Amidst scotch rumours that former Tanzanian president, Benjamin Mkapa died as a real of Coronavirus, his family has come out to clarify that he was suffering from malaria and died of a heart attack.
A family member, William Erio made this known yesterday during a funeral mass broadcast on state Television TBC1.
“Mkapa was found with malaria and he was admitted for treatment since Wednesday,” Erio noted.
“He was feeling better on Thursday and I was with him until 8:00 pm that day,” Erio said.
“After watching the evening news bulletin, he died of cardiac arrest,” Erio added, saying he wished to dispel rumours spreading on social media that Mkapa had contracted the new coronavirus.
Mkapa, who ruled the East African country for two terms from 1995 to 2005, died early Friday aged 81 in a Dar es Salaam hospital but the government did not reveal the cause of the death.
Photo Source: ACI Africa
