Tanzanian President, John Pombe Joseph Magufuli died of heart complications on Wednesday evening, March 17, 2021.
Mr. Magufuli shared his thoughts on a number of national and global issues, including coronavirus, leadership, corruption, and pregnant Schoolgirls.
Below, African Entertainment presents some of his quotes on the various issues mentioned above.
Corruption
During his tenure as President, Mr. Magufuli sacked an estimated 10,000 civil servants for allegedly having fake education certificates. According to him, “These people occupied government positions but had no qualifications… they robbed us just like other common criminals.”
“The way to treat a boil is to squeeze it out, and I have made it my responsibility to do that. I know squeezing out a boil hurts but unfortunately there are no two ways about it,” Mr Magufuli told MPs after his election in 2015, about his drive to root out corruption and lazy workers,” he indicated.
Population Growth
Speaking on population growth, he encouraged women to set their “ovaries free” and give birth to more children.
He was once quoted by Reuters in June 2019 as saying “When you have a big population you build the economy. That’s why China’s economy is so huge.”
He said further that “I know that those who like to block ovaries will complain about my remarks. Set your ovaries free, let them block theirs.”
Leadership
“I want you Tanzanians to believe that you have a real president, a real rock. I cannot be threatened and I am not threatened,” Mr Magufuli is quoted as saying in March 2018.
Pregnant Schoolgirls
Regarding pregnant girls returning to school, he reportedly vowed not to allow that happen.
He was quoted in June 2017 as saying that “As long as I am president… no pregnant student will be allowed to return to school… After getting pregnant, you are done.”
“After calculating a few mathematics sums, she’d be asking the teacher in the classroom: ‘Let me go out and breastfeed my crying baby.’”
Covid-19
He gained negative comments from around the world for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic in Tanzania.
“I want to thank Tanzanians of all faiths. We have been praying and fasting for God to save us from the pandemic that has afflicted our country and the world. But God has answered us. I believe, and I’m certain many Tanzanians believe the corona disease has been eliminated by God,” he was quoted by BBC as telling worshippers in a church in Tanzania’s capital, Dodoma, in June 2020, that “We need to be careful because some of these donations to fight coronavirus could be used to transmit the virus. I want to urge you Tanzanians not to accept donations of masks, instead tell the donors to go and use them with their wives and children.”
“Coronavirus, which is a devil, cannot survive in the body of Christ… It will burn instantly,” according to him.
“We have had a number of viral diseases, including Aids and measles. Our economy must come first. It must not sleep… Life must go on… Countries [elsewhere] in Africa will be coming here to buy food in the years to come… they will be suffering because of shutting down their economy.”
“It is possible this is another test but with God we will win. Let’s not scare each other because we will not overcome… God cannot forsake this nation.”
“Our founding father was not someone to be directed to be told what to do… Those who devise these kinds of rules [lockdown] are used to making these directives that our founding father refused,” he noted.
“So many times, I have insisted that not everything that you are given is good. There could be people being used, that equipment could be used… but it could also be sabotage because this is warfare.”
“The Ministry of Health should be careful, they should not hurry to try these vaccines without doing research, not every vaccine is important to us, we should be careful. We should not be used as ‘guinea pigs’.”
“Vaccinations are dangerous. If the white man was able to come up with vaccinations, he should have found a vaccination for Aids, cancer and TB by now.”
Censorship
Speaking on media censorship, he noted in 2017 that “I would like to tell media owners – be careful, watch it. If you think you have that kind of freedom, [it is] not to that extent.”
Family Values and upbringing
Touching on his upbringing and family values, he had this to say during his 2015 election campaign: “Our home was grass-thatched, and like many boys I was assigned to herd cattle, as well as selling milk and fish to support my family.”
“I know what it means to be poor. I will strive to help improve people’s welfare,” according to him.
About Mr. Magufuli
He was aged 61. Mr. Magufuli, an African politician and a son of one Tanzania’s subsistence farmer, came to power in 2015.
Mr Magufuli was the fifth President of Tanzania, and had been in office from 2015 till his death.
He served as the chairman of the Southern African Development Community from 2019–2020.
The late President was born on October 29, 1959 (age 61 years) in Chato, Tanzania.
He was married to Janet Magufuli. His children are Jessica Magufuli and Joseph Magufuli.
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