Magufuli to be laid to rest on Friday, 26th March at his Chato home

 

Tanzanian President John Pombe Magufuli gestures while arriving at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria, South Africa, for the inauguration of Incumbent South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on May 25, 2019. (Photo by Michele Spatari / AFP) (Photo credit should read MICHELE SPATARI/AFP/Getty Images)

Tanzania Government Spokesperson has announced a change in the funeral program of the late President John Pombe Joseph Magufuli, saying that he will be laid to rest on Friday, 26th March, not of Thursday 25th March as had been announced by Tanzania’s new President Samia Suluhu Hassan.

The change is to accommodate Zanzibar citizens, who will now get a chance to view the former President’s body on Tuesday, March 23rd.

Today, Saturday, March 20th, Magufuli’s body has already left Jeshi Lugalo hospital for Uhuru Stadium.

On Sunday, March 21st, Tanzanians in Dar-es-Salaam will get a chance to view the former president’s body.  Residents in Dodoma will have their viewing on Monday, March 22.

Zanzibar residents will have their chance on Tuesday, March 23. Those in Mwanza will get to view the body on 24th.

On Thursday, March 25 Magufuli’s body will be taken to his home, in Chato, where family members, people in Chato and neighbouring places will have their turn.

Magufuli will be buried the following day.

This is even as other countries particularly in Africa continue observing their respective National Mourning days for the fallen President, with flags in Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda flying at half-mast, until the day of the burial.

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta shakes hands with Tanzanian President John Magufuli as Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni looks on during the 19th Ordinary Summit of EAC Heads of State in Entebbe on February 22, 2018. PHOTO | STRINGER | AFP

Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta on Saturday visited the High Commission of the United Republic of Tanzania in Nairobi, Kenya to pay his respects to the late former President Dr John Pombe Joseph Magufuli.

He reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to working together with Tanzania, and the country’s new President Samia Suluhu Hassan.