The family of the late former Tanzanian president Benjamin Mkapa dispelled rumours that he died after contracting the coronavirus.
During a funeral mass aired on state television, a family member named William Erio clarified that the 81-year-old had been suffering from malaria and died of a heart attack.
“Mkapa was found with malaria and he was admitted for treatment since Wednesday. He was feeling better on Thursday and I was with him until 8pm that day,” Erio said.
“After watching the evening news bulletin, he died of cardiac arrest,” he added.
Speculation about Mkapa’s cause of death began circulating after President John Magufuli announced his death at a hospital in Dar es Salaam on Friday without giving further details.
Further fuelling this speculation was the manner in which Magufuli has handled the nation’s COVID-19 response. The head of state has consistently downplayed the pandemic’s threat and failed to enforce strict lockdowns as in other nations.
Life in the country is pretty much running as normal with elections slated for October set to go ahead.
As of July 27, Tanzania has registered 509 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 21 deaths from the virus, according to the Africa CDC.
Mkapa is due to be buried in his home village in Mtwara on Wednesday.
