Tanzania’s late president John Magufuli was laid to rest Friday in his ancestral village in the country’s northwest after his sudden death last week from an illness shrouded in mystery.
Magufuli died aged 61 from what authorities say was a heart condition, after a mysterious absence of almost three weeks, and questions remain over the true cause of his death which the opposition says was from Covid-19.
Tens of thousands of mourners flocked to see his body in state in the cities of Dar es Salaam, Dodoma, Zanzibar, Mwanza and Geita, weeping and throwing petals as it passed in a motorcade.
In Dar es Salaam the crowds were such that a stampede ensued, resulting in the deaths of at least five people.
In Chato, his final stop, Magufuli was buried in a family plot after prayers, the singing of the national anthem and a 21-gun salute.
Samia Suluhu Hassan, his successor and Tanzania’s first female president, vowed to complete the work of a leader who leaves a complex legacy behind.
“We will work hard to complete what Magufuli had started, in bringing development to the people,” Hassan said after the funeral, which was also attended by former presidents Ali Hassan Mwinyi and Jakaya Kikwete.
“You should not worry at all about Magufuli’s promises… Let us all show our unity and love now as we move forward the nation.”
Leaders of different religious faiths who attended the service assured their support for Hassan, who under the constitution will serve the remainder of Magufuli’s second term until 2025.
Magufuli is hailed for his fight against corruption and massive infrastructure projects, but criticised for the stifling of democracy and crackdowns on the media, civil society and the opposition.
His legacy is also marred by his Covid denialism, which saw Tanzania refuse to issue data or take any measures to curb the spread of the virus. AFP
Hhe was better than mugabe and munangarwa
After mysterious death… Any way, COVID19 is a mystery up till this very moment
Kehinde Iterogba Aikomo no he never died of covid bt heart failure
Mysterious?
Zimbabwe leaders feel honoured to be buried at the country s national shrine .now magufuli buried at his home wonderful
Tsitsi Gumbo
Hhe was better than mugabe and munangarwa
After mysterious death… Any way, COVID19 is a mystery up till this very moment
Kehinde Iterogba Aikomo no he never died of covid bt heart failure
Mysterious?
Zimbabwe leaders feel honoured to be buried at the country s national shrine .now magufuli buried at his home wonderful
Tsitsi Gumbo
What mysterious death? Maybe, it’s his diet. His wife said he loved an early breakfast.
Marco Pucelli
What mysterious death? Maybe, it’s his diet. His wife said he loved an early breakfast.
Marco Pucelli
I heard that he had a heart problem
Asi haasi hero here, zvaavigwa kumusha kwake
Was he a bad Leader?
I heard that he had a heart problem
Asi haasi hero here, zvaavigwa kumusha kwake
Now yaakunzi mystery
Was he a bad Leader?
Wz killed evil world 🌍
Now yaakunzi mystery
Wz killed evil world 🌍