Burundi President Pierre Nkurunziza died on Tuesday in what the government said was a result of a cardiac arrest. He was set to retire in August after completed controversial elections.
A day after he died, reports emerged that he had died from the deadly Covid-19. On Wednesday, his mother, Domtille Minani is reported to have died, also from Covid-19.
At the same time, a sister to Pierre Nkurunziza is said to be hospitalized in Bujumbura under intensive care. The first lady, wife to Pierre Nkurunziza was hospitalized in Nairobi after being flown in to be treated of Covid-19.
The President-Elect, Everiste Ndayishimiye, who was set to take over in August is also reported to be hospitalized in Bujumbura.
The Speaker of Parliament and one who is supposed to take over in the event both the outgoing President and the President-Elect are absent is also reported to be in the hospital under intensive care unit (ICU).
The whole government in Bunjura is now in ICU and it is not clear who is running the government at the moment. President Pierre Nkurunziza refused to lock down the country when Covid-19 became intense.
Pierre Nkurunziza dismissed Covid-19 and told his people not to wear masks. He gave representatives from the World Health Organisation (WHO) 48 hours to leave the country when they questioned his handling of Covid-19.
Nkurunziza also allowed and took part in political campaigns that attracted huge crowds that had no masks on. There was zero social distance and the President himself mingled freely with people.
It is said that no single test for Covid-19 has been carried out in Burundi. Reports indicate that people are dying in large numbers and there is no single preparation on how to handle the pandemic.
Burundi is one of the poorest countries in Africa. It is also one of the countries with the worst health facilities. All government hospitals are either neglected or closed with those operating being without medicine and enough doctors.
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