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Tanzanian Muslims Fear Missing'¯Hajj'¯Due to Vaccination'¯Delay

Charles Kombe

   DAR ES SALAAM, TANZANIA - Saudi Arabia is requiring all pilgrims for
   the scaled-back, annual Hajj in July to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
   In Tanzania, where vaccinations have not yet begun, Muslims hoping to
   go to Mecca are urging authorities to start jabbing.

   Omar Aboubakar, like many other Muslims in Tanzania, wants to make'¯the
   pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca.'¯It's an integral part'¯of the
   Muslim faith, but for'¯now'¯only those immunized against
   COVID-19'¯can'¯take part'¯in this year's Hajj.

   Aboubakar is worried because vaccinations in'¯Tanzania'¯have'¯yet to be
   approved.

   "The time remaining is limited but still, we haven't given up," he
   said. "We expect our top leaders to check on the issue of vaccination
   carefully so we can accomplish this holy worship. We failed to go'¯last
   year'¯because of COVID-19, and if it continues'¯till next'¯year'¯it
   means our worship has ended. This is the main pillar of our religion."

   Until earlier this year,'¯Tanzanian
   authorities'¯had'¯rejected'¯COVID-19 vaccines. Then-President
   John'¯Magufuli'¯instead'¯promoted false remedies for the disease.

   Soon after'¯Magufuli's'¯death'¯in March, his'¯successor, Samia Hassan,
   formed a'¯COVID-19 task force to advise her government on handling the
   infections.

   In its report two weeks ago, the committee declared'¯the'¯vaccines to
   be effective and recommended'¯that travelers going abroad be among
   those to get their shots first.

   "The committee advises the government using its institutions and
   continues to move'¯to allow free vaccines,'¯using'¯vaccine
   brands'¯listed by the'¯World Health Organization, because
   the'¯shots'¯are effective and safe since they are scientifically
   proved," said Said Aboud, the committee chairperson.

   Last week,'¯President'¯Hassan said the government was checking to see
   if'¯COVID-19 vaccines that are available in other countries can be
   ordered for Tanzanians.

   But with no vaccination campaign in sight,'¯Muslim leaders see'¯the
   chances of Tanzanians attending this year's pilgrimage to'¯be'¯low at
   best.

   "I cannot say that we can't accomplish Hajj'¯worship,'¯but the
   percentages seem to be very low to accomplish the worship this year,"
   Haidari'¯Kambwili, the Hajj travelers coordinator with the National
   Muslim Council of'¯Tanzania, said. "The remaining percentages only
   Allah will decide,'¯because even if we get vaccinated as our leaders
   are struggling'¯to accomplish --'¯still, time is a challenge."

   Meanwhile,'¯COVID-19 has not stopped Tanzanians'¯like Aboubakar'¯from
   continuing to worship in mosques.'¯But'¯for now,'¯his plan to join his
   fellow'¯Muslims'¯in Mecca for Hajj prayers'¯remains'¯up in the air.

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