The Inside Story Of Magufuli’s Final Hours Of His Death

𝗧𝗮𝗻𝘇𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗮’𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗺𝘆 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗲𝗳 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗯𝗲𝘆𝗲𝗱 𝗠𝗮𝗴𝘂𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗶’𝘀 𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵 𝗯𝗲𝗱

◾ Former Tanzanian President knew he did not have long to live and wanted to be discharged from hospital so he could die peacefully at home

◾ The four-star general told his ailing Commander-in-Chief that he could not carry out his instructions against medical advice

◾ Magufuli summoned his Parish Priest and the Cardinal to perform the last rites on him just hours before his death

◾Senior cardiologist, Prof. Mohamed Janabi, who previously served as personal physician to President Jakaya Kikwete, was among doctors who tried desperately to save Magufuli’s life

New details have emerged about the final moments of former Tanzanian President John Magufuli, casting a revealing light on the circumstances surrounding his death three years ago today.

In a rare interview, the former Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), General Venance Mabeyo, told Daily News Digital how he was forced to disobey a direct order from the Commander-in-Chief.

In his final hours at the Emilio Mzena Memorial Hospital in Dar es Salaam, Magufuli knew he did not have long to live.

He gave the then CDF instructions to order the doctors to discharge him from hospital.

But the CDF was forced to disobey the order and assured Magufuli that he was in safe hands at the hospital, which is run by the Tanzania Intelligence and Security Service (TISS).

“You are the CDF, why can’t you order the doctors to take me home?” Mabeyo recalled Magufuli telling him from his hospital bed.

“I informed him (Magufuli) that as the CDF I did not have authority over medical issues and asked him to remain at the hospital as advised by the doctors ”

Senior cardiologist, Prof. Mohamed Janabi, who previously served as personal physician to President Jakaya Kikwete, and the then Executive Director of Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH), Prof. Lawrence Museru, were among doctors who tried desperately to save Magufuli’s life.

The two renowned medical professors were called to assist doctors at the Mzena hospital to help fight for the President’s life, according to Mabeyo.

The former CDF said on the day of his death on March 17, 2021 after his condition deteriorated, Magufuli asked him to summon his Parish Priest, Reverend Alister Makubi from the St. Peter’s Church in Oysterbay and Cardinal Polycarp Pengo.

The two clerics arrived in tow at the hospital and performed last rites on the President, who was a fervent Catholic.

“At about 2pm on the same day (March 17, 2021), we receive a call from the hospital that his condition had worsened,” Mabeyo said.

“When we arrived at hospital, we found him resting but he was unable to speak… By 6:30pm or a few minutes before 7pm, he (Magufuli) passed away.”

Magufuli died from a heart condition known as chronic atrial fibrillation at the age of 61.