President john magufuli
Ramaphosa: Tanzania's Magufuli played vital role in helping SA defeat apartheid
President Cyril Ramaphosa has paid tribute to the late Tanzanian President John Magufuli at his funeral in Dodoma.
Following the death of John Magufuli on Wednesday, Mongella spoke exclusively to Eyewitness News about the newly sworn-in President, and the first woman head of state in East Africa Samai Suluhu Hasaan.
President John Magufuli's absence has led to a flurry of rumours on social media, with the hashtag #Pray4Magufuli trending in neighbouring Kenya on Wednesday, with many speculating he may have COVID-19.
President John Magufuli, who is seeking a second term, has the lead in just over a dozen constituency results announced by the Tanzania election commission, out of 264.
Long deemed a haven of stability in East Africa, observers say Tanzania is sliding into autocracy under President John Magufuli and his Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party, which has been in power since 1961.
Mkapa died while receiving treatment at a hospital in Dar es Salaam, President John Magufuli said, without giving more details.
Magufuli, who called for three days of prayer from last Friday to fight the virus, is one of a handful of world leaders still brushing off the seriousness of the disease.
The Tanzanian Albino Society called on President John Magufuli to "intervene personally and denounce this bestial act and provide financial support for programmes aimed at eradicating this barbarism against albinos."
The European Union, Tanzania's biggest development partner, and the World Bank have recently taken measures to sanction repressive policies.
The move comes just days after Tanzania president John Magufuli fired the Agriculture and Trade ministers for 'failing in their obligations' to the cashew industry.
Minister Mwigulu Nchemba, who had led the home affairs portfolio that includes police and domestic security, was replaced by Kangi Lugola, who had been deputy environment minister.
Digital activists say the rules are the latest crackdown on dissent and free speech by President John Magufuli.
Nine demonstrators marched in Tanzania’s commercial capital, Dar es Salaam, on Thursday. They were quickly arrested.
Tanzania has become more socially conservative since the election of President John Magufuli in late 2015.
President John Magufuli is pursuing a much-criticised policy of deep public spending cuts.
Magufuli has sent shock-waves through the mining community in Africa's fourth-largest gold producer since his election late in 2015.
The opposition has accused President John Magufuli, nicknamed "the Bulldozer" for his blunt leadership style.
President John Magufuli has asked Jacob Zuma to help Tanzania to secure soft development loans from the New Development Bank, which South Africa co-owns with other BRICS countries, Brazil, Russia, China and India.
The government has released a statement in which it calls recent reports as false and ‘reckless’.