• Careers
  • Advertise
  • Contact us
Friday, April 17, 2026
  • Login
DiploBrief
Advertisement
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Foreign
    • EAC
    • Horn of Africa
    • AU
    • Middle East
    • China Briefs
  • Diaspora
  • Diplomat’s Corner
  • Untold Stories
No Result
View All Result
DiploBrief
No Result
View All Result
Home News

We tested pawpaw and a goat and they tested positive for Covid-19, President Magufuli claims

Michael Mureithi by Michael Mureithi
3rd May 2020
in News
0
We tested pawpaw and a goat and they tested positive for Covid-19, President Magufuli claims

Tanzania President John Pombe magufuli

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

• As of Sunday, Tanzania had recorded 480 cases of Covid-19 and 17 deaths. There are claims that the deaths might be more.

• Magufulisays he is considering reopening the country’s football league, and that he will not lock down Tanga or Dar es Salaam.

Related posts

Billions at risk as key digital connectivity projects stall on low absorption

Billions at risk as key digital connectivity projects stall on low absorption

2nd April 2026
Policy gains stalled by red tape as refugee work permit hits implementation barriers

Policy gains stalled by red tape as refugee work permit hits implementation barriers

28th March 2026

Tanzania President John Pombe Magufuli

DAR ES SALAAM — Tanzania President has sensationally claimed that they have tested pawpaw and a goat for coronavirus, tests that returned positive.

“There is something happening. I said before we should not accept that every aid is meant to be good for this nation,” Magufuli said in Chato in the northwest, Tanzania, questioning the quality of the Chinese testing kits.

The president said on Sunday that he had instructed Tanzanian security forces to check the quality of the kits, and they had randomly obtained several non-human samples —  a pawpaw, a goat and a sheep — but had assigned them human names and ages.

“These samples were then submitted to Tanzania’s laboratory to test for the coronavirus, with the lab technicians left deliberately unaware of their origins,” Magufuli said.

Samples from the pawpaw and the goat tested positive for Covid-19, the president said, adding this meant it was likely that some people were being tested positive when in fact they were not infected by the coronavirus.

Magufuli, whose government has already drawn criticism for being secretive about the coronavirus outbreak and has previously asked Tanzanians to pray the coronavirus away, said the kits had “technical errors”.

'NAFIKIRIA SIKU ZA MBELENI KURUHUSU LIGI IENDELEE'

“Mtu anazungumza funga Dar es Salaam, funga Tanga, SIFUNGI! Ni lazima Watanzania tuendelee kuishi, na kiukweli hata siku za mbeleni nafikiria hata kuruhusu ligi iendelee,” Rais John Magufuli#AzamTVUpdates #AzamTVUpdates pic.twitter.com/uFchbLmwdS

— Azam TV (@azamtvtz) May 3, 2020

He even said he is considering reopening the country’s football league, and that he will not lock down Tanga or Dar es Salaam.

“Tanzanians must continue living. I won’t lockdown Tanzania,” he added.

He also attacked international media from countries where “coronavirus is killing more people and not reporting about it” but reporting about Tanzania’s cases.

As of Sunday, Tanzania had recorded 480 cases of Covid-19 and 17 deaths. There are claims that the deaths might be more.

Previous Post

Tecra Muigai, daughter of Keroche Chairman and CEO, passes on in a tragic accident

Next Post

Was Tecra Karanja pushed to her death by boyfriend in Lamu?

Michael Mureithi

Michael Mureithi

Next Post
Was Tecra Karanja pushed to her death by boyfriend in Lamu?

Was Tecra Karanja pushed to her death by boyfriend in Lamu?

Speaking in tongues: Sonko seeks refuge in prayers after Uhuru men onslaught

Speaking in tongues: Sonko seeks refuge in prayers after Uhuru men onslaught

ADVERTISEMENT

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

Coronavirus: Foreign Affairs PS Kamau, UK envoy Marriott heed to self-quarantine call

Coronavirus: Foreign Affairs PS Kamau, UK envoy Marriott heed to self-quarantine call

6 years ago
New Japan ambassador hopes Ticad 8 will help enhance ties with Kenya, Africa

New Japan ambassador hopes Ticad 8 will help enhance ties with Kenya, Africa

4 years ago
Emirates will resume passenger flights amid the pandemic

Emirates will resume passenger flights amid the pandemic

6 years ago
Kenya-EU discuss implementation strategy for EPA trade deal

Kenya-EU discuss implementation strategy for EPA trade deal

2 years ago

BROWSE BY CATEGORIES

  • AU
  • Business
  • China Briefs
  • Climate change
  • Culture
  • Diaspora
  • Diplomat's Corner
  • EAC
  • Featured
  • Foreign
  • Horn of Africa
  • Lifestyle
  • Middle East
  • National
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • Recent
  • Uncategorised
  • United Nations
  • Untold Stories

BROWSE BY TOPICS

Aden Duale AfDB Africa African Union Al Shabaab AU China Climate change coronavirus COVID-19 DP William Ruto DRC EAC Eastern DRC Ethiopia EU Horn of Africa IGAD Kenya Kenya diaspora M23 Mike Sonko Monica Juma Moussa Faki Musalia Mudavadi President Uhuru Kenyatta President William Ruto Raila Odinga Rigathi Gachagua RSF Russia Rwanda Rwanda-DRC Somalia Somaliland South Sudan Sudan Sudan war Trade Uhuru Kenyatta Ukraine UN UNSC US William Ruto

POPULAR NEWS

  • UNFPA boss faces abuse of office, nepotism allegations

    UNFPA boss faces abuse of office, nepotism allegations

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Ruto KDF changes signal next military chief

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • The double-faced life of famed sharpshooter Dafton Mwitiki

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Willy Bett new envoy to China, Peter Munyiri in India as President Ruto finally names diplomats

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Women, CAS political rejects biggest winners in Ruto’s envoy jobs

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

DiploBrief

Your platform for foreign, regional and diplomatic news and analysis

Follow us on social media:

Tel: +254 769 256 833

Email : editor@thebrief.co.ke

About us

  • About Us
  • Advertise with us
  • Sponsored Post
  • Guest Writer
  • Careers
  • Contact us

Categories

  • AU
  • Business
  • China Briefs
  • Climate change
  • Culture
  • Diaspora
  • Diplomat's Corner
  • EAC
  • Featured
  • Foreign
  • Horn of Africa
  • Lifestyle
  • Middle East
  • National
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • Recent
  • Uncategorised
  • United Nations
  • Untold Stories

Recent News

Kenya, India close in on comprehensive free trade deal

Kenya, India close in on comprehensive free trade deal

14th April 2026
Kenya’s concern over flow of arms into Sudan faces scrutiny over RSF links

Kenya’s concern over flow of arms into Sudan faces scrutiny over RSF links

10th April 2026
  • Privacy policy

Copyright© 2024 DiploBrief

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Foreign
  • Diaspora
  • Diplomat’s Corner
  • Untold Stories

Copyright© 2024 DiploBrief

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In