Tanzanian conjoined sisters, Maria and Consolata Mwakikuti, who became famous when they began their studies at a Tanzanian university in September 2017, have died at the age of 21 following a long illness.
Tanzanian president, John Joseph Magufuli, announced the sad news on Sunday on his Twitter page.
The translation of his tweet reads,
“I am annoyed by the death of Mary and Consolata.
“When I went to the hospital they prayed for the Nation. They had the dream of serving the Nation.
“In the family circle, sisters of Maria Consolata and all those affected, rest in the best place for my children.
“THE LORD IS COME TO THE LORD THAT THE NAME OF THE LORD IS DONE.”
The women, who were joined from the navel downwards and shared organs like the liver and lungs, had two hearts and separate heads and arms.
Their admission to the Ruaha Catholic University in Iringa in September 2017 had marked it the first in a country where disabled people are often marginalised or abandoned at birth.
They had begun a course in education with a view to becoming teachers in history, English and Swahili, when they became ill in January, notably suffering from cardiac problems.
After an improvement in their health, the sisters continued their treatment at a hospital near their university, where they died on Saturday.
The twins were taken in by Catholic mission when abandoned by their mother after the death of their father.
Maria in an emotional statement on the state television last July said
“Parents should not Hide or lock up their handicapped children.
“They must know that as human beings, handicapped or not, are equal and have the same rights.”
