This archive report was first published on 16 June 2020.
On June 16, 2020, Tanzanian President John Magufuli made headlines by declaring his country COVID-19 free. Just a week later, he took it a step further by ordering life back to normal from June 29.
Addressing the nation, Magufuli stated that the country had 'successfully managed the virus' and that there was no reason to continue restrictions. As a result, schools, nightclubs, places of worship, and other activities that had been slowed due to coronavirus fears were given the green light to resume normal operations.
Magufuli's decision to lift restrictions has raised eyebrows, particularly given his previous stance on the virus. In April, he accused the national laboratory of giving fake results and stopped issuing regular updates on the country's statistics. At the time, he claimed that he had sent samples of various animals and items to the lab with fake names, only to receive positive results.
Magufuli's comments on the laboratory's credibility have sparked concerns over the transparency of Tanzania's COVID-19 statistics. The country's handling of the pandemic has been shrouded in mystery, with little information available on the number of cases and deaths.
