The late Tanzanian President John Magufuli will be laid to rest on Thursday,March 25,2021 at his Chato rural home. -By John Mutiso.
Newly-sworn in President Samia Suluhu on Friday announced the burial plans and an elaborate programme that will culminate in the burial of Magufuli. She also said that the public will get the opportunity to pay their last respect to the late Magufuli from Saturday, March 20 at Uhuru Gardens.
Magufuli’s body will be moved from the morgue and will be taken to St Peter’s Catholic Church for a brief prayers before being moved to Uhuru Stadium in Dar es Salaam.
On March 21, Magufuli’s body will then be taken to the country’s capital Dodoma where the body will lie in State until the following day March 22 at 9am when the late President’s body will be taken to Mwanza.
The former President’s family and residents of Chato will have an opportunity to honour Magufuli on March 24 at his Chato home ahead of the funeral service on March 25 at the Catholic Church in Chato.
The day was also declared a public holiday so as to give residents of his rural home time to mourn their fallen son. The state burial ceremony shall take place at the Chato home on March 25 as Tanzania remains on a 21-day period of mourning during which flags in Tanzania will fly at half-mast.
