By Aiyeku Timothy
Members of the European Union have expressed anger over the 27 million euros given to the Tanzanian government as COVID-19 relief grant.
Tanzania received 27 million euros from the EU to combat the virus, despite the president constantly emphasizing that the country has efficiently contained COVID.
In June 2020, Tanzania’s President John Magufuli declared the country “coronavirus-free” as he attributes this to prayers by its citizens.
“The corona disease has been eliminated thanks to God,” Mr Magufuli told worshippers in a church in the capital, Dodoma.
Magufuli also commended the priest and worshippers for not wearing gloves and masks to protect themselves from the virus.
“We need to be careful because some of these donations to fight coronavirus could be used to transmit the virus.
“I want to urge you Tanzanians not to accept donations of masks, instead tell the donors to go and use them with their wives and children,” he added.
It would also be recalled that during the opening of a new farm in his western home region, Magufuli said “Vaccines are not good. If they were, then the white man would have brought vaccines for HIV/AIDS.
“We Tanzanians haven’t locked ourselves in and we don’t expect to lock ourselves down. I don’t expect to announce any lockdown because our God is living and He will continue to protect Tanzanians.”
The parliament’s foreign affairs committee, led by chairman David McAllister, have, therefore, called for an explanation on why the relief fund from European taxpayers money was given to a country that has refused to observe the guidelines from the World Health Organization (WHO) on the ground that the virus no longer exists in the country.
Demanding answers for why the money was released, McAllister said: “The European Union granted 27 million euros of European taxpayers’ money to Tanzania to combat the effect of COVID. Now we have a regime in the country saying that there is no COVID in the country with rather bizarre explanations.
“So once again we have a government who’s refused to follow guidelines from the World Health Organization (WHO), a government that has refused to provide statistics and still we are giving them 27 million Euros. I will like you to inform members of our committee about the money we have given to Tanzania, what were the criteria for this money and especially what is happening with is money,” he asked members of the European Parliament.
He went further to say: “We are talking about European taxpayers and I have difficulties that we grant money to a government which obviously not trying to corporate in a decent manner. So, can you, please, answer my question and if you are not able now, I would expect you to provide us with written details within 48 hours. Thank you.”
Meanwhile, a herbal tonic was produced by Tanzania and was touted as a cure for Covid-19 even as it was not approved by the World Health Organization (WHO).
A number of African countries, including Nigeria, had invested in the ‘cure’ but it has not helped to cure the virus scientifically as the countries still battle with the virus in this second wave.
