Tanzanian President, John Pombe Magufuli has died at the age of 61, the government announced on Wednesday.

Announcing his death in a live television address, Vice President Samia Suluhu Hassan said Magufuli had died of a heart condition.

Speculation had been rife about his possible infection with the coronavirus. He had not been seen in public since the end of February.

“Our beloved president passed on at 6 p.m. this evening,” said Suluhu. “All flags will be flown at half-mast for 14 days. It is sad news. The president has had this illness for the past 10 years.”

Magufuli had first been briefly admitted to the Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute on March 6, but was subsequently discharged, Hassan said on state television. But he was rushed to hospital again on March 14 after feeling unwell.

According to Tanzania’s constitution, Hassan, 61, should assume the presidency for the remainder of the five-year term that Magufuli began serving last year after winning a second term.