Tanzanian President, John Magufuli has announced that universities and sports events would resume next month, while believing that prayers had spared the country the worst of the coronavirus, even as critics say cases are rising.
It has been three weeks since the country last released official data on case numbers, which stood at 480 with 16 deaths as at April 29.
But the president who has played down the gravity of the pandemic in the country, said “we have decided to reopen universities starting June 1, 2020,” Magufuli said at a political event in the capital Dodoma on Thursday, adding that a decision on schools would be taken later.
He said sports events will resume on the same date, with spectators required to observe social distancing measures.
“I have not heard any sports person died from the coronavirus and that means sports is not only important for fun but also in the fight against the viral disease,” he said.
The closing of schools and universities, the halting of sports events and flight restrictions were the only measures taken in Tanzania to curb the spread of the virus.
On Tuesday, Tanzania lifted restrictions on flights and said those entering the country would no longer need to undergo mandatory quarantine.
However, while the US embassy said there was evidence of “exponential growth” and the opposition denounces a dangerous “coverup”, Magufuli is proceeding to open up the East African nation.
Zitto Kabwe, leader of the opposition Alliance for Change and Transparency (ACT-Wazalendo), said the government’s approach was akin to “bombing people”.
“Today, we heard that the government reopened universities and sports activities will resume. This is dangerous,” he said in a speech online.
A string of deaths in parliament led opposition MPs to isolate themselves, and there are increasing reports of “mysterious” deaths.
“What is reported is not actually what is happening,” said a health worker in one of the main government hospitals.
“I witnessed four people die… in one day in this hospital” with symptoms of the disease, said the worker who asked not to be named.
