The South Sudanese Bishop also admired President Magufuli’s faith and trust in God and the care he had for his country and continent, he says, adding in reference to the late Head of State, “He has been one of the most admired African leaders of our time and will be remembered forever.”
“May God, our father and creator, grant him eternal peace and may the people of Tanzania pick up his legacy and build a country they will continue to be proud of, a country that will put people first before themselves,” the Local Ordinary of South Sudan’s Tombura-Yambio Diocese says in his audio message.
Meanwhile, various Heads of State have mourned the late President, describing him as one who championed pan-Africanism.
In his March 18 statement, Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta says the continent 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.”
President Kenyatta described the late Head of State as a “visionary ally” with whom he worked closely to “forge lasting bonds between Kenya and Tanzania.”
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In his March 18 statement, President Kenyatta declared that that Kenyans “will observe a period of seven (7) days of national mourning.”
“The Flag of the East African Community and the Flag of the Republic of Kenya shall be flown at half-mast at all Public Buildings and Public Grounds and wherever else throughout the entire territory of the Republic of Kenya and at all of Kenya’s Diplomatic Missions abroad; from forenoon on this 18th March, 2021 until sunset,” said the President of Kenya who doubles as the Chairman of the East African Community (EAC).
For the President of Burundi, Evariste Ndayishimiye, President Magufuli was a “true Pan-Africanist.”
“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,” Burundi’s President tweeted March 18.
On his part, the Chairman of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki has eulogized President Magufuli as one who championed regional collaboration.
"Africa has lost a champion of regional cooperation in the East African region and a committed Pan Africanist leader," Moussa Faki said.
A requiem Mass in honor of President Magufuli has been scheduled to take place Saturday, Marhc 20 at St. Peter’s Oyster Bay Parish of Dar es Salaam Archdiocese.
A two-day public viewing of the President’s body has been slated to take place on March 20 and March 21 at Uhuru Stadium in Dar es Salaam.
President Magufuli's body is expected to lie in state at Dodoma, Mwanza, and Chato on March 21, March 22, and March 23 respectively
The late President is to be laid to rest on the feast of the Annunciation, March 25, in his native home, Chato in the region of Geita, within the Catholic Diocese of Geita.
Magdalene Kahiu is a Kenyan journalist with passion in Church communication. She holds a Degree in Social Communications from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA). Currently, she works as a journalist for ACI Africa.