![President Magufuli made the comments on Friday at the funeral of his chief secretary, John Kijazi. [PHOTO | FILE]](https://i0.wp.com/www.k24tv.co.ke/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/JOHN-MAGUFULI.jpg?resize=730%2C414&ssl=1)
Tanzania’s President John Pombe Magufuli is dead.
The Head of State’s death was announced by Tanzania’s Vice President Samia Suluhu Hassan.
“He died today (Wednesday, March 17) at 6pm while receiving treatment for heart disease at Emilio Mzena Memorial Hospital in Dar es Salaam,” said Ms Suluhu in a televised address on Wednesday night.
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The VP said Magufuli, 61, had been taken ill since March 6, 2021.
Ms Suluhu said Tanzania will go into a 14-day mourning period and flags flown half mast following the president's death.
Opposition politicians said earlier this week that Magufuli had contracted COVID-19, but this has not been confirmed.
Magufuli was first elected to office in 2015, and on October 28, 2020 was re-elected to serve a second term.
