Tanzanian President, John Pombe Magufuli, has died, Vice President Samia Suluhu announced in a televised address on Wednesday.
The Tanzanian President was pronounced dead at 6 pm East African time after days of absence from the public limelight.
“It is with great shock that we announce to you that the Head of State, our beloved President John Pombe Magufuli, has died,” the Vice President announced on television.
The official announcement stated the cause of death as a heart ailment which led to his hospitalization.
President Magufuli was admitted to the Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute where he was treated for chronic atrial fibrillation, a heart condition he has suffered for more than 10 years.
According to Tanzania’s Constitution, Vice President Hassan shall be sworn in and become the president for the unexpired period of the term of five years.
John Magufuli was re-elected the president of Tanzania in October 2020.
Hassan also announced a 14-day national mourning following the death of Magufuli.
“During the 14 days of mourning all national flags will fly at half-mast,” said Hassan, adding that funeral arrangements will be announced later.
Magufuli was born in Chato, Kagera region, on Oct. 29, 1959. He attended several schools for his primary and secondary education, and then enrolled for teacher training at Mkwawa College of Education from 1981 to 1982.
Magufuli earned his bachelor’s degree at the University of Dar es Salaam, majoring in chemistry and mathematics, from 1985 to 1988. He received his doctoral degree in chemistry in 2009, from the same university.
In 1995, Magufuli was elected member of Parliament in Chato constituency.
He served in the Ministry of Works as deputy minister in 1995-2000 and then as minister in 2000-2005. He also served as minister at the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Human Settlement Development in 2005-2008, the Ministry of Livestock Development and Fisheries in 2008-2010, and at the Ministry of Works for a second time in 2010-2015.
