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Call for calm over Tanzania leader's whereabouts

15 March 2021 19:05 (UTC +04:00)

Tanzanian Vice-President Samia Suluhu has called for calm amid concerns about President John Magufuli's whereabouts.The president has not been seen in public for more than two weeks and there has been speculation he was outside the country - in Kenya - being treated for coronavirus, APA reports citing BBC.

Addressing residents of Handeni District in the north-eastern Tanga region, Suluhu said the president had asked her to pass his greetings to the locals and "urged us to continue living in harmony".

"I would like to assure you Tanzanians that everything is OK. It's normal for human beings to be indisposed due to a flu or fever or whatever," she said in a live address covered by the state-run TBC TV.

"If there is any time for Tanzania to remain united, it is this crucial period," the vice-president said, adding: "This is not the time to listen to rumours from outside (the country) which could confuse our minds."

Magufuli has faced criticism for his handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, with his government refusing to buy vaccines. The East African nation has not published its coronavirus cases since May.