President Lungu mourns Magufuli

PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu has described Tanzanian President John Magufuli who passed on Wednesday as fearless, and practical modern African leader who made the world pay attention for his unconventional leadership as he transformed his country.

President Lungu said President Magufuli was his good friend and that he was shocked to learn of his ‘untimely’ death.

"It is with a deep sense of shock and sorrow that

I learnt of the untimely death of His Excellency President John Pombe Magufuli. Allow me, therefore, to extend, on behalf of the Government and People of Zambia and indeed on my own behalf, sincere condolences to the Government and People of Tanzania, as well as the bereaved family on this great loss of this prolific son of Africa," he said.

President Lungu said the death of President Magufuli would forever be painfully etched in the collective memory of the people of

Tanzania for his selflessness resolve to bring about socio economic transformation and prosperity to his country.

He said on the regional front, President Magufuli would be remembered for his immense contribution towards the growth of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) through his recent Chairmanship of the regional body.

In his message of condolences to Tanzania's Vice-President, Samia Hassan Suluhu, President Lungu stated "As we join you in mourning the dear departed President, the Zambian Government will continue to cherish the friendship we shared which served to further enhance the relations between Zambia and Tanzania.”

And President Lungu has conveyed condolences to the President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa on the passing of King Goodwill Zwelithini of the Zulu, who died on March 12, this year.

President Lungu said King Zwelithini would be remembered for creat

John Magufuli

ing initiatives in the fight against HIV/AIDS in South Africa, as was illustrated by the work of the Bayede Foundation Trust that His Majesty founded in 2006.