Guninita spent more than a month at MNH before his passing

Dar es Salaam. Veteran politician John Guninita who died in the morning yesterday was hospitalized at Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH) for more than month.

Speaking to The Citizen today, the younger brother of the deceased, Mr Gerald Guninita, said that the late John Guninita was admitted to the MNH on August 10, this year, suffering from a long illness.

According to Mr Gerald Guninita, his elder brother was operated by MNH surgeons on August 28.

“We as relatives were struggling to save his life but it ended up in vain. We wanted to mobilise funds for more curative services in India but unfortunately he passed away after undergoing an operation,” said the younger brother.

He said when his brother was in MNH a number of current and former politicians visited the late Guninita.

Former President Jakaya Kikwete who was very close to the late Guninita also visited him at MNH, according to the younger brother who was also a CCM cadre and district commissioner.

“The late Guninita who lived Kimanga, Dar es Salaam, has left two daughters and sons,” he said.

During the fourth phase government, the late Guninita crossed over to Chadema from CCM and then went back to the ruling party where he stayed until his death.

The late Guninita held several political leadership positions under the ruling party that dated back to the second phase government. The posts included chairman of CCM Youth Wing, District Commissioner of Rufiji and CCM chairman for Dar es Salaam Region.

Interestingly, the late Guninita who at one time was a strong cadre of the ruling CCM, later on in the 2015 elections waged strong campaigns against the same party in all constituencies of Kilombero District in Morogoro Region.