Tanzania President orders reopening of all schools on June 29

President of Tanzania, John Magufuli dissolving the 11th parliament

By Our Staff Correspondent, DODOMA Tanzania

All schools in Tanzania will reopen as of June 29 this year after three months of closure due to the novel coronavirus, according to the directive issued today by the country’s president, John Magufuli.

Today’s announcement by President Magufuli makes Tanzania the first country in East Africa to reopen schools.

Addressing the parliament on the last day of the 11^th house, Magufuli said the decision was taken as the number of coronavirus infections “drastically dropped.”

The president said with continuous drop in coronavirus cases, there was no need to keep schools closed. He, however, tasked members of the public to adhere to health and hygiene protocols.

On June 1, universities and colleges in the country resumed educational activities with hygiene rules put in place by the country’s Health Ministry.

The Tanzanian president has been criticized for not implementing strict measures to curb the spread of the virus.

Last month, Magufuli said Tanzania’s economy must go ahead as it is more important than coronavirus, which has reportedly killed 21 people in the East African country.

Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa on Monday said there were 66 active coronavirus cases in the country.

He said the 66 patients were hospitalised in 10 regions and that the rest of the 16 regions did not have an active case.

Tanzania has confirmed 509 COVID-19 cases, with 21 deaths, 183 recoveries and 305 active cases when it stopped issuing daily corona cases data on 29 April this year, the data remains the same from Johns Hopkins University. - Africa