“What is happening in Tanzania?” I have received this question from friends, family and colleagues abroad. Simply put, we are living the hellish version of “Alice in Wonderland.” We have all gone mad. It is difficult to explain to outsiders how we got here – a nation of 60 million people, subdued and sheepishly being led to covid-19 slaughter. All of this because of one man and his negative influence: President John Magufuli.
Every day, Tanzanians wake up to dozens of new obituaries – and this from a tight circle of people in mainly urban centers. What is happening among the poor and those in our villages is surely more dire. The latest high-profile tragedy was the death of a university professor, where the family lost their parents and grandparents in a span of 28 days. Yet the words ‘coronavirus’ and ‘covid-19’ were omitted in all reports because it is taboo. Tanzanian doctors are even forbidden to diagnose covid-19 or to certify death by the virus.
Tanzanian leaders have done nothing to address this disaster – from the President to the Minister of Health, all the way to members of parliament, which is dominated by the ruling party following a sham election in October 2020. They are all quiet, actively denying the pandemic and peddling dangerous lies that are contrary to best public health guidelines.
Notably, the Minister of Health released a video, promoting the benefits of steam inhalation in combating “pneumonia.” Her ministry has also made it clear that it has no intention of acting on or welcoming vaccinations into the country. In another shocking statement, MP Bishop Gwajima recently stated that people were not dying from covid-19, but from fear.
The question is: Why has Tanzania’s leadership so utterly failed?
As for Magufuli, he has shown a repeated lack of empathy over the years, so his current stance is not surprising. For him, admitting that there is a pandemic would somehow sully his reputation as an effective leader; it would made make him look bad on the global stage and tarnish the reputation of the country as somehow weak
When it comes to our other so-called leaders, I have identified 3 categories.
One: The true believers who simply parrot the nonsense being peddled by Magufuli.
Two: The opportunists who know very well that things are very wrong but choose to mimic the lies and the bogus covid-19 remedies – like “praying it away” – because there are political and economic benefits to being on the good side of Magufuli.
And three: The cowards who, though they know that Tanzanians are in big trouble, choose to remain quiet for fear of retaliation and retribution.
Yes, Magufuli is vindictive and his attack dogs – at the Office of Public Prosecution, the police, and the secret service, for example – are vicious. But there are times, like today, when duty and principle must elevate above simple self-preservation.
A crucial exception to the ongoing madness has been Tanzanian religious leaders. There are several who have bravely stood up and made unequivocal statements on the presence of covid-19, on its devasting impact, and on the need to follow basic safety measures. Importantly, these statements have been effective. More and more people are indeed wearing masks and adhering to social distancing measures. Thus, lives are being saved.
Nevertheless, amidst the overall madness, one thing has become abundantly clear to Tanzanians: Our elected officials and our senior public servants – those we rely on to act in good faith and in our collective interest – do not care about us. Blinded by loyalty and nonsense, their selfish interests have plunged our country into some truly dark days.
Marita Sarungi Tsehai is a communications and media expert and the founder of #ChangeTanzania, an online citizen movement that advocates for human rights and good governance in Tanzania. You can follow her on Twitter at: @MariaSTsehai
DISCLAIMER: The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of Vanguard Africa or the Vanguard Africa Foundation.