President Samia Suluhu Hassan on Sunday led Tanzanians in paying their final respects to the late former Vice-President and Prime Minister, Cleopa David Msuya, during a national prayer and farewell ceremony at the Karimjee Grounds in Dar es Salaam.
Thousands gathered to honour the statesman, whose distinguished public service career spanned decades.
The solemn event featured tributes, prayers from religious leaders, and a military presence by the Tanzania People’s Defence Force (TPDF), which will oversee the state funeral.
Government Spokesperson Gerson Msigwa confirmed that Msuya’s burial will take place on Tuesday, May 13, in his hometown of Usangi, Mwanga District, Kilimanjaro Region.
A special church service will be held at the Evangelical Lutheran Church (ELCT) in Usangi before the burial ceremony begins.
Msigwa noted that funeral arrangements are being coordinated by the National Committee for State Leaders’ Funerals, chaired by Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa in close collaboration with Msuya’s family. After the burial, President Samia and other national leaders will deliver official tributes.
On Monday, the body will be flown from Julius Nyerere International Airport (JNIA) to Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA) and later transported to Cleopa Msuya Grounds in Mwanga. Citizens and local leaders will have the opportunity to view the body and offer final tributes.
Before being moved to Kilimanjaro, the body was taken to Msuya’s Upanga residence on Saturday for private family proceedings.
Sunday’s public memorial was marked with honour, dignity, and appreciation for Msuya’s decades-long service to Tanzania.
The National Funeral Committee, co-led by Prime Minister Majaliwa and Zanzibar’s Second Vice-President Hemed Suleiman Abdallah, continues to oversee all logistics, including transportation, condolence messages, and burial protocols.
Msuya is remembered as a pillar of Tanzanian leadership and unity.
