Tanzanian President John Magufuli, who drew international condemnation for dismissing the threat of the coronavirus pandemic and refusing to obtain vaccines for his country, has died at the age of 61, possibly due to complications from the coronavirus.
Magufuli, nicknamed “the Bulldozer,” won early plaudits after being elected in 2015 for his efforts to modernize Tanzania’s economy and tackle corruption and wasteful government spending. But he became increasingly authoritarian over time, centralizing the presidency’s powers and cracking down on journalists and political opponents. He died just five months after being reelected for a second term in a vote that independent observers say was marred by allegations of fraud and voter intimidation.
