Africa Union envoy Raila Odinga has mourned Benjamin Mkapa as a honest and decent man.
"I remain grateful for the friendship we forged and the work we did together on regional and continental matters, more so after he left office," he said.
Mkapa, 81, died on Friday at a Tanzanian hospital. Mkapa led Tanzania from 1995 to 2005 before handing over to Jakaya Kikwete.
In a letter to Tanzania president John Magufuli on Wednesday, Raila said Mkapa’s humility and grasp of complex continental issues was humbling.
"...just as his belief in what we can achieve as a region and as a continent if we pulled in one direction was up lifting," he said.
"I join Tanzania in honoring this decent, honest and genuine hero as you lay him to rest. My heart and prayers are with his family and the people of the united republic of Tanzania. Accept excellency the assurance of my highest consideration."
He further noted that Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania should work together.
"Mkapa continued the tradition of Tanzania founding president Julius Nyerere of seeing the three countries as essentially one country," he said.
"It is my hope that in his honor, we will soldier on with his dreams for a stronger East African community and a united and prosperous Africa."
On Monday, President Uhuru Kenyatta asked Kenyans not to think that countries not releasing their Covid-19 data are doing better handling the disease.
Uhuru who did not mention names was seen as hitting at Tanzania who claim that covid-19 does not exists.
Magufuli declared the country Covid-19 free even though the last official report on the state of the pandemic was issued on April 29.
Madagascar is also another nation that took the pandemic lightly and even unveiled a natural remedy (Covid-organics) for its citizens as a cure.
