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Speaking at the funeral of a presidential top aide, Tanzania's President John Magufuli has spoken about coronavirus and called for three days of prayer and fasting.

He said the East African nation had defeated Covid-19 last year and would win again this year.

The president said it might be a "test from God" and urged Tanzanians not to panic.

His chief secretary, John Kijazi, died of an undisclosed illness while undergoing treatment.

"It is possible this is another test but with God we will win. Let's not scare each other because we will not overcome. It's possible we have offended God or we're being tested and I'm urging that we stand by God.""It is possible this is another test but with God we will win. Let's not scare each other because we will not overcome. It's possible we have offended God or we're being tested and I'm urging that we stand by God."

"I ask you Tanzanians if we have slipped let's continue praying to God and fasting from today, tomorrow and the day after. Religious leaders continue encouraging prayers, we will win. God cannot forsake this nation."

For months the government has insisted the Covid-19 pandemic was under control and encouraged the use of herbal remedies.

The vice-president of Tanzania's semi-autonomous islands of Zanzibar, Seif Sharif Hamad, died on Wednesday - nearly three weeks after his party said he had contracted Covid-19.

He was the most prominent political figure in Tanzania to have openly declared that he had Covid-19.

The government has not published data on coronavirus for months