DODOMA-(MaraviPost)-Tanzania’s President John Magufuli was seen wiping away tears as he paid tribute to his predecessor Benjamin Mkapa at a memorial service at the national stadium.
“Mr Mkapa raised me like his own son, he was a hero to me, he showed me love, at times tears are just coming, don’t be surprised,” said Mr Magufuli.
BBC understands that thousands of people in the commercial capital, Dar es Salaam, gathered at the stadium to pay their last respects to the country’s former president.
Representatives from Burundi and celebrities also attended.
But the Kenyan delegation is reported to have turned back for reasons not disclosed yet.
Mr Mkapa’s body will be flown later on Tuesday to his place of birth in Lupaso village, which is in Southern Tanzania.
Mr Mkapa, who was president between 1995 and 2005, died aged 81 in hospital in Dar es Salaam on Thursday.