Children die in stampede as Tanzania mourns Magufuli

A woman and four children have died after a stampede as Tanzanians mourn former President John Magufuli, police have told the BBC.

Some reports say the death toll could be high as 40 but officials have not confirmed this.

Tens of thousands of people had turned up at a stadium in Dar es Salaam to view the body of the former president.

Nicknamed the bulldozer, Mr Magufuli was popular with many Tanzanians for his no-nonsense governance style.

Critics, however, accused him of being an autocrat and of clamping down on dissent.

He also downplayed the effects of coronavirus and stopped the publication of the country’s case numbers and deaths. Opposition politicians say that Mr Magufuli died from Covid-19, but this has not been confirmed.

Dennis Mtuwa’s wife, two of his children, a nephew and a niece have been confirmed among the dead after Sunday’s stampede, reports the BBC’s Salim Kikeke from Dar es Salaaam.

“These last 24 hours have been really difficult for me. I feel relieved when I’m surrounded by people, but when I’m alone the amount of grief becomes overwhelming,” Mr Mtuwa told the BBC.

The city’s Police Commander Lazaro Mambosasa said he would give further details on Tuesday.

On Monday, thousands of Tanzanians attended Mr Magufuli’s state funeral in the capital, Dodoma, attended by several African leaders who gave glowing tributes.

The continent was “saddened by the death of a revolutionary,” said Democratic Republic of Congo’s Felix Tshisekedi of Mr Magufuli who died last week following heart complications at the age of 61.

Tanzania’s new President Samia Suluhu Hassan remembered her predecessor as a champion of the poor and a religious man.

“He wasn’t just our leader but also a guardian and parent to many… and an honest man,” President Samia said.

Tanzanian leaders attending the funeral and the majority of the thousands of people at the stadium in Dodoma did not wear face masks or observe social distancing – health measures that the late president often mocked.

However, visiting leaders and other delegations did wear masks.

He will be buried in his north-western hometown of Chato on Friday.

Mozambique President Filipe Nyusi said the former Tanzanian president “will stay in the hearts” of many.

In his tribute, Malawi’s President Lazarus Chakwera referred to Mr Magufuli as “Africa’s finest son” whose “life of service” would be remembered.

South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa described him as a “true pan-Africanist” who was unapologetic about being an African.

Mr Ramaphosa remembered the former president for being a “warrior” against corruption, and who worked for his people.

He also said the Tanzanian president was a champion for African culture and traditions, especially the use of Swahili, East Africa’s lingua franca, throughout the continent.

“Swahili has been introduced in South African schools as a honour to the late President John Magufuli who insisted on its use,” Mr Ramaphosa said.

This was echoed by Botswana’s President Mokgweetsi Masese, who said that Mr Magufuli was a “great teacher”, like Tanzania’s founding President Julius Nyerere.

“Even in Botswana he expected us to speak Swahili… We too have introduced Swahili in our curricula.”

In his tribute, Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta also addressed Mr Magufuli’s successor, saying: “To you my sister and now my counterpart, the road has been shown to you by our brother President Magufuli.”

“The Democratic Republic of Congo and the African Union together are saddened by the death of the revolutionary Dr John Magufuli. We’re praying for Tanzanians. The DR Congo is with you in this difficult period,” said President Tshisekedi, who is the current chairman of the African Union.