AfricaPress-Tanzania: Speaker of the National assembly Job Ndugai yesterday lifted the lid on Dr John Magufuli’s burial site.
Mr Ndugai, who was speaking to Mps and other delegates, who had paid their last respects to their beloved leader at the National assembly precincts yesterday morning, said the former president was opposed to the idea of being buried in the leaders’ cemetery in Dodoma.
Recalling a joke he shared with Dr Magufuli, Speaker Ndugai revealed that he had told him that it was imperative for him to be laid to rest at the site earmarked by the government for national leaders.
“Much as he had transformed and elevated Dodoma’s status, I told him we had set aside a site for him,” explained the emotional National assembly Speaker.
However, the former president confidently brushed off the idea, maintaining that he would only be buried in Chato, his birthplace. according to Mr Ndugai, he persuaded Dr Magufuli to allow his burial to take place in Dodoma, all to no avail.
“Dr Magufuli stuck to his guns even when persuaded him to be buried in Dodoma,” said the Speaker. accordingly, the regional administration would relinquish the site that was earlier planned for his burial to Dodoma residents, according to the Speaker of the National assembly.
Dr Magufuli will be buried on March 26 in Chato as he had wished. During the funeral for another former Tanzanian president Benjamin Mkapa at Lupaso Village in Mtwara region mid-last year, Dr Magufuli told mourners that the third-phase leader had confided to him of his wish to be buried in his ancestral home place.
“One day he asked me if we had a special place for burying national leaders. after my reply, he was categorical that he wanted to be laid to rest in Lupaso and not anywhere else,” said Dr Magufuli as he was talking about former president Mkapa.
His wish was later granted after he was buried in Lupaso in the southern part of the country. Mr Mkapa isn’t the only leader with a desire of being laid to rest in his ancestral home place.
The fourth phase president, Dr Jakaya kikwete, is also on record to have made it clear that he wished to be buried in Msoga, Coast region.
Meanwhile, Speaker Ndugai reminded Members of parliament on how president Magufuli had outlined his vision of transforming the nation.
“My fellow Mps, we have lost a leader… see how Tanzanians are crying everywhere. We should remember when he last came to parliament in November 2020 to make his speech, which highlighted his vision for the coming five years.
The speech should be his will for us and that should guidance us in the next five years,” Mr Ndugai told the mourning parliamentarians.
The Speaker recalled great things attained during the five plus years of Dr Magufuli’s distinguished presidency, including realising the decade-long dream of making Dodoma the capital city of Tanzania.
“Dear Magufuli, you shifted the country’s capital to Dodoma, I believe this will be sustained. You did a great thing that had for many years proved impossible,” remarked Speaker Ndugai.
He then eulogised the iconic leader: “You always said that you have sacrificed your life for Tanzanians and today your body is lying here in front of us, rest in peace John, we Mps will honour you by working even harder.”
Speaker Ndugai concluded by praying for the newly-sworn president Samia Suluhu Hassan, pledging to stand by the new Head of State come sun, come rain.
