Tanzania summons US ambassador over COVID-19

Tanzania's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on behalf of the government has summoned the acting United States' ambassador, Inmi Patterson, this week over COVID-19.

According to a statement posted on the Ministry’s Twitter page, Ambassador Inmi Patterson was summoned to the Ministry where she was engaged by Permanent Secretary Colonel Wilbert Ibuge.

This is coming as cases in the African country have risen to a total of 509 infections and 21 deaths, according to Worldometers.

The embassy in a May 13 advisory said the risk of virus contamination remained extremely high in Dar es Salaam and in other parts of the country.

The government said the information was untrue and could have triggered distress among Tanzanians and foreigners. Ibuge also stressed that ambassadors were free to demand factual and official information before putting the same out in the public.

The statement had also pointed out that since late April no official figures had been released and also that hospitals in Dar were overwhelmed. No evidence was adduced for the claims. Days later president Magufuli declared that the country was winning the battle against the virus with God’s help.

Africa News