Tanzania’s President John Pombe Magufuli Is Dead At Age 61

President Magufuli died on Wededay March 17 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. His death was announced on television by Vice President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who said Mr. Magufuli had died of heart complications while being treated at Mzena Hospital.

According to DW news outlet, the pandemic was declared in March 2020, Magufuli had downplayed the severity of the virus. At one point, he made fun of the country’s Coronavirus testing facilities, saying he had secretly sent samples of papaya and goat and that they came out positive.