Madam President it is.

This is after Samia Suluhu was on Friday sworn in as the sixth president of Tanzania following the death of President John Magufuli from “heart complications” on Wednesday.

Suluhu was sworn in at State House, Dar es Salaam, where Covid-19 measures were ignored as dignitaries gathered in the room without wearing masks or observing social distancing.

The late Magufuli had, in his final weeks, asked citizens to observe Covid-19 protocols to stay safe, urging them to wear locally made masks but be wary of foreign vaccines.

He died amid weeks of speculation on his health and whereabouts, with opposition chief Tundu Lissu insisting he had succumbed to Covid-19 and that the world was being misled.

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Late John Magufuli and Samia Suluhu. PHOTO/CCM

Magufuli had in the last year refused to adopt Covid-19 mitigation measures, declaring Tanzania Corona-free and calling on citizens to pray while mocking Kenya for her protocols.

The CCM party topmost politician’s death from was officially announced on Wednesday by Suluhu, more than a fortnight after the president was last seen in public on February 27.

The Tanzanian Constitution dictates that the Vice President will serve the remainder of the term of a Head of State who dies in office.

The 61-year-old Magufuli was re-elected last year for a new five-year term, with President Suluhu expected not to depart from Magufuli's leadrship style and policies.