- PRESIDENT Samia Suluhu Hassan has expressed her deep sadness following news of the murder of opposition party CHADEMA leader, Mr Mohamed Ali Kibao, demanding deep investigation to be conducted into the matter.
“I am deeply saddened to receive the news of the murder of CHADEMA leader Mr Mohamed Ali Kibao. I extend my condolences to the leaders of the party, the bereaved family and to his relatives and friends.
She insisted that Tanzania is a democratic country where every citizen has the right to life, while insisting that there is no room for any cruelty practice in the government under her leadership.
“I have directed the investigative authorities to provide me with a detailed report on this grave incident and any similar occurrences as soon as possible. Our country is democratic, and every citizen has the right to live. The government I lead, does not condone and tolerate such acts of brutality,” she said in a brief statement posted on her X handle.
These sentiments echoed President Samia 4Rs’ philosophy which stands for Reconciliation, Rebuilding, Reforms and Resilience.
Meanwhile, ruling party, CCM Secretary for Ideology, Publicity, and Training Mr Amos Makalla also extended message of condolence for the death of CHADEMA Secretariat Member.
“I have seen in the media, reports on the murder of CHADEMA Secretariat Member Mr Ali Kibao and I wish to extend condolences to the party for the loss of one of its leaders. I have been following this issue closely. As political parties, when it comes to matters of humanity, we put our political differences aside. I offer my condolences for this loss.”
“I urge the Police Force to fulfill its duty by mounting investigation into this matter. As human beings, we share in the pain, which is why I am here to offer condolences on behalf of the CCM,” Said Mr Makalla, while addressing citizens of Simanjiro District in Manyara Region.
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The Chairman of the CHADEMA party, Mr Freeman Mbowe said that the post-mortem conducted on the body of late Kibao, in the presence of the party lawyer, revealed that Kibao was severely beaten and had acid poured on him.
Mr Mbowe made the statement outside the mortuary at Mwananyamala Hospital, where party leaders and members had been camping since the morning to monitor updates on Kibao’s body.
Kibao was a member of the CHADEMA National Secretariat and Assistant to the Secretary-General. A few days ago, it was reported that he had been abducted by unknown individuals while travelling on a bus from Dar es Salaam to Tanga.
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Shortly thereafter, reports emerged that his body had been found in the NSSF grounds, Ununio, in Dar es Salaam and was later taken to the mortuary at Mwananyamala Hospital.
Equally, opposition party, ACT Wazalendo has strongly condemned the acts of abduction, murder and violence against politicians and citizens in general, with a specific condemnation of the killing of CHADEMA Secretariat member Ally Kibao.
Speaking to reporters at the party’s headquarters, the Deputy Secretary for Information, Propaganda and Public Relations, Shangwe Ayo, stated that Tanzanians have a fundamental right to speak and express their opinions freely.
Reacting on the death, the Police Force said it continues to undertake the investigation regarding the shocking death of Mr Kibao and a team of investigation of serious crimes from Director of Criminal Investigation (DCI) has been deployed to increase efficiency.
Source: allafrica.com
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Africa: Rwanda Gets a Grip Of Marburg, But Mpox ‘Not Yet Under Control’
Monrovia — The Rwanda Minister of State responsible for Health, Dr. Yvan Butera, cautioned that while the country is beginning to see positive signals in its fight against the Marburg virus, the outbreak is “not yet over”. He, however, expressed hope that “we are headed in that direction”. The minister said the epidemiology trend, since the disease was first discovered in the country more than a month ago, is moving towards fewer cases.
Dr. Butera, who was giving updates during an online briefing yesterday, said in the past two weeks, only two deaths were recorded while 14 people recovered from the disease. He said Rwanda was expanding its testing capacity with 16,000 people already inoculated against the disease.
The priority right now, Butera said, is “rapid testing and detection”.
Marburg is a highly virulent disease transmitted through human-to-human contact or contact with an infected animal. The fatality rate of cases, which has varied over the period, is more than 50%, according to the World Health Organization. WHO said the highest number of new confirmed cases in Rwanda were reported in the first two weeks of the outbreak. There’s been a “sharp decline” in the last few weeks, with the country now tackling over 60 cases.
At Thursday’s briefing, a senior official of the Africa Centers for Disease Control, Dr. Ngashi Ngongo, said mpox – the other infectious disease outbreak that countries in the region are fighting – was been reported in 19 countries, with Mauritius being the latest country to confirm a case. He said although no new cases have been recorded in recent weeks in several countries where outbreaks occurred previously – including Cameroon, South Africa, Guinea, and Gabon – Uganda confirmed its first Mpox death. This, he said, is one of two fatalities reported outside Central Africa.
Dr. Ngashi revealed that there was an increase in cases in Liberia and Uganda. He said mpox cases were still on an upward trend.
“The situation is not yet under control.”
Source: allafrica.com
Tanzania Confirms Outbreak of Marburg Virus Disease
Dodoma — Tanzania today confirmed an outbreak of Marburg virus disease in the northwestern Kagera region after one case tested positive for the virus following investigations and laboratory analysis of suspected cases of the disease.
President of the Republic of Tanzania, Her Excellency Samia Suluhu Hassan, made the announcement during a press briefing alongside World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, in the country’s administrative capital Dodoma.
“Laboratory tests conducted in Kabaile Mobile Laboratory in Kagera and later confirmed in Dar es Salaam identified one patient as being infected with the Marburg virus. Fortunately, the remaining suspected patients tested negative,” the president said. “We have demonstrated in the past our ability to contain a similar outbreak and are determined to do the same this time around.”
A total of 25 suspected cases have been reported as of 20 January 2025, all of whom have tested negative and are currently under close follow-up, the president said. The cases have been reported in Biharamulo and Muleba districts in Kagera.
“We have resolved to reassure the general public in Tanzania and the international community as a whole of our collective determination to address the global health challenges, including the Marburg virus disease,” said H.E President Hassan.
WHO is supporting Tanzanian health authorities to enhance key outbreak control measures including disease surveillance, testing, treatment, infection prevention and control, case management, as well as increasing public awareness among communities to prevent further spread of the virus.
“WHO, working with its partners, is committed to supporting the government of Tanzania to bring the outbreak under control as soon as possible, and to build a healthier, safer, fairer future for all the people of Tanzania,” said Dr Tedros. “Now is a time for collaboration, and commitment, to protecting the health of all people in Tanzania, and the region, from the risks posed by this disease.”
Marburg virus disease is highly virulent and causes haemorrhagic fever. It belongs to the same family as the virus that causes Ebola virus disease. Illness caused by Marburg virus begins abruptly. Patients present with high fever, severe headache and severe malaise. They may develop severe haemorrhagic symptoms within seven days.
“The declaration by the president and the measures being taken by the government are crucial in addressing the threat of this disease at the local and national levels as well as preventing potential cross-border spread,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa. “Our priority is to support the government to rapidly scale up measures to effectively respond to this outbreak and safeguard the health of the population,”
Tanzania previously reported an outbreak of Marburg in March 2023 – the country’s first – in Kagera region, in which a total of nine cases (eight confirmed and one probable) and six deaths were reported, with a case fatality ratio of 67%.
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In the African region, previous outbreaks and sporadic cases have been reported in Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Kenya, Equatorial Guinea, Rwanda, South Africa and Uganda.
Marburg virus is transmitted to people from fruit bats and spreads among humans through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected people, surfaces and materials. Although several promising candidate medical countermeasures are currently undergoing clinical trials, there is no licensed treatment or vaccine for effective management or prevention of Marburg virus disease. However, early access to treatment and supportive care – rehydration with oral or intravenous fluids – and treatment of specific symptoms, improve survival.
Source: allafrica.com
