‘Optimistic’ Tanzania President says God has eliminated corona

Tanzania's president says God has eliminated COVID19 in his country. His own church now begs to differ.

From the local Catholic authority warning this week of a new wave of coronavirus infections, to government institutions now requiring staffers to take precautions, populist President John Magufuli is being openly questioned as the African continent fights a strong resurgence in cases and deaths. Some health officials who questioned Magufuli's stance that COVID-19 had been defeated were fired. The government promoted international tourism, eager to avoid the economic pain of neighbours who imposed lockdowns and curfews.

The president even praised Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi for not wearing a face mask during a visit this month, calling it another sign that Tanzania is free of the virus. But pandemic concerns have returned to the spotlight in Tanzania as the world focuses on the arrival of COVID-19 vaccines.

While other African countries seek millions of doses, Magufuli this week accused people who had been vaccinated overseas of bringing the virus back into Tanzania. He also questioned whether the vaccines work.

"If the white man was able to come up with vaccinations, then vaccinations for AIDS would have been brought, tuberculosis would be a thing of the past, vaccines for malaria and cancer would have been found," he said on Wednesday.

"Be firm," he added. "Vaccines are inappropriate." He urged the health ministry not to rush into vaccinations without being satisfied about their safety.