Tanzanian President John Magufuli declared Tanzania free from corona

Tanzania's response to the corona has been criticized for mixing "faith and science". In mid-March, while many countries around the world suspended all public gatherings, including religious services, the Tanzanian government announced that mosques and churches would remain open. At the time, President Magufuli, speaking in a church in Dodoma, said that churches and mosques must remain open because this is where "real healing" takes place. However, a few religious leaders took the opposite tack. Severine Niwemugizi, Roman Catholic Bishop of Rulenge Ngara Diocese and Bishop Benson Bagonza of the Lutheran Church, Karagwe Diocese have announced the cancellation of all church gatherings. A similar move was announced by Sheikh Said Haroun, who heads a mosque in the northern city of Arusha. Another mosque was temporarily closed in Dar es Salaam, but reopened after the president's remarks, which are quoted below. In his swearing-in address as the new Home Affairs Minister on May 3, President Magufuli (acting as if he were the high priest of the country) expressed his dismay at the path these religious leaders were taking, which he saw as fueled by people's fear of a lack of faith:

Let's ignore those who try to scare us because they are useless. But let us continue to pray to our God. God exists! There are even religious leaders who have forgotten the God they preached to us every day... and this is the time to test the faith of the leaders we have, even the religious leaders, said President Magufuli.

"Religious leaders command followers, and their word is synonymous with God's, at least for those who follow them uncritically. On May 10, Bishop Josephat Gwajima tweeted "Those who oppose the president are agents of Satan."

On April 16, the president implored Tanzanians to devote the next three days to prayer. A few days later, the Ministry of Health announced a day-long mass prayer rally against COVID-19 in Dar es Salaam. Prime Minister Majaliwa Kassim Majaliwa was the guest of honor.

Tanzanian President John Magufuli has declared the country "coronavirus free" thanks to the prayers of citizens.

"We decided to go this way, to depend on God, we started with God and we will end with Him. In reality, God has answered our prayers, the number of infected people is decreasing," Magufuli said.

“I want to thank Tanzanians of all faiths. We prayed and fasted that God would save us from the pandemic that hit our country and the world. But God answered us." I believe, and I'm sure many Tanzanians believe, that the corona disease has been eliminated by God," he told worshipers...His statements were greeted with applause and celebratory ululations. He made similar comments last Friday during a teachers' conference, declaring that "corona is over." "The Minister of Health told me that we only have four patients in Dar es Salaam, but that will not stop rumors to the contrary".

You can read more details about the topic of faith HERE  and HERE