The Vice President of Tanzania, Dr Philip Isidor Mpango, who had not been seen in public for several weeks, with his absence spinning series of speculations, has just emerged, showing up in a Church.
Dr Mpango an economist, aged 66 years old, was seen attending church services in Dodoma, on Sunday, December 12, 2023, which was almost two months after rumors regarding his ‘disappearance,’ went viral.
During the Sunday service, at the Maria Theresa Catholic Parish, Dr Mpango took onto the podium to greet fellow brethren.
The Vice President admitted having heard and seen in social media reports of his alleged death.
“When my time comes, I will certainly die but at the moment I am not done yet,” he stated.
Many seem relieved to see him back again in healthy condition after series of speculations reporting otherwise.
Some reports have for many days insinuating that the second top person in the country was sick and undergoing medical treatment abroad. Others even claiming he had passed on while away overseas.
But where? Social media platforms seem to prefer Korea, but without mentioning if it was South or North.
A weekly Kiswahili newspaper, Raia Mwema, the British Broadcasting Corporation and a daily tabloid, Nipashe all carried series of reports trying to find out and even explain the whereabouts of Vice President Mpango.
Prime Minister, Kassim Majaliwa was even quoted by the media as saying that the VP was abroad attending official duties.
However, people were more concerned during the time when the Mount Hanang landslide occurred, killing over 80 people and all top leaders, including President Samia, went to the scene with the exception of Vice President.
Dr Philip Mpango has been serving the VP docket for three years now, ever since President Samiah Suluhu became the Head of State in March 2021, following the death of her Predecessor, Dr John Pombe Magufuli.
The late Magufuli who was the fifth president of Tanzania died on March 17, 2021.
During President Magufuli’s tenure, Dr Mpango used to be a member of the cabinet in charge of the Finance and Planning Ministry.
Dr Mpango was also the economic advisor to the former President of Tanzania, Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete.
The Tanzanian Vice President also worked as a senior economist for the World Bank (WB) a post he served for five years from 2002 to 2006.
Dr Philip Mpango was born in Kigoma Region on July 14, 1957, and holds a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Dar es Salaam from 1984 to 1996.
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