EXTRA: Newspaper erroneously announces death of Tanzania’s new president

Samia Hassan, the new president of Tanzania who took over after the death of John Magufuli, has been pronounced dead by Daily News.

Oh sorry, that was a mistake: the Tanzanian newspaper later clarified and apologised.

On March 19, Hassan was sworn in as Tanzania’s president, making history as the first female president of the country and the only serving female executive president in Africa.

This followed the death of Magufuli on March 17, two weeks after he went off the radar, fuelling speculation of a COVID-19 diagnosis.

Congratulatory messages were sent to Hassan, nationally and internationally on her accomplishment.

However, in the Daily News edition of March 29, an advert supposedly placed by State Mining Corporation (STAMICO) congratulated Tanzanians for “mourning the death” of Hassan.

The advert has a photograph of Hassan alongside an inscription with the headline, “congratulation”.

“The board of directors, management and staff of STATE MINING CORPORATION (STAMICO) join fellow Tanzanians in mourning the death of H.E President Samia Suluhu Hassan for being Sworn in as the 6th President of the United Republic of Tanzania,” the advert reads.

Subsequently, the newspaper apologised for “inadvertently inserted mourning the death” of Hassan, instead of congratulating her.

The newspaper said it will publish a corrected version of the advert on March 30.

“The State Mining Corporation (STAMICO) advert that appeared in the DAILY NEWS of today, Monday, March 29, 2021 was inadvertently inserted mourning the death of H.E. President Samia Suluhu Hassan, instead of congratulating Her Excellency for being sworn in as the 6th President of the United Republic of Tanzania,” it said.

“We sincerely apologise to H.E. President of the United Republic of Tanzania and highly regret for any inconvenience caused by this error. The corrected version and apology will be republished tomorrow March 30, 2021.”