Tanzania has spent over six months trying to convince the entire world that it has completely gotten rid of COVID-19 infections through prayer, while refusing to take measures to curb the spread of infection. Despite such claims, the country's archipelago of Zanzibar continues to greet tourists despite a surge in cases.

- Tourists continue to visit Zanzibar as virus cases surge - 

Tourists are spending their holidays in Zanzibar, even as cases of coronavirus appear to be on the rise.

Tanzania has spent more than six months trying to convince the world it has been cured of the coronavirus through prayer. According to AFP however, dissent is mounting, along with deaths that have been attributed to "pneumonia", with even a politician in the semi-autonomous Zanzibar admitting he has the virus.

"COVID-19 is killing people and we see a lot of cases but we cannot talk about the disease," said a public hospital doctor in Dar es Salaam.

The President of Tanzania John Magufuli has continually watered down the seriousness of the pandemic situation, despite neighbouring countries closing their borders and implementing curfews and lockdowns.

Tanzania last provided public COVID-19 information in Apr. 2020, almost a year ago, which is the same time Magufuli announced that he had expiramentally tested a plethora of random items for COVID-19, including a papaya, a quail, and a goat, all of which allegedly tested positive.

He made claims of "sabotage" at the national laboratory in regards to unreliable COVID-19 tests, despite the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) stating that Tanzania's tests had been proven to be reliable.

By Jun. 2020, Magufuli claimed prayer had saved the country from the virus.

- Lack of government acceptance -

Depite the claims made by the president, citizens and residents of the country are occasionally spotted wearing masks, with some openly speaking about their fears.

"This thing is attacking and the government does not want to clearly come out and accept," said citizen Kuluthum Hussein, adding that she knows four people who have died after being told they have "severe pneumonia", all of which passed in the same period.

"I'm taking care of my life."

January, the Statens Serum Institut (SSI) in Denmark which works on infectious diseases, confirmed two cases of the highly contagious South African COVID-19 mutation found in travellers returning from Tanzania.

Notably, Britain banned all arrivals from Tanzania to stop the spread of the South African strain, while the US issued a travel advisory last week, labeling Tanzania as having "very high levels" of coronavirus.

Despite the silence witnessed by the government, the Tanzanian Roman Catholic Church warned worshippers to protect themselves.

"Our country is not an island. We have every reason to take precautions and pray to God so that we can move unscathed in this pandemic," read the letter addressed to archbishops and retired bishops.

- Secret data -

Moreover, in Zanzibar, the Vice President Seif Sharif Hamad confirmed that he was previously hospitalised with the coronavirus.

A doctor working at the coronavirus testing center in Zanzibar announced that well over 80 cases had been recorded on the island from mid-December to early January. "But we are not allowed to release the data," said the doctor. "We keep it for future use."

The rise in cases has led to mixed messaging from the government. Last week, the Ministry of Health issued a statement asking individuals to avoid gathers and to go to a nearby hospital if difficulty breathing is experienced. However, an official from the ministry, who requested his identity to remain anonymous, denied this being linked to COVID-19.

The Health Minister Dorothy Gwajima has said the country has no plan to import vaccines, which Magufuli has dubbed "dangerous", contrary to guidelines by health organisations.

January, the president appeared to accept that COVID-19 may still be circulating in the country, claiming that some residents and citizens had travelled to take the vaccine but "they ended up bringing us a strange coronavirus".

He said, "we need to put God first in fighting against this dangerous disease, but at the same time take health precaution measures to protect ourselves."

Backing the president's claims was an official from the Ministry of Health Mabula Mchembe, who allegedly visited hospitals in Dar es Salaam and announced that there were no coronavirus patients, just "rumours which may cause unnecessary panic".

In turn, Africa CDC Director John Nkengasong, said that Tanzanias stance was one he hoped will be reviewed immediately, adding that "this is a dangerous virus, a cirus that spreads very quickly, and a virus that knows no border. It doesn’t know whether you’re in Tanzania."