Former Tanzanian president, Benjamin Mkapa, 81, is dead.
The current President, John Magufuli who announced his death during a short televised speech on Friday, said he died at Dar es Salaam hospital, though the cause of his death was not revealed.
“I’m saddened by the death of the third president of Tanzania and that is a big loss for us as a country.
“Let’s pray for him and more information will follow later,” he said.
He also said that the country will hold a period of seven days of mourning, in honour of the deceased.
Before his death, Mkapa was the country’s third president after independence from Britain in 1962 and ruled from 1995 to 2005.
He also held several cabinet posts, such as foreign minister and information minister and also served as ambassador to the United States before he was elected president.