By AFP More by this AuthorDar es Salaam,Former Tanzanian president Benjamin Mkapa was suffering from malaria and died of a heart attack, his family said Sunday, scotching rumours that he succumbed to coronavirus. "Mkapa was found with malaria and he was admitted for treatment since Wednesday," family member William Erio revealed during a funeral mass broadcast on state television TBC1. "After watching the evening news bulletin, he died of cardiac arrest," Erio added, saying he wished to dispel rumours spreading on social media that Mkapa had contracted the new coronavirus. AdvertisementNO TRANSPARENCYPresident John Magufuli attended the funeral mass along with his vice president and prime minister at the national stadium. He also attempted, unsuccessfully, to mediate between Burundi's government and opposition groups after a disputed 2015 election plunged the country into crisis.

Source: Daily Nation July 26, 2020 17:05 UTC