
Tchad: Union des Journalists Tchadiens (U.J.T) – Communique de Presse No. 016 (30.03.2021)








The man who believed in prayers, the man who hated statistics, science and whatever else that he couldn’t control. The man who reigned with an iron-fist. Who was starting his second term and his allies was mentally preparing the world for his third term by amending the constitution. The Tanzanian President has now suddenly died at the age of 61 years old.
This man was John Pombe Joseph Magufuli who was elected first as President in 2015 and again in 2020. Both elections marred with violations and irregularities. The opposition was hoodwinked and toyed around with. The state have monitored them and gone after them. All activists and whistle-blowers have gotten into trouble. Heck, if anyone tried reporting that was negative towards the state. They would get charged with money-laundering or get other charges that wouldn’t get them bail.
Magufuli silenced his critics. His party and allies did whatever they could in his time in office to block dissidents and make life harder for them. The opposition parties had to comply with more restrictive regulations. Media was more monitored and had more stipulations. The online content and everyone broadcasting had to be allowed by the state to do so. They had to pay fees as social media profiles, bloggers and vloggers, and so fourth.
Now, the man that was rumoured to have breathing problems and was under weather for a long time. The man who mocking and not willing to take a global pandemic seriously. The man who didn’t want to act upon the dangers of this virus. That man is now gone. They will say he died of a heart condition. That after the rumours had gone wild for days.
Those rumours can now be laid to rest. Magufuli is here no longer. We know however, they will not state it to be COVID-19 as the government like it’s President have been denying the dangers of this virus. They haven’t even taken the warnings or acted with caution. No, they have said national days of mourning and prayers are the solving remedy. Steamy waters and herbal medicine will cure it. Buying the miracle cure from Madagascar CVO – Tambvy, but that was clearly not the solution or the remedy for that matter.
Magufuli was a hero for many, but a tormentor for many as well. The President of Tanzania will go down in history. However, his legacy will be mixed. That’s because of his own actions. He came in with so much promise, but trashed that. Magufuli will be remembered for the self-inflicted and overbearing control. Where he made the party and the Republic laws after his whims. There will be the ones who will make him martyr and a legend.
Nevertheless, CCM will have him for the books and write his name in stone. Magufuli is now gone. He made his own bed and now he got to sleep in it. When you challenge a pandemic with no tools. It will not hesitate to find a body to further the spread. The President who praised his son for overcoming it and drinking lemon water. Clearly, the same didn’t work on him.
The state will not say it was COVID-19. Though breathing problems and heart condition is a neat way to conceal the truth. Especially, when the same Vice-President the other day said he was working behind desk and busy. Now, within 48 hours she says his dead. Funny that, right?
No, its not. It’s calculated. This cardiac arrest is as suspicious as Pierre Nkurunziza of Burundi last year. The same of state apparatus being mum or silent. Selling one story, but never telling the whole deal. This is the same, but it’s in Tanzania instead of Burundi. Peace.



On the 11th March the rumours around the whereabouts and the condition of Tanzanian President Joseph Magufuli had gone spiralling out of whack. There been even more striking rumours since then. Some has even stated that his in coma, cardiac arrest or succumbed to the COVID-19 disease and actually died. Therefore the lack of evidence and proof of his location puts it into more questioning.
There has already been rumours of his stay at the Nairobi Hospital in Kenya. Where he a day later was supposed to leave for India in a ventilator in a helicopter ambulance. While another rumour was that he was flying from Nairobi to Dubai and to final destination of Germany. However, nothing of that has been verified or proven. Not even his supposed stay and treatment in Kenya.
What we do know is that nobody has seen him since the end of February on the 27th February 2021. That is now weeks and its not getting better. The authorities are warning the general public of spreading “malicious” or “fake news” about President Magufuli’s current condition.
This all started with the supposed medical treatment for a possible “breathing problem”. We don’t even know about that, but that could be code for “COVID-19” as that is “extinct” in Tanzania. That is if the words of Magufuli have any value. Then the whole pandemic never hit the Republic and nobody got touched or spread of the virus there. Nevertheless, if the visitors or truck-drivers are spreading it across the borders in the East African Community (EAC).
So we are now 4 more days after the spiralling rumours… still no official verdict. His supposed to sit by a desk and do clerical work. Looking into cases and governmental questions behind closed doors. Nevertheless, the state isn’t delivering any news or proof of that either. They are only arresting people and warning people of speculating about the health condition of their President.
Well, we can only speculate as his incommunicado. The man who usually outspoken. Speaking in churches and on stages. The bulldozer is gone missing. His face should be on a milk-cartoon. Seriously, a man of his character shouldn’t be gone away from the public eye this long. Especially, when the man is the Head of State and its a constitutional question if his in jeopardy. Therefore, the need for proper resolution is dire.
Where is President Magufuli? Is he in Chato, Geita Region? Is he in Nairobi or anywhere else in the world?
The authorities shouldn’t arrest people for questioning or spreading possible rumours about their President. That just shows their lack of information and the lack of work done by the ones in-charge of government communications. The state could have just shown a video or a tape of the President. If not a recent picture and a written statement by the President. Alas, they are struggling to that. So, the minds starts wondering.
President Magufuli where are you and what are you doing? Tanzania Intelligence Security Service (TISS) either has taken detractors on rouse or the state playing a fiddle with everyone. If not they are in a power-struggle trying to figure out a successor. Whatever it is…
It is worrying how little that leaks or is proven. That a man can be gone this long in power. A man who has been so dismissing of the disease.
The truth will eventually come out. Now the rumours are running wild. However, at one point the state and the President have to show up. In one way or another. We just don’t have any idea of how. Peace.


