BBC News World

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

Tanzania's ambassador to Kenya John Simbachawene has warned Kenyan media against "misleading reporting" about how his country was dealing with the coronavirus pandemic.

His account was later deleted after a barrage of criticism.

He had also accused Kenyan media, which broadcast in the neighbouring country, of causing panic in Tanzania, saying they should be factual.

The envoy's comments come after Kenyan media reported that the coronavirus situation in Tanzania was of great concern to East Africa.

Mr Simbachawene said surveillance at the Kenya-Tanzania border would continue and urged all citizens to follow health guidelines.

Tanzania has not been sharing data on the coronavirus situation in the country and until recently had been downplaying the pandemic.

Read:

WHO pleads with Tanzania to reveal Covid-19 cases

An attack on Tuesday by suspected Boko Haram militants in Nigerian north-eastern city of Maiduguri in Borno state has killed at least 10 people and injured 47 others.

State governor Babagana Zulum said the attackers fired rocket propelled grenades into densely populated areas in the city, including a children's playground.

He said the grenades were launched from the outskirts of the city.

Pictures released by local authorities show dozens of injured people in hospital, including children.

Governor Zulum on Wednesday visited two hospitals where the injured were being treated.

He said the use of long distance bombs by insurgents was part of a new trend that needed to be stopped.

A similar attack on the city took place in July when three rockets left four dead and three wounded.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, but Maiduguri is the birth place of Boko Haram, and the city has frequently been targeted by the insurgents.

The Boko Haram insurgency, which has lasted for more than a decade, has killed at least 36,000 people and displaced two million in north-eastern Nigeria.

A distressing video of ailing Tanzania's finance minister addressing journalists to debunk rumours that he was dead has been widely criticised, with many terming is as unnecessary and cruel.

Last week President John Magufuli dismissed the rumours, saying Dr Philip Mpango was "alive and improving".

On Tuesday, Dr Mpango flanked by two medical workers, who were not wearing masks, addressed reporters at the Benjamin Mkapa Hospital in the capital, Dodoma.

He coughed and stopped to catch his breath several times as he read his statement.

It's unclear what he is suffering from but he said he was having "breathing problems" and needed extra oxygen. He also said that he had recovered.

Opposition leader Tundi Lissu criticised officials for allowing the press briefing to take place.

"Who allowed a sick man to do this, he's coughing and not wearing a mask. He should be resting and receiving treatment," he said.

Mr Lissu said that it was "reckless":

Dr Mpango became emotional at one point as he sent condolences and apologised for not attending the funerals of the late Zanzibar vice-president Seif Sharif Hamad, who died last week after suffering from Covid-19, and Chief Secretary John Kijazi and the former governor of the central bank Prof Benno Ndulu.

“It was sad that I didn’t attend any of their burial but I wish them eternal peace,” said Dr Mpango.

There have been several reported deaths in Tanzania linked to Covid-19 but they have either not been officially confirmed or the virus has been denied as the cause.

But in a change of course Tanzania has in recent days dropped its "Covid free" narrative and officials are now advising people to observe health protocols including wearing masks.

Read more:

• The country that's rejecting the Covid vaccine
• The man who declared victory over coronavirus
• Is the Covid vaccine safe?