Tanzania’s fallen leader John Pombe Joseph Magufuli will be laid to rest today in a private burial ceremony at his home of Chato amid high security deployment.
The body of Tanzania’s late President was on Friday moved to his ancestral home of Chato in the country’s northwest for public viewing and burial.
Chato, Geita and neighboring residents are paying their last respects Magufuli at a Stadium named after him, as has been the norm all week.
Magufuli succumbed to heart complications on March 17, 2021 and ever since his has been moved through different towns in Tanzania to allow for public mourning.
Close family, relatives and friends of Magufuli are also attending the private funeral service in Chato.
Security has been heightened at the ceremony led by Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa, and attended by the second Vice President of Zanzibar Hemed Suleiman Abdulla, and Head of Defense Forces General Venance Mabeyo.
Reports confirmed that defence and security organs including police and Tanzania Peoples Defence Forces (TPDF’s) soldiers have beefed security as the normally-calm Chato expects more visitors ahead of the burial ceremony.
Uniformed and plain clothed security officers some of them armed have surrounded the stadium, some of them remained seated vehicles and others were arriving using military buses.
Thousands lined up as the hearse containing the coffin made its way into the grounds on Thursday, accompanied by military vehicles. Wailing mourners filled the streets, laying kangas on the road with some even throwing themselves on the ground.
Some waved tree branches whereas others we seen kneeling and carrying posters inscribed ‘Shujaa wa Africa’ (Africa’s hero).
Tribute from the East African region and beyond praised Magufuli as a strong panAfricaist who put interests of local Tanzanians ahead of personal and institutional interests.
Before his death, he had declared Tanzania Covid-free and has been skeptical over the safety of masks and COVID-19 vaccines.