Staff Reporter
THE President of the United Republic of Tanzania, John Pombe Magufuli, has died at the age of 61.
The announcement was made by the country’s Vice-President, Samia Suluhu Hassan, a short while ago.
According to Hassan, who spoke on Tanzanian state television, President Magafuli died as a result of heart complications at a hospital in Dar es Salaam.
“It is with deep regret that I inform you that today we lost our brave leader, the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, John Pombe Magufuli,” Hassan said.
Magufuli has not been seen in public for more than two weeks.
Hassan announced that the next 14 days will be a period of national mourning and that all flags would fly at half-mast during that time.
