British Prime Minister sends message of sympathy to Tanzania
What you need to know:
- The President died at around 6pm EAT at a hospital in Dar es Salaam
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has expressed his sympathy at the death of Tanzania’s President Dr John Pombe Magufuli.
He became one of the first world leaders to send such a message almost an hour after the announcement was made in a televised message.
"My thoughts are with his loved ones and the people of Tanzania," he wrote in a post on Twitter.
At home as news of the president's death emerged, ACT Wazalendo leader Zitto Kabwe became the first to offer his condolences to Magufuli's family in an official statement.
"This is an unprecedented moment for our United Republic of Tanzania, and one that will undoubtedly move us all in very personal ways," the leader of the ACT-Wazalendo party said in a statement. "My immediate thoughts are with Mama Janeth, and the whole family of our deceased President."
He also offered "blessings, courage and patience" for Hassan. "My fellow Tanzanians, let us continue to pray for patience and understanding. This is a moment to show our maturity and integrity as a nation," Kabwe added.
Zanzibar’s President Dr Hussein Ali Hassan Mwinyi in a twitter post announced to the nation that Dr John Pombe Magufuli had passed away at Mzena Hospital where he was admitted with a Heart complication.
According to Tanzania's constitution, Ms Hassan will be sworn in as the new president and should serve the remainder of Magufuli's five-year team which he began last year.
