Eight people were arrested by the police in Tanzania for celebrating the death of President Magufuli, local media reported on Saturday.
The arrests took place in Manyara, the north eastern region of Tanzania.
John Pombe Magufuli died on Wednesday and authorities attributed his death to heart complications.
Magufuli’s personality and character describes one who is loved and loathed in equal measure owing to his autocratic style of leadership characterized with a clampdown on activities of his political opponents and a no-nonsense attitude towards corruption.
Immediately after taking oath as new president of Tanzania, Samia Suluhu Hassan called on Tanzanians to reconcile their differences and focus on the country’s future.
“This is a time to bury our differences and be one as a nation, this is not a time for finger-pointing, but it is a time to hold hands and move forward together, what is needed is to concentrate on the future.” President Samia Suluhu Hassan said.
The media report however did not specify whether the arrested are affiliate to any political group.
Magufuli is however credited for various developmental projects his leadership has successfully implemented in his 5-year tenure as head of state, and for the patriotic agenda he had for his country.
On Saturday, the body of the fallen President was taken to St Peter’s Catholic Church, Dar es Salaam for a requiem mass and later moved to Uhuru Stadium in Temeke district where public leaders paid their last respects to the fallen leader.
The fallen President will be buried on Friday, March 26, in his ancestral home in Chato, Geita Region and Tanzanaian authorities have declared it a public holiday.
