His COVID-19 response has thrown the negative aspects of his presidency into sharp relief.
Tanzania
Politics and Society Tanzania elections set to widen Africa’s democratic deficit
The electoral commission and the state apparatus have prevented a level playing field ahead of the polls.
Politics and Society Presidential power play undermines democracy in Africa
Exploiting public office to win elections is common but Madagascar and Cabo Verde are making polls more fair.
Politics and Society Economic growth or civil liberties: the choice facing Tanzanian voters
Magufuli approaches elections buoyed by victory in the local polls and a solid track record on the economy.
Politics and Society A contested legacy: Julius Nyerere and the 2020 Tanzanian election
For all of the shortcomings of Nyerere’s regime, his ideas continue to inspire Tanzanians fighting for a more equal and democratic future, over 20 years after his death.
Africans rising The Lioness of Dar es Salaam
Barbara Gonzalez has no talent for bowing to the inevitable, neither does the word impossible exist in her vocabulary. At just 30, Gonzalez was appointed the CEO of Tanzania’s 20-time Premier League champions Simba Sporting Club, the first ever woman to hold the CEO position in the country’s top-flight league.
Politics and Society How to hold elections safely and uphold democracy during the COVID-19 pandemic
International observation will not insulate controversial polls – such as Tanzania’s in October – from malpractices, but will make them less likely and allow them to be exposed.
Africans rising African farmers are younger than you think. Here is why
Africa is far from having an ageing farming population. What is missing is a critical mass of skilled, young farmers with access to finance who could drive productivity in farming.
Politics and Society Tanzania’s Benjamin William Mkapa: a life of achievements and regrets
Mkapa, who penned an autobiography, had an impressive record in building state institutions. But his reign was marked by killings and political suppression.