Former Tanzanian President Benjamin Mkapa has died aged 81 at a hospital in the main city of Dar es Salaam where he had been receiving treatment, the government confirmed on Friday.
The cause of death is not clear and was not revealed in President John Magufuli’s televised speech to the nation.
Seven days of mourning have been declared, with all flags to be flown at half-mast.
President Magufuli called Mkapa’s death “a big loss for us as a country”, and added “let’s pray for him”.
