Makamba, Lowassa mourn ‘role model and peace advocate’ Kofi Annan

Dar es Salaam. The Minister of State in the Vice President’s Office (Union and Environment), Mr January Makamba, and Former Prime Minister Edward Lowassa are among leaders who have sent their condolences following the death of the former Secretary General of the United Nations (UN) and Nobel Laureate Kofi Annan.
The Ghanaian diplomat who served the UN office between 1997 and 2006, died on Saturday, August 18, at the age of 80 after a short illness, according to his family.
In a tweet, Mr Makamba was of the view that Kofi Annan was a role model to many.
“The passing of Kofi Annan has pained me greatly because he was someone I wanted to be like: a cool, calm, collected and eloquent gentleman who’s committed to public service. He was a widely respected global statesman. He was the pride of black/African people. May his soul RIP,” reads one of his tweets.
Shortly again, he wrote, “After retirement, Kofi Annan went for a vacation in a resort in Italy. One day he went to buy newspapers at a nearby town. He was mobbed by crowds wanting autographs. They confused him with Morgan Freeman. He didn’t want to let them down. He signed the name Morgan Freeman and fled.”
For his part, Mr Lowassa who is a member of the Central Committee of the main Opposition party Chadema said he was shocked with the news of the death of the one of the world’s renowned peace advocates.
“I'm saddened and shocked by the immediate passing of our brother Kofi Annan; he was one of the world’s renowned peace advocates, my heart and prayers go out to his family, the people of Ghana and all of us touched by his passing. May his soul rest in peace. #RIPKofiAnnan,” reads his tweet.