CUF’s Seif rushed to hospital on arrival in Dar from Z’bar

Dar es Salaam. Opposition CUF’s Secretary General Seif Sharif Hamad was yesterday rushed to Hindu Mandal hospital after falling sick on his arrival at the Julius Nyerere International Airport (JINA) from Zanzibar.

Earlier reports said Mr Hamad started feeling unwell immediately after he disembarked from the plane at around 10am ,prompting his aides to rush him to the hospital where he spent a whole day for treatment.

The new reports on Mr Hamad’s health come just two days after he arrived in the country from India where he spent nearly a month undergoing treatment.

Journalists camped outside the hospital from morning until late evening, in attempt to get details about his sickness in vain. Security guards could not allow journalists access into the hospital room where Mr Hamad was receiving treatment.

Until late evening, when journalists left, Mr Hamad was yet being discharged. 

People close to him told journalists at the hospital that Mr Hamad, who was Zanzibar presidential candidate with the CUF’s ticket during last October general election, started feeling sick immediately after arriving at the airport.

However, a doctor who attended him said on anonymity that his condition was improving, but could not reveal details of his sickness.

Several dignitaries, including Prof Ibrahim Lipumba, former national chairman of the CUF, arrived at the hospital after hearing of the news of Hamad’s sickness.

Prof Lipumba arrived at the hospital around 4pm and had spent about 10 minutes inside the hospital before speaking to journalists over condition of Mr Hamad as he also confirmed that his condition was improving.

CUF’s Communications and Publicity deputy director Abdul Kambaya later said that Mr Hamad was on his regular health check-ups at the hospital.