COVID-19 follows serial deaths in the country including that of the prominent leader Secretary of State John William Kijazi.

Earlier, World Health Organization made another request to the East african nation to produce Covid19 statistics promising to help the Tanzania Government curb the deadly virus.

The WHO directed Tanzania to take “robust action” after people travelling from the country tested positive for Covid-19

Tanzania is one of the few countries in the world to not publish data on Corona cases that has currently killed millions of people world wide.

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

But concern is growing about the possibility of a hidden epidemic that has hit the nation.

Last week, in a sympathetic mood, Pombe asked members of the public to take a three day prayer and fasting session against the pandemic as more people tested positive for the virus and many succumbed to the disease.

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.

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.

He also said the situation remains very concerning.
“I renew my call for Tanzania to start reporting COVID-19 cases and share data. I also call on Tanzania to implement the public health measures that we know work in breaking the chains of transmission, and to prepare for vaccination.”