Tanzania: Opposition MP warns government against ‘false hope’

Tanzanian opposition leader Zito Kabwe has warned the government against giving false hope to the public, as the number of coronavirus cases continues to rise daily.

He said the government needed to be completely honest and open about the progress of the virus.

Wednesday saw the number of coronavirus patients jump by 30, bringing the total figure to 284, 10 of whom have died.

The Prime Minister, Kassim Majaliwa, has urged Tanzanians to trust the government and the advice they are getting from medical experts.

He said it was important for the government to carefully asses each measure before deciding to impose any tighter restrictions.

Religious gatherings have continued after President Magufuli said the virus cannot survive in the body of Christ, encouraging people to go to church.

He has also ruled out a lockdown of the country’s commercial capital, Dar es Salaam, the epicentre of Tanzania’s outbreak, as he believes the hit to the economy would be too great.

[Photo: AFP]