Donation Amount. Min £2

Some Tanzanians have expressed concern over the whereabouts of Vice-President Philip Mpango, who has not been seen in public for over a month.

He was due at a science conference on Wednesday in Arusha but was instead represented by a cabinet minister.

His disappearance from public view has sparked rumours about his health.

But Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa has warned against such speculation, saying the vice-president was out of the country for official duties.  

This is not the first time there have been rumours about the state of the vice-president’s health.

Before becoming vice-president, Mr Mpango, 66, had served as finance minister under the previous President, John Magufuli, who died in office in March 2021. 

A month earlier, during the Covid-19 pandemic, Mr Mpango appeared at a news conference in the capital, Dodoma, to deny a rumour that he, himself, had died. He coughed several times as he paid tribute to senior government officials who had passed away.

Under the country’s constitution, if the president dies, resigns, is permanently incapacitated or is disqualified, the vice-president takes up the presidency for the rest of the term.

Mr Mpango was lastly seen in public on 31 October while representing President Samia Suluhu Hassan during a virtual meeting of leaders from the Southern African Development Community.

On Monday, the president had to cut her trip short in Dubai to deal with deadly landslides in the northern region.

Some social media users have been expressing concerns about the uncharacteristic silence of Mr Mpango, who is yet to comment about the tragedy in Hanang region.

Others say they are worried about Mr Mpango’s health.

Prime Minister Majaliwa, however, said citizens should not be speculating about the vice-president’s whereabouts.

“Ignore the crazy things on social media, Dr Philip Mpango is out of the country on official duties,” Mr Majaliwa said on Saturday.

Mr Mpango’s office did not immediately comment on the matter. BBC News

About IEA Media Ltd

Informer East Africa is a UK based diaspora Newspaper. It is a unique platform connecting East Africans at home and abroad through news dissemination. It is a forum to learn together, grow together and get entertained at the same time.

To advertise events or products, get in touch by info [at] informereastafrica [dot] com or call +447957636854.
If you have an issue or a story, get in touch with the editor through editor[at] informereastafrica [dot] com or call +447886544135.

We also accept donations from our supporters. Please click on "donate". Your donations will go along way in supporting the newspaper.

Get in touch

Our Offices

London, UK
+44 7886 544135
editor (@) informereastafrica.com
Slough, UK
+44 7957 636854
info (@) informereastafrica.com

Latest News

Maraga: It is clear that Kenya needs a reset

Maraga: It is clear...

Former Chief Justice David Maraga. PHOTO/@dkmaraga/X Former Chief Justice David Maraga now says the...

UN worried about well-being of civilians fleeing Sudan’s Blue Nile

UN worried about wel...

April 8, 2025 NEW YORK The spokesperson for Secretary-General António Guterres said the UN is conce...

Royal Anglian soldiers sharpen combat skills ahead of their Kenya deployment

Royal Anglian soldie...

Soldiers from the Royal Anglian Regiment have been stepping up their training ahead of a major depl...

Rwanda marks 31 years since genocide amid Congo tensions

Rwanda marks 31 year...

President Paul Kagame rejects sanctions threat over DR Congo conflict, tells foreign critics to ‘go...

For Advertisement

Big Reach

Informer East Africa is one platform for all people. It is a platform where you find so many professionals under one umbrella serving the African communities together.

Very Flexible

We exist to inform you, hear from you and connect you with what is happening around you. We do this professionally and timely as we endeavour to capture all that you should never miss. Informer East Africa is simply news for right now and the future.

Quality News

We only bring to you news that is verified, checked and follows strict journalistic guidelines and standards. We believe in 1. Objective coverage, 2. Impartiality and 3. Fair play.

Banner & Video Ads

A banner & video advertisement from our sponsors will show up every once in a while. It keeps us and our writers coffee replenished.