Rais anayemaliza muda wake Nkurunzinza pamoja na mkewe wamepimwa na kukutwa na Virusi ya Corona
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It is now emerging that Burundi’s President Pierre Nkurunzinza could after all have contracted Coronavirus (Covid-19).
Sources in Bujumbura close to Presidency indicate that soon after the wife, Denise Bucumi Nkurunziza who is the First Lady was evacuated to Nairobi after testing positive for Covid-19, President Nkurunzinza has been isolated and under care of a team of top notch specialized “presidential” medical doctors.
The country’s First Lady was airlifted and admitted at The Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi after she reportedly contracted the novel Coronavirus.
That the president has contracted the virus has raised panic in the corridors of power in Burundi.
Mrs. Nkurunziza, was airlifted to Kenya’s Capital from Bujumbura on Thursday morning, flying in on an AMREF plane. It is not clear why President Pierre Nkurunziza did not accompany her on the flight. She was instead accompanied by three bodyguards one who has also tested positive.
Burundi earlier this month ordered the country’s top World Health Organization (WHO) representative and three other experts coordinating the novel coronavirus response to leave the country.
Those expelled include the WHO's representative Dr Walter Kazadi Mulombo, the country's coronavirus coordinator Dr Jean Pierre Mulunda Nkata, communicable diseases head Dr Ruhana Mirindi Bisimwa, and a laboratory expert in the testing for COVID-19, Professor Daniel Tarzy.
In a letter dated May 12 and addressed to WHO's Africa headquarters, the foreign ministry said the four officials "are declared persona non grata and as such, must leave the territory of Burundi."
They were expelled and the health minister has totally excluded WHO, accusing it of unacceptable interference in its management of the coronavirus. However, the letter did not provide a reason for the decision.
The landlocked country of some 11 million has officially recorded 27 cases and one death from coronavirus. But it has taken few precautions against the disease and testing is low, fuelling concern that the true extent of the outbreak is not known
At the same time the Kenya government is on the spot for allowing Burundi’s First Lady, Denise Bucumi Nkurunziza into the country even after she had already confirmed contracting Covid-19.
The government has put in place strict conditions and protocols prohibiting entry into the country either by sea, air or road of any individual, foreign or citizen who has tested positive for Covid-19.
The move has raised a myriad of questions on why the government was applying double standards having blocked entry of its own citizen on account of not having tested for Covid-19
It is not clear how she was allowed entry into Kenya since the country has set strict conditions only allowing those who test negative entry. Mr. Nkurunziza has received global backlash for doing little to stop the spread of the disease that has shut-down the whole world.
Burundi is the only African country that did not stop playing football during the coronavirus pandemic.
The country also recently held its presidential elections which saw the governing party candidate, retired General Evariste Ndayishimiye, win with 69 per cent of the vote. The main opposition party has filed a case in the country’s constitutional court challenging the presidential election result, claiming there is evidence of fraud.
The country conducted elections in May 2020 amid the virus as Nkurunzinza’s party CNDD-FDD party secured victory with General Evariste Ndayishimiye poised to take over from the incumbent.
“Do not be afraid. God loves Burundi and if there are people who have tested positive, it is so that God may manifest his power in Burundi,” Evariste Ndayishimiye had stated before the elections.
Restaurants and bars also remain open in Burundi. According to a report by Aljazeera on May 14, the government also ordered a top World Health Organization (WHO) representative and three other experts to leave the country as WHO was accused of unacceptable interference in the management of coronavirus in Burundi.
Burundi expels WHO officials coordinating coronavirus response
In a letter addressed to WHO's Africa headquarters, the foreign ministry says the four officials must leave by Friday.
Those expelled include the WHO's representative Dr Walter Kazadi Mulombo, the country's coronavirus coordinator Dr Jean Pierre Mulunda Nkata, communicable diseases head Dr Ruhana Mirindi Bisimwa, and a laboratory expert in the testing for COVID-19, Professor Daniel Tarzy.
In a letter dated May 12 and addressed to WHO's Africa headquarters, the foreign ministry said the four officials "are declared persona non grata and as such, must leave the territory of Burundi."
They were expelled and the health minister has totally excluded WHO, accusing it of unacceptable interference in its management of the coronavirus.
However, the letter did not provide a reason for the decision.
The landlocked country of some 11 million has officially recorded 27 cases and one death from coronavirus. But it has taken few precautions against the disease and testing is low, fuelling concern that the true extent of the outbreak is not known
Source:
Burundi’s President Pierre Nkurunzinza Now Tests Positive For Covid-19