AfricaPress-Tanzania: THEY endured scorching sun for hours followed by a brief rain, but many of them couldn’t bear the pain and grief of losing their hero. They cried and some even fainted upon viewing the casket carrying the body of one of the greatest leaders of all time, the late President John Magufuli.
Thousands of residents of Dar es Salaam and its environs showed up at the historic Uhuru Stadium in the city to bid farewell to the departed Dr Magufuli, who in different ways impacted their lives and the nation at large.
Given the record turn-out, a big number of citizens, however, could not get the chance to pass near the casket and pay their last respects, instead, they walked past the tent in which the casket was kept, waving their hands while crying out; ‘Goodbye our Superhero.”
At 3pm, with the timetable for last respects elapsing, it was decided that the motorcade carrying Dr Magufuli’s body would go around the packed stadium five times to afford those who had not paid their last respects a chance to say goodbye to the fallen icon of Africa.
As the body of the late leader left the stadium, so were the mourners. Thousands of wananchi of all ages marched from the Uhuru Stadium and escorted their hero all the way to Julius Nyerere International Airport (JNIA) where the body was airlifted to Dodoma.
Mourners thronged both Mandela Expressway and Nyerere Road, some laying their clothes on the roads as the motorcade passed enroute to the airport a show of respect and love to their leader.
Uhuru Stadium couldn’t accommodate the multitude that had turned up from early on Sunday, forcing many mourners to queue outside the stadium, with long lines stretching up to 300 meters.
Some of the mourners, eager to pay their last respects to their beloved departed leader, forced their way into the stadium by jumping over the brick wall.
Ambulances were seen busy rushing in and outside the stadium carrying and providing services to some who fainted.
It was a hard time for the Tanzania Red Cross Society, police officers and health staff who were, almost every minute, forced to assist mourners who fall unconscious upon viewing the body of the ‘Great Son of Africa and Pan Africanist.”
Temeke District Commissioner Godwin Gondwe, at certain periods, was forced to appeal to the mourners to be calm, assuring them that they would all have the opportunity to pay their last respects.
A cross section of mourners described Dr Magufuli as a man of the people, especially those from middle and low income class.
They asked the government to maintain the speed demonstrated by the late Dr Magufuli in service delivery and execution of development products.
“I loved him so much since he dedicated his efforts to uplift our lives and defend the country’s wealth, as a common citizen, I’m so sad with the demise of Dr Magufuli,” said one of the mourners, Ms Prisca Haule, from Kibamba in Dar es Salaam.
Her statement echoed the sentiments made by Mr Sadick Omarion, a resident of Upanga, who told the ‘Daily News’ that Dr Magufuli’s commitment to serving the country was the key reason why he (Mr Omarion) felt the importance of paying a last respect to the fallen statesman.
“I have come together with my wife, friends and relatives, we are all saddened by the demise of our President. He deserves to be honoured for the great things he did for our nation, Tanzania,” he said shortly after paying his last respects.
