Late Tanzanian President John Pombe Magufuli will be buried on March 25, in Chato, the newly sworn in president, Samia Suluhu said.
Samia Hassan made the announcement on Friday following Magufuli’s death on Wednesday.
At a ceremony witnessed by former presidents Jakaya Kikwete and Hassam Mwinyi, the Speaker of the National assembly and other dignitaries, Samia was sworn in by Judge Ibrahim Juma to become the country’s 6th president.
According to Tanzania’s constitution, when the office of president becomes vacant by reason of death or resignation, loss of electoral qualifications or inability to perform his functions due to physical infirmity, or failure to discharge the duties and functions of the office of president; then the vice-president shall be sworn in and become the president for the unexpired period of the term of five years.
This means that Samia will be president until October 2025 and the first female head of state in the East African region.
After the swearing-in ceremony, President Suluhu Hassan inspected a guard of honor but also declared Thursday next week a national holiday to allow Tanzanians send of their president.
Earlier, Samia had declared a 14-day period of morning the fallen leader. Magufuli succumbed to heart complications according to Tanzanian authorities.
Reports indicate that the new president will later on chair a Cabinet meeting and appoint her Vice President who must be endorsed by the ruling party CCM before heading to the national assembly for approval.
In accordance with the constitution and, after consultation with the ruling political party to which she belongs, the new president will propose the name of the person who shall be vice-president, and such appointment shall be confirmed by the national assembly by votes of not less than 50 percent of all the MPs.