Tanzania's president John Magufuli dies aged 61

Tanzania's President John Magufuli has died aged 61, the country's vice-president has announced.

He died on Wednesday from heart complications at a hospital in Dar es Salaam, Samia Suluhu Hassan said in an address on state television.

Magufuli had not been seen in public for more than two weeks, and rumours had been circulating about his health.

Opposition politicians said last week that he had contracted Covid-19, but this has not been confirmed.

Magufuli was one of Africa's most prominent coronavirus sceptics, and called for prayers and herbal-infused steam therapy to counter the virus.

It is with deep regret that I inform you that today... we lost our brave leader, the president of the Republic of Tanzania, John Pombe Magufuli, Vice-President Hassan said in the announcement.

She said there would be 14 days of national mourning and flags would fly at half mast.

Mr Magufuli was last seen in public on 27 February, but Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa insisted last week that the president was "healthy and working hard".

He blamed the rumours of the president's ill-health on "hateful" Tanzanians living abroad.

When Covid-19 arrived in Tanzania, Magufuli called on people to go to churches and mosques to pray. 

Coronavirus, which is a devil, cannot survive in the body of Christ... It will burn instantly, he said.

He declared Tanzania "Covid-19 free" last June, saying the virus had been eradicated by three days of national prayer.

He also mocked the efficacy of masks, expressed doubts about testing, and teased neighbouring countries which imposed health measures to curb the virus.

Tanzania has not published details of its coronavirus cases since May, and the government has refused to purchase vaccines.

On Monday, police said they had arrested four people on suspicion of spreading rumours on social media that the president was ill.

To spread rumours that he's sick smacks of hate, Majaliwa said at the time.

John Magufuli at a glance

• Born in Chato, north-west Tanzania, in 1959
• Studied chemistry and maths at the University of Dar es Salaam
• Worked as a chemistry and maths teacher
• First elected as an MP in 1995
• Became a cabinet minister in 2000
• First elected president in 2015