AfricaPress-Tanzania: PRIME Minister Kassim Majaliwa on Saturday (February 21, 2021) led thousands of mourners for the funeral of the late Chief Secretary Eng John Kijazi.
Eng Kijazi, who died last Wednesday at Benjamin Mkapa Hospital in Dodoma, was laid to rest at his home village in Korogwe District, Tanga region.
His burial ceremony was preceded by a state funeral held last Friday at Karimjee Grounds in Dar es Salaam, led by President John Magufuli.
Immediately after Friday’s state funeral, the body of the celebrated Chief Secretary and diplomat was flown to his homeland for a burial ceremony which was attended by senior government officials and ordinary citizens.
In attendance were Chief of Defence Forces General Venance Mabeyo, National Assembly Deputy Speaker Dr Tulia Ackson, ministers, permanent secretaries, religious leaders and other government officials.
Speaking after a requiem mass held at St Augustine Catholic Parish in Korogwe District, Premier Majaliwa said that the nation has lost a great man in public service.
He said the best way to honour Eng Kijazi is to do all the good things he did in public service and in his normal life.
PM Majaliwa added that Eng Kijazi exemplary leadership served a big lesson to public servants, especially on how he diligently performed his duties.
He, however, called upon Tanzanians to remain calm as the world battles coronavirus pandemic because the government was taking all necessary measures to ensure safety of its people.
“As the world fights against infectious diseases , you should remain calm because the government is also monitoring the trend of these diseases…there are also other diseases such as Malaria, diabetes, cardiac related diseases etc,” he said.
He said health experts in the country were proceeding with various studies with main focus on provision of services.
Mr Majaliwa called upon Tanzanians to continue praying to God while taking all precautionary measures as directed by health experts.
For his part, CDF Mabeyo said that TPDF worked very closely with Eng Kijazi because apart from serving as Chief Secretary he was also secretary to the National Security Council.
“The late Kijazi was humble, generous and a good leader,” he said.
He said that Eng Kijazi left a mark to many people and the best way to honour him is to live his legacy.
Deputy Speaker Dr Tulia Ackson said that Eng Kijazi has greatly contributed not only to the government but also Parliament and the church in general.
A family spokesperson Dr Allan Kijazi expressed gratitude to the government, religious leaders, health personnel and public in general for their support.
He said that Eng Kijazi was a loving, humble and a person of principles.
“He has taught us as a family we should love one another, be humble and set principles which will help us to move forward.” Dr Kijazi said.
On Wednesday night, President Magufuli announced to the nation the sad news on Eng Kijazi’s sudden death.
Ambassador Eng Kijazi breathed his last while receiving treatment at Benjamin Mkapa Hospital in the capital city of Dodoma
Eng. Kijazi was appointed Chief Secretary to the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania on 6 March, 2016.
Prior to his appointment as Chief Secretary, Eng Kijazi was the Tanzania High Commissioner to India.
He previously served as Permanent Secretary in the then Ministry of Works when President Magufuli was a minister in the docket.
Born on November 18, 1956, Eng Kijazi has a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) and Masters Degree in Highway Engineering from Birmingham University in the United Kingdom.
Between 1982 and 1986, he was Assistant Engineer in the Ministry of Public Works, becoming Regional Engineer in the same ministry between 1986 and 1996.
Eng Kijazi worked as a Senior Road Maintenance Engineer between 1996 and 1999 from where he was promoted to Director of Regional Roads in the Ministry of Works between the year 1999 and 2002.
The civil servant continued to climb through the leadership ladder to become Permanent Secretary in the same ministry, the post he held between 2002 and 2005.
When President Jakaya Kikwete assumed office in 2005, he changed the ministry’s name to the Ministry of Infrastructure Development to which Eng Kijazi continued serving as PS from January to December 2006.
From the ministry where he started his career, Eng Kijazi was transferred to the then Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation where he was assigned special duties before being appointed High Commissioner to India in 2007.
He succeeded Ambassador Sefue as Chief Secretary.
