After more than two weeks of speculations of the where about of Tanzania’s President John Pombe Magufuli, Vice President Samia Suluhu on Wednesday 17th March Evening Revealed the shocking news of the demise President Pombe.
The VP said the president died of heart complications while undergoing treatment at Mzena hospital in Dar es Salaam. A 14 day of mourning and flying of the Tanzanian flag at half-staff was declared by Samia.
Taarifa ya Kifo Cha Rais Wa Jamhuri Ya Muungano Wa Tanzania pic.twitter.com/LNi5CtoURm
— Samia Suluhu (@SuluhuSamia) March 17, 2021
Follow the announcement, Tanzanian Opposition leader Ziito Kabwe sent his condolences to Vice President Samia saying, “The nation will remember him for his contribution to the development of our country.”
Magufuli’s key Rival in last year’s October election has been claiming the late President was ailing from Covid – 19.
According to Tanzania’s Constitution, Vice President Samia Suluhu Hassan is supposed to take the reign of the presidency until the completion of the second term that the late President Magufuli won in October last year. Samia will be the first woman President in East Africa.
Tanzania’s Constitution, The Executive of the United Republic of Tanzania Part 1, Section 37 (5) says, “Where the office of President becomes vacant by reason of death resignation, loss of electoral qualifications or inability to perform his functions due to physical infirmity, or failure to discharge the duties and functions of the office of President, then the Vice-President shall be sworn in and become the President for the unexpired period of the term of five years and in accordance with the conditions set out in Article 40, and, after consultation with the political party to which he belongs, the President shall propose the name of the person who shall be Vice-President and such appointment shall be confirmed by the National Assembly by votes of not less than fifty percentum of all the Members of Parliament.”
Magufuli was Nickname “The Bulldozer” due to his reputation of pushing through policies, a trend that made him rise though political ranks and gain tremendous followers.
The late Pombe will go to down in history for having down played WHO Covid- 19 regulations. He at some point encouraged its citizens not to wear face mask, stopped reporting Corona infection numbers and claimed that God can cure the pandemic.
