This archive report was first published on 10 May 2020.
Published on May 10, 2020, Raila Odinga, a close friend of Tanzania President John Magufuli, has expressed concerns over the Tanzanian president's handling of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Speaking in an interview with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Raila Odinga stated that Magufuli's refusal to heed advice from regional leaders, including President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya, Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, and Paul Kagame of Rwanda, has raised fears of a runaway coronavirus crisis in the region.
According to Raila, Magufuli's policies have been met with skepticism, and the Tanzanian president has disputed the efficacy of testing kits in his country. He has also sacked the head of the country's National Referral Laboratory after random samples allegedly taken from animals and fruits tested positive for coronavirus.
As cases in Tanzania continue to soar, Magufuli has downplayed calls for a lockdown, instead encouraging his countrymen to 'chapa kazi' (work hard) in their farms and businesses. He has also backed a purported coronavirus herbal cure from Madagascar that is yet to be approved by the World Health Organisation.
Raila Odinga warned that the region risks descending into a calamity if Magufuli's policies continue, and urged for dialogue and cooperation among regional leaders to address the crisis.
