- President Suluhu announced that Mwinyi will be buried on March 2, 2024, at Ugunja in the highlands of Zanzibar.
- He was the President of Tanzania between 1985 to 1995.
Image: COURTESY
President William Ruto has mourned the death of the former Tanzania President Ali Hassan Mwinyi.
Tanzania President Samia Suluhu announced Mwinyi's death on Thursday evening saying he breathed his last around 5.30 pm.
In a statement on X, Ruto described Mwinyi as a great leader with a rich legacy.
"I extend my condolences and those of the people of Kenya to President Samia Suluhu and the people of the United Republic of Tanzania following the passing on of H.E. Ali Hassan Mwinyi — the second President of the United Republic of Tanzania. We join in mourning the loss of a great leader whose rich legacy will never fade," he said.
"Rest In Peace, Mzee Mwinyi."
The former president succumbed to cancer.
President Suluhu announced that Mwinyi will be buried on March 1, 2024, in Ugunja domiciled in the highlands of Zanzibar.
He was the President of Tanzania between 1985 to 1995.
Mwinyi took over from Tanzania's founding president Julius Nyerere.
He had been receiving medication at a London Hospital before he returned to Tanzania where he continued with medication.
President Suluhu declared a 7-day mourning period during which flags will be raised at half-mast.
"On behalf of the Tanzania government, I send my condolences to the family, friends and the people of Tanzania on this big loss," she said.
Azimio leader Raila Odinga and his wife Ida also mourned former President Mwinyi.
"Mama Ida and I extend our deepest condolences to President Samia Suluhu on the passing of H.E. Ali Hassan Mwinyi, the 2nd President of the United Republic of Tanzania. We join the Tanzanian nation in mourning a truly great African leader and statesman," Raila said.
"May He Rest In Peace."
His son Dr Hussein Ali Mwinyi, is the current President of Zanzibar, the Tanzanian archipelago.
Mwinyi was born in May 1925 in the village of Kivure, Pwani Region, where he was also raised.
He married Siti Mwinyi in 1960, with whom he had six sons and six daughters.
In retirement, Ali Hassan Mwinyi stayed out of the limelight and continued to live in Dar es Salaam.
Before becoming the president, Mwinyi served as the Interior Minister and Vice President.
He also was chairman of the ruling party, the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) from 1990 to 1996.
Former President Nyerere retired in October 1985 and picked Mwinyi to be his successor.
Nyerere remained chairman of the ruling party Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), until 1990.
During Mwinyi's terms, Tanzania took the first steps to reverse the socialist policies.
Mwinyi was honoured with the Order of Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere in 2011.
It is the highest award of the Tanzanian Honours System and is named after Julius Nyerere, the nation's first president.
In 2022, he was awarded the King Faisal Prize of Saudi Arabia for Service to Islam.
Image: PCS