Tanzanian President Rejects Coronavirus Vaccine

Tanzanian President John Magufuli celebrates his win in the 2015 Election. (Flickr)

Tanzania has officially declared itself free from the COVID-19 virus, citing zero cases in more than nine months. At the same time, the country, home to nearly 60 million people, is facing international scrutiny as the rest of the world struggles to contain the rapidly spreading virus.  

Innovative or Ignorant?

While most world leaders have prioritized vaccine production and distribution, the government of Tanzania controversially took a stance of denial towards the pandemic, rejecting the use of the COVID-19 vaccine. 

Although COVID-19 cases steadily rose in Tanzania at the beginning of the pandemic, the Tanzanian government abruptly stopped reporting cases to the WHO on May 8, 2020. Tanzania, the fifth most populous country in Africa, has only officially recorded 509 infections and 21 deaths since March 2020. 

Denial Ain’t Just a River in Africa

Tanzanian President John Magufuli, who has been nicknamed ‘denier-in-chief’ by his critics, claims that Tanzania was spared from the pandemic as an act of God and that vaccinations posed a bigger risk to the Tanzanian people than the virus itself. This view was endorsed by Tanzanian Health Minister Dorothy Gwajima, who declared, “The ministry has its own procedure on how to receive any medicines and we do so after we have satisfied ourselves with the product.” Additionally, the government only reserves COVID-19 testing for those entering the country, meaning that doctors cannot accurately diagnose or effectively treat any infected citizens who enter medical facilities.  

Despite the claims of the Tanzanian government, there is reason to believe that the virus has had a drastic impact on the country. Major hospitals in the capital city of Dar es Salaam have reported unmet demand for ventilators and respirators, and even turned away patients due to overcapacity, furthering the suspicion of a coronavirus spike in the country. 

Compared to its neighbors, Tanzania has officially fared incredibly well with the pandemic. To the north, Kenya has recorded nearly 103,000 infections, while in the south, Zambia and Mozambique have reported 70,000 and 52,000 cases, respectively. The international community has become highly skeptical of Tanzania’s coronavirus figures given that borders have remained open, resulting in the United States Embassy issuing a statement warning, “The U.S. Embassy is aware of a significant increase in the number of COVID-19 cases [in Tanzania] since January 2021.”

Here’s the [Herbal] Tea

Magufuli, who possesses a doctorate in chemistry, categorically denies the scientific evidence surrounding COVID-19 transmissions and prevention. Instead, the government appears to promote alternative coronavirus cures and measures to the vaccine. In Dar es Salaam, street vendors have stocked their stalls full of herbal tonics promoted by Magufuli and Gwajima as ways to prevent people from contracting COVID-19. Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, the Director of WHO Africa, responded to Magufuli’s skepticism: “Vaccines work and [they] encourage the [Tanzanian] government to prepare for a COVID vaccination campaign.” Moreover, the WHO is “working to advise the government [and] provide them with the knowledge we have in order to make policy decisions based on data to enable the government to get on top of the situation.” 

Magufuli’s words and actions have drastic ramifications. Former Tanzanian Parliament member Zitto Kabwe warned, “As long as Tanzania refuses to be a responsible partner in this battle against COVID-19, the entire region remains vulnerable.” Magulfuli’s COVID-19 denial has permeated both national and local government, with officials mocking the use of masks. Even the Mayor of Kilimanjaro ordered people to take off their masks before a council meeting. 

International pressure is mounting over Tanzania’s approach to the pandemic, meaning that Magulfli must make a decision: maintain his position (and thus isolate Tanzania from the rest of the world) or face the harsh reality that COVID-19 poses a great threat to the Tanzanian people.