Tanzania to re-open universities as virus silence persists

Tanzanian President John Magufuli said Thursday that universities and sports events would resume next month after he declared that prayer had spared the country the worst of the coronavirus, even as critics say cases are soaring.

Magufuli has repeatedly played down the gravity of the pandemic, and it has been three weeks since the country released official data on case numbers, which stood at 480 with 16 deaths on April 29.

However, while the US embassy has said there was evidence of "exponential growth" and the opposition denounces a dangerous "cover-up", Magufuli is proceeding to open up the East African nation. "We have decided to reopen universities starting June 1, 2020," Magufuli said at a political event in the capital Dodoma, adding that a decision on schools would be taken later.

He said sports events would resume on the same date, with social distancing measures taken for spectators. "In the current trend, I have not heard any sports person died from the coronavirus and that means sports are 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. Neighbours such as Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya imposed full lockdowns or curfews and movement restrictions. Kenya last week angered Tanzania by closing its land border to anything but cargo after a rising number of cases were imported from the country.

More than 100 truck drivers from Tanzania have been turned away after testing positive at the Kenyan border in recent days. However, Magufuli said Sunday that cases had "drastically dropped in hospitals following prayers."

He declared three days of prayer starting Friday to thank God, while Dar es Salaam regional commissioner Paul Makonda has urged residents to come together and play music and make as much noise as possible on Sunday to celebrate. Magufuli, 60, was elected in 2015 after winning support for his anti-corruption platform. Nicknamed "the bulldozer", his no-nonsense attitude initially won him praise, but he has been accused of increasing authoritarianism. Rights groups say his government has cracked down on the opposition and media.