Leaders in the East African Community, and afar, have paid tribute to Tanzanian President John Pombe Magufuli who passed on March 17. President Paul Kagame, among others, noted that Magufulis contribution to his country and to our region will not be forgotten. We are saddened by the loss of my brother and friend, President Magufuli. His contribution to his country & to our region will not be forgotten. My deepest condolences to his family and the people of Tanzania. The people of Rwanda stand with Tanzania during this difficult time. — Paul Kagame (@PaulKagame) March 18, 2021 DR Congo President, Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi, who is also the African Union Chairperson also learned with great sadness of the passing of his counterpart and brother, Magufuli. The AU Chairperson paid tribute to a solid partner who proudly defended the independence of the African continent. The Chairperson of the East African Community, President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya, went on national television to pay his tributes, and ordered a seven-day national mourning for the fallen Tanzanian President. He directed that the Kenyan flag and that of the East African Community be flown half-mast to honour Magufuli, from March 18 until sunset on the day of the funeral. The day of the funeral is yet to be announced by the Tanzanian government. Uhuru said Africa and the world has lost an illustrious leader; whose vision, passion, and immense leadership propelled the nation of Tanzania forward, and also steered the East African Community to closer integration and cooperation. On the continental stage, the late President Magufuli was a champion of pan-Africanism, Uhuru said. In the passing on of President Magufuli, I have lost a friend, a colleague, and a visionary ally; whom I worked with closely, particularly on our commitment to forge lasting bonds between Kenya and Tanzania. Evariste Ndayishimiye of Burundi tweeted: I am terribly saddened to learn of the passing of my friend & brother H.E John Pombe Magufuli, President of the United Republic of #Tanzania. My thoughts & prayers go out to the Government and People of Tanzania & his Family for the loss of a Great Leader, a true Pan Africanist. Magufuli was the fifth President of Tanzania since October 2015. Tanzanias Vice-President Samia Suluhu late Wednesday announced that Magufuli, who was 61, died from a heart attack and that plans for the funeral are underway. Tanzania will be in mourning for 14 days, with flags flying half-mast. EABC mourns patriotic pan-African leader Senior executives at the East African Business Council (EABC) also conveyed deepest condolences and sympathy to the family, citizens and the Government of Tanzania for their loss. On Thursday, Peter Mathuki, the Chief Executive Officer of the EABC, and incoming EAC Secretary General, paid a courtesy visit to the High Commissioner of Tanzania, Dr. John Stephen Simbachawene, at the Tanzania Embassy in Nairobi. Mathuki also issued a statement on behalf of the regional private sector body and noted that Magufuli was a patriotic, intellectual pan-African leader. Mathuki said: Magufuli pioneered the vision of Tanzania ya Viwanda, Standard Gauge Railway, revived Air Tanzania, Julius Nyerere Hydropower among other landmark achievements, that have delivered prosperity to the citizens of the United Republic of Tanzania and the EAC region. His exemplary stewardship led to economic growth elevating the United Republic of Tanzania to middle-income status. Mathuki said Magufuli remains strong in our hearts and it is our duty to follow his great vision of unity, peace and industrialization for the economic growth and prosperity of the East African Community. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson also expressed his sympathy in a Twitter post. My thoughts are with his loved ones and the people of Tanzania, Johnson wrote. South Africas President Cyril Ramaphosa expressed “deep sadness” at the death of Magufuli. Ramaphosa said he had spoken to Tanzanian Vice-President Samia Suluhu Hassan “to express condolences in his personal capacity and on behalf of all South Africans”. “South Africa is united in grief with the government and people of Tanzania as they go through this difficult moment,” Ramaphosa said. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro also has sent his condolences to the Tanzanian people on the death of their President.
