Thousands receive ex-Tanzania president in hometown ahead of burial

The mortal remains of former Tanzanian leader John Pombe Magufuli arrived in his hometown of Chato on Thursday ahead of burial on Friday.

The 61-year-old’s death was announced last Wednesday by his then vice and current president Samia Suluhu Hassan via a national broadcast.

A three-way funeral was announced by government last week. The first took place at the Uhuru Stadium in the commercial capital of Dar es Salaam last weekend.

It was followed by the second one earlier this week at the Jamhuri Stadium in the national capital Dodoma, at an event attended by about ten African leaders, majority from within the southern Africa sub-region.

Two other major events took place at the Aman Karume Stadium in Zanzibar and yesterday at the ruling party's, CCM Kirumba in Mwanza province.

After a deadly incident from the first funeral, measures have been put in place to allow mourners to enter the Magufuli Stadium through the south-western gate, while the main gate located at the northern side of the stadium is used by government authorities, departments and institutions.

However, defence and security organs including auxiliary guards, police, Tanzania Peoples Defence Forces (TPDF's) soldiers have beefed security inside and outside the stadium, local news portal The Citizen reported.

The final funeral rites will take place in Chato with hundreds of thousands of mourners expected to pay their last respects to the former president at the Magufuli Stadium.