Tanzania's Covid-skeptic leader Magufuli dies after weeks of rumors about his health

[sandensea]

Tanzania's leadership faced calls for a smooth succession on Thursday after President John Magufuli, Africa's most vehement coronavirus skeptic, died following an 18-day absence from public life that drew speculation about his health.

An opposition leader urged the immediate swearing in of Vice President Samia Suluhu Hassan as successor, saying that would avoid a constitutional vacuum and prevent uncertainty.

Magufuli's death, the first of a Tanzanian leader while in office, opens the prospect that the country will gain its first female president.

The constitution says Hassan, 61, should assume the presidency for the remainder of the five-year term that Magufuli began serving last year after winning a second term.

At: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/tanzania-s-covid-skeptic-leader-magufuli-dies-after-weeks-rumors-n1261378

Tanzanian President John Magufuli and Vice President Samia Suluhu Hassan in happier days.

Magufuli, 61, had become Africa's most vehement coronavirus skeptic, and his death leaves Hassan as the first woman to head to East African nation of 61 million.

[WhiteTara]

1. Okay. Sorry for him and

excited for Tanzania. I hope she is capable and a good-hearted person.

[sandensea]

2. Same here. They've made a lot of progress since the '70s, when they were among the world's poorest.

Founded by Julius Nyerere, their party is very much along Bernie Sanders' line (social democracy, programs, etc.) - such that it's absolutely incumbent on Mrs. Hassan to level with her people.

I also hope that their president's death will help a lot of skeptical folks down there see the writing on the wall: that Covid is real, and that even healthy adults can die from it (there's a lot of superstition in Tanzania, as you know).

[WhiteTara]

3. yes. It might have the shock of even a famous

or powerful person can die of COVID. Death is a great equalizer, it comes for us all. Our choice how long we want to fend it off.