The 5th President of Tanzania, died on 17 March 2021. He was the first Tanzanian president to die in office. Prior to his death, rumours speculated that he had contracted COVID-19 following months of denial during the ongoing pandemic.
Magufuli had not been seen in public since 27 February 2021 and rumours swirled online that he was sick and possibly incapacitated from illness.
Timeline of Magufuli’s movements, according to the Daily Nation
February 27 _:_ Last public sighting of President John Magufuli.
March 6: The date when then vice-president Suluhu later said Magufuli was taken ill.
Date not known: Magufuli’s condition suddenly deteriorates after less than 24 hours at the Tanzanian hospital.
Decision is reportedly made to fly him to South Africa, which has better facilities but doctors advised there was not enough time and was flown to Kenya instead.
March 7- 8: Magufuli is flown to Kenya secretly by air ambulance and lands at Wilson Airport. The runway is closed to other planes.
On arrival at the Nairobi hospital, he is intubated, a procedure where tubes are i inserted in the lungs to aid breathing.
March 11: Magufuli is flown back to Tanzania and arrives at Mzena Hospital. He dies shortly afterwards, according to the Daily Nation.
March 12: Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa says Magufuli is in Tanzania and “working hard as usual”.
March 17: Tanzania’s then vice president Samia Suluhu Hassan announces Magufuli’s death due to heart disease.
