TANZANIA: Church in Tanzania Mourns with Government on the Death of President Magufuli

Dalphina Rubyema

The Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC), apart from describing President John Mafufuli as a person of wisdom and patriotism, also described him as a man who showed concern for the faith of God and lived this faith in the Church of Christ the Redeemer of all mankind.

In his condolences on behalf of Tanzanians to the Vice President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Ms. Samia Suluhu Hassan, the President of Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC) Archbishop Gervas Nyaisonga, said the bishops have received with great sadness the news of the death of President Magufuli. “According to the truth of faith in Jesus Christ man created in the image and likeness of God is invited to share in eternal life as long as man has lived his faith… May the merciful and loving God reward our beloved John Pombe Joseph Magufuli the heavenly life he hoped for all his life here on earth…” says Arch Bishop Nyaisonga in his condolence message issued on March 18, 2021.

He said the late President Magufuli will be remembered for encouraging people to worship and put God first in their lives. “Let us maintain this and all the good he has shown us in the service,” says part of the condolences. President John Magufuri passed away on March 17 this year at 18:00pm at Mzena Hospital in Dar es Salaam where he was receiving treatment for heart disease. Addressing Tanzanians on National through Nation Television (TBC) the then Vice President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Ms. Samia Hassan, said President Magufuli was admitted on 6th March, 2021 at the Jakaya Kikwete Heart Institute due to heart problem and on 7th March this year he was released and resumed his activities.

On 14th March he felt unwell again and was rushed to Mzena Hospital where he was admitted until his death. President Magufuli was born on October 29, 1959 in Chato District and got primary education at Chato School and pre-secondary education at Katoke Seminary in Rulenge / Ngara Catholic Diocese. He completed Form Four at Lake Secondary School in Mwanza Region before joining Form 5 and 6 at Mkwawa Secondary School in Iringa Region. In 1982 he obtained a Diploma in Teaching from Mkwawa College of Education. From 1985 to 1988 he joined the University of Dar es Salaam for his undergraduate studies in chemistry and mathematics. He obtained his master’s degree in chemistry through the Universities of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) and Calford in the United Kingdom between 1991 and 1994 and in the period from 2006 to 2009, he joined UDSM where he studied for a PhD in Chemistry.

The star of President Magufuli began to shine in government since 1995 when elected as a Member of Parliament ( Chato District) and was appointed to the Cabinet for the first time that year when he was nominated by President Benjamin Mkapa to serve as Deputy Minister Ministry of Works (from 1995 to 2000). In 2000 he was nominated as a Minister Ministry of Construction until 2006; the Minister of Lands and Housing Development (2006 to 2008); the Minister of Works for the second time (2010 to 2015) ;and in 2015 he was elected to be the President of the United Republic Of Tanzania under the political party Chama cha Mapinduzi–CCM.

He was sworn in as Presdent of the United Republic of Tanzania on 5th November, 2015 as the Fifth President of Tanzania. President Magufuli defended his seat in the general Election done in October 2020 by getting 84.4 percent and sworn on 5th November. President Magufuli will be remembered by Tanzanians for effectively managing the issue of accountability and ensuring that funds allocated for development activities are commensurate with the quality and work involved.

Under him, Tanzanians has witnessed great infrastructure efficiency including roads, construction of the Standard Gauge Railway, the construction of the Julius Nyerere Dam. Similarly, Rural Electricity Distribution Project (REA), Improvement in social service particular Primary and Secondary Education, health and water sectors as well as discipline and ethics management for public servants.

President Mafuguli lived up to his Catholic faith so much that he urged Tanzanians to persevere in prayer whenever a crisis arose. A vivid example is that after the emergence of Covid-19 disease caused by the Corona virus, he encouraged Tanzanians to cry out to God by fasting and praying. While undertaking his daily responsibilities, he often said, ‘Tanzanians pray for me to God that I may fully carry out my duties of defending the national resources successfully’