Tanzania President Magufuli Says His Child Who Contracted Covid-19 Treated Himself with Lemon, Ginger

Tanzania President John Pombe Magufuli has divulged that one of his two children was recently infected with Covid-19.

Speaking during a church service on Sunday, May 17th, Magufuli said the child did not go to any hospital after the infection, adding that they used home-made remedies and he is now cured.

He indicated that the child, whom he did not name, was isolated in a room and only drunk a concoction made from lemon juice and ginger.

“Nina mtoto wangu alipata Corona, mtoto wa kuzaa mimi, amejifungia kwenye chumba akaanza kujitibu, akanywa malimau na tangawizi, amepona yuko mzima sasa anapiga push up,” said Magufuli.

Magufuli, who has come under sharp criticism over his casual handling of the pandemic, further hinted at reopening schools and allowing tourists back.

He insisted that coronavirus is not different from other diseases, adding that he will not let it bring Tanzania’s economy to its knees.

“Hatuwezi kubali Corona itawale, Mungu wetu atatawala… tumekua na magonjwa kama ukimwi…,” he added.

Two weeks ago, Magufuli ordered a probe into Tanzanian lab officials and donated Covid-19 testing kits, saying they were giving false results. This is after he allegedly sent samples taken from sheep and pawpaw with the results coming back positive.

"There is something happening. I said before we should not accept that every aid is meant to be good for this nation. The equipment or people may be compromised and sometimes it can be sabotage...," Magufuli said.

Last week, the US Embassy in Dar es Salaam warned of the increasing number of Covid-19 infections in Tanzania, adding that hospitals had been overwhelmed.

The Tanzanian government is yet to release any official data on Covid-19 since April 29th.