Tanzania’s controversial president, John Magufuli, has died at the age of 61. The son of a subsistence farmer acted to become president in 2015 and was praised for his non-nonsense approach.
He is known as ‘The Bulldozer’ and has gained international fame for his response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Here are some of his views, in his own words.
About coronavirus
“I want to thank Tanzanians of all faiths. We prayed and fasted for God to save us from the pandemic that hit our country and the world. But God has answered us. I believe, and I am sure many Tanzanians believe the coronary heart disease. was eliminated by God, ‘he told a church in the capital, Dodoma, in June 2020.
“We have to be careful, because some of these donations to fight coronavirus can be used to transmit the virus. I want to encourage Tanzanians not to accept donations of masks, but to tell the donors to share them with them. women and children to go use, “he added.
He is a devout Catholic and makes many comments about the virus at church services.
Last March, he said, “Coronavirus, which is a devil, can not survive in the body of Christ … It will burn immediately.”
Two months later at the mass in his hometown of Chato, he said:
“We have had a number of viral diseases, including AIDS and measles. Our economy must come first. It must not sleep … Life must go on … Countries [elsewhere] in Africa come here to buy food in the coming years … they are going to suffer as a result of the strike of their economy. ‘
At the funeral of a top presidential aide on February 19 – and after the death of Zanzibar’s vice president of Covid-19 earlier this month – he urged Tanzanians not to panic.
“It is possible that this is another test, but with God we will win. Let us not be afraid of one another, for we will not overcome … God cannot leave this people.”
Under Restriction
‘Our founding father was not someone who was ordered to say what he should do … Those who devise these kinds of rules [lockdown] is accustomed to making these precepts which our founding father refused, ‘said Magufuli, referring to the custom of the first leader of Tanzania, Julius Nyerere, to reject advice from Western countries.
On coronavirus tests
He questioned the effectiveness of Covid tests in May, the last time the country published data on coronavirus cases and deaths.
After sending several animals and fruits to look for the virus, he said a papaya, a quail and a goat all tested positive.
“So many times I have insisted that not everything you get is good. People can be used, that equipment can be used … but it can also sabotage, because it is warfare.”
On Covid vaccines
“The Ministry of Health must be careful, they must not be in a hurry to try these vaccines without doing research. Not every vaccine is important to us, we must be careful. We must not be used as ‘guinea pigs’. , “Mr. Magufuli in January.
“Vaccinations are dangerous. If the white man could come up with vaccinations, he should have found a vaccine for AIDS, cancer and TB by now.”
About corruption
“The way to treat a boiling point is to squeeze it out, and I made it my responsibility to do so. I know it’s a pain to express a boiling point, but unfortunately there is no two ways about it, “Magufuli told MPs after his 2015 election, about his quest to eradicate corruption and lazy workers.
Nearly two years later, after firing about 10,000 civil servants because they had false education certificates, he said, “These people hold government positions but have no qualifications … they rob us just like other ordinary criminals.”
On pregnant schoolgirls
“As long as I am president … no pregnant student may return to school … After you become pregnant, you are done,” he said in June 2017, adding that young mothers will be distracted in class.
After calculating some math sums, she would ask the teacher in the classroom, ‘Let me go out and breastfeed my crying baby. ‘
About population growth
President Magufuli urged Tanzanian women to “release their ovaries” and have more children.
“If you have a large population, you are building the economy. That’s why China’s economy is so big,” Reuters said in June 2019.
“I know those who would like to block ovaries will complain about my comments. Release your ovaries, let them block theirs.”
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About leadership
“I want you Tanzanians to believe that you have a real president, a real rock. I can not be threatened and I am not threatened,” he said. Magufuli said in March 2018.
About censorship
“I want to say media owners: be careful, keep an eye on it. If you think you have such freedom, [it is] not to that extent, ”he said in 2017, reminding journalists of the new laws and a new code of conduct overseen by the Ministry of Information.
About his education
“Our house was thatched and like many boys I was assigned to herd cattle as well as sell milk and fish to support my family,” he said during his 2015 election campaign.
“I know what it means to be poor. I will strive to improve people’s well-being.”
About his legacy
“One day you will remember me … I know that one day you will remember me, not for bad things, but for good deeds … because I sacrificed my life for the poor in Tanzania,” he said in a video that reappears after his death.