Magufuli knew he wouldn't survive, reveals former security chief

Late President John Magufuli died on March 17, 2021, from heart complications at Mzena hospital in Dar es Salaam. PHOTO | FILE

By  Mpoki Thomson

Managing Editor of The Citizen Newspaper Mwananchi Communications Limited

What you need to know:

• Mabeyo shared that Magufuli confided in him, expressing his belief that he would not survive his hospitalization and requesting to be taken back home.

Dar es Salaam. Venance Mabeyo, a retired Tanzanian military officer who served as the eighth Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), has revealed a previously undisclosed conversation with the late former President John Magufuli before his passing.

Read: What Tanzania's top security organs did immediately after Magufuli's death

Mabeyo shared that Magufuli confided in him, expressing his belief that he would not survive his hospitalization and requesting to be taken back home.

In an interview with state-owned media Daily News Digital, Mabeyo recounted the events of March 17, 2021, the day Tanzania lost its president.

Read: Magufuli: The first Tanzanian president to die in office

Magufuli reportedly called Mabeyo and expressed his doubts about his survival, asking the CDF to command the doctors to allow him to return home.

However, Mabeyo explained that he did not have the authority to give such orders and emphasized that medical decisions should be left to the doctors.

This revelation sheds light on the moments leading up to Magufuli's passing, highlighting his awareness of his health condition and his wishes during that critical time.

Immediately after Magufuli's death, the next step was to announce to the public the passing of the Head of State.

Read: President John Magufuli to be buried on March 26 in Chato

"Three heads of security organs were present at the hospital at that time. The Inspector General of Police (IGP), the Director General of Intelligence and Security Services (TISS), and myself (CDF). We wondered how the news was going to be broken to the public," the retired military chief says.

Shocked by what had just happened, the country's top security officials had to seek guidance from the constitution on the next steps to take.

The Constitution confers presidential powers to the Vice President in the absence of the President due to resignation, illness, or death.

Vice President Samia Suluhu Hassan made the public announcement on national television, and she assumed office. She was sworn in as the President of Tanzania on March 19, 2021, under Article 37(5) of the Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania.

Magufuli's passing was attributed to heart complications and occurred at Mzena Hospital in Dar es Salaam.

The life and times of Tanzania's fifth President John Magufuli (1959 - 2021) pic.twitter.com/F75hKGOBf8

— TheCitizenTz (@TheCitizenTz) March 17, 2024