Tanzania's President John Magufuli Has Died

 

Tanzania's president has died. There were rumors it was related to COVID-19, however the official government statement was that it was related to his heart condition. Prior to this President John Magufuli was getting medical treatment.  Vice President Samia Hassan announced this in a television broadcast. John Magufuli became president Tanzania in 2015. At the time he was making ambitious promises in regards to infrastructure  development and reduction in government corruption. Many of these promises were left unfulfilled. That did not stop his reelection to the presidency. His failure to acknowledge the serious emergency of COVID-19 put public health at risk.The number of infected have not been fully tabulated in the country.  Tanzania will now have a president that was not elected. According to the Tanzanian constitution, the vice president takes over if death or resignation occurs. Samia Hassan will become Tanzania's president. She is required to finish Magufuli's term. There is no answer on whethter  Samia Hassan will run in the next election. The sudden change in administration and the current political challenges make the presidential election less predictable.