Thursday, the loved, loathed, and feared president of Tanzania John Magufuli died as a result of a ‘heart condition’ at a hospital in Dar-Es-Salaam, an illness she said he had been battling for the last 10 years. Vice President Samia Suluhu Hassan said the country will begin a two week mourning period, as funeral preparations are underway. Magufuli’s health decline and subsequent death was marred by controversy. Reports show that the president disappeared from public view in late February, leading to a widespread speculation that he had contracted Covid-19. Government officials said the president was in good health and working hard. Several individuals were arrested in result of spreading rumors that Magufuli was sick. Magufuli left a significant legacy on Tanzania from infrastructure development to the suppression of political and civil rights. The constitution in Tanzania says that in unprecedented deaths, the Vice President should take over leadership and finish the term until the next election. As of late Thursday, there was no confirmation about plans for an inauguration ceremony. There is question to whether there may be a change in the direction of politics and policy in the country. The reason for this question of change is because of Magufuli’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic and in the areas of civic and political rights.
This tragic death of President Magufuli will cause unrest in the region for everyone. Some may be happy some may be sad about his death but his legacy he left on Tanzania and the rest of the world will not be forgotten. I believe that the country needs to maintain focus on this ongoing global pandemic and internal issues within the country. While they should mourn the death of Magufuli two weeks is a long time for a mourning. Long term effects in the country will be that they will have a new president in charge who has her own way of doing things. The surrounding region will have to get used to a different leader and ultimately create new relations with the country. This controversy within the country of President Magufuli’s ‘heart condition’
From a level of analysis perspective we can analyze this conflict from a individual level President Magufuli’s death will have a impact on the citizens of Tanzania. On a state level, the country will be mourning for the next two weeks because of Magufuli’s death. On a regional level the countries surrounding Tanzania will be forced to create new relationships with Vice President Hassan. They may also be forced to take in new refugees from Tanzania if social unrest continues to progress. On a global scale, countries that trade with Tanzania will be forced to create new trade agreements and new terms. President Magufuli’s death will not be forgotten.