Before the coronavirus reached Tanzania, things were arguably going according to plan for President John Magufuli.

COVID-19 arrives

After Tanzania confirmed its first case in mid-March, Magufuli went silent for about two weeks.

On 13 May, Zambia closed the Tunduma-Nakonde border with Tanzania after the Zambian district of Nakonde recorded 76 new COVID-19 cases in one day; it has since re-opened with added restrictions.

On 16 May, Kenya shut its borders with Tanzania, after many of its new recorded cases were of truck drivers from across the border.

If Zanzibar feels it has to follow Tanzania's neighbours in imposing tighter border controls from the mainland, this could provide another source of pressure on Magufuli's current approach.