The President of Tanzania, John Pombe Magufuli has declared that the East African country is ‘coronavirus free’, while claiming the ‘success’ was achieved through prayer.
President Magufuli made the declaration on Monday, July 20, while speaking at State House, in Dodoma, during the swearing in of RCs, DCs and other officials he had recently appointed.
“We decided to pray to save us from the Coronavirus (COVID-19). God has answered our prayers,” President Magufuli stated emphatically that through prayer, coronavirus had been defeated in Tanzania.
Leaders who were sworn in include the, Natural Resources and Tourism Permanent Secretary Dr. Aloyce Nzuki and his deputy Dr. Allan Kijazi.
Others are the Water Permanent Secretary Mr. Anthony Sanga and his deputy Ms. Nadhifa Kemikimba, the Niombe Regional Commissioner Mr. Marwa Rubirya and Geita District Commissioner Mr. Fadhili Juma.
The President urged the newly appointed officials to keep marketing Tanzania as a destination of choice and also ensure to make the world aware of how the country is safe.
Mr. Magufuli noted that his country’s enemies will speak a lot, but the reality remained that Tanzania is safe, and that it was the reason why none of those at the state house meeting were putting on a face mask.
“Does it mean we are not afraid of dying?” he asked! “No, it is because corona has been eliminated,” he said.
“Tanzania is safe and this is evident by the many airlines that are bringing tourists,” he emphasized.
In a related development, Tanzania has issued new guidelines for obtaining COVID-19 clearance certificates for both nationals and foreigners living in the country.
In a statement released to the media, Ummy Mwalimu the Tanzanian Health, Social Development, Gender, Elderly and Children Minister said that the fee for screening is Shs40,000 for Tanzanian nationals, Shs60,000 for foreigners who are residents and $100 for visitors in the country.
Ms. Mwalimu revealed that travelers who have a COVID-19 clearance certificate will only be seen to be legal after it is stamped and verified electronically.
“The procedure for obtaining the certificate is clear, the screening results will be taken to the regional chief medical office and issued within 72 hours for those who don’t have the infection and their names sent to the borders for verification,” she said, adding that the tests can only be obtained at the regional hospitals and not otherwise.
Source: africatembelea.com
