Africa-Press – Tanzania. PRESIDENT Samia Suluhu Hassan issued stern warning on few individuals peddling baseless claims on the real cause of the death of former President John Magufuli.
The president, addressing parliamentarians in the country’s capital — warned perpetrators of such rumours to stop immediately and let Tanzanians mourn and pay homage to the departed leader peacefully.
“What ailed him and the eventual cause of his death was made known to the public when I broke the sad news on national television back in March, anything short of or beyond that is a mere rumour that should be ignored in the strongest possible terms,” she explained.
She said those who preach the different cause of death are invited to come out with evidence to support their grounds.
“The government is ready to listen to them, if they think they know the source of the death, we invite them to come in public and tell what they know,” she noted.
In a televised announcement mid last month, President Samia, then the country’s Vice-President, said her predecessor had a history of heart complications and was indeed what he succumbed to after he had been admitted at Mzena Hospital in Dar es Salaam.
Also known as chronic atrial fibrillation, the condition occurs when the heart beats in an irregular way and is considered chronic when the disease persists for a long time.
When one has atrial fibrillation, the function of the heart as a pump is affected by this abnormal heart rhythm and it makes the heart to lose about 30 per cent of its pumping power.
While addressing lawmakers, President Samia challenged peddlers of such reports to do a ‘soul-searching’ and a repentance for being conveyers of such information which can sow seeds of hatred among Tanzanians.
A number of social media networks went on an overdrive following the death of Dr Magufuli with users peddling unfounded claims regarding his death.
The Head of State warned: “Those who think are beyond reach, must understand that we will get them, and if we don’t, let them submit themselves to God and evaluate their deeds to others.”
According to President Samia, spreading lies and introducing damaging discussion on social media is also against religious teachings, therefore the perpetrators must think of best option before causing pains to others.
