TANZANIANS MOURN MAGUFULI

DAR

ES SALAAM - Fourteen days of national mourning have been declared in Tanzania to mark the death of President John Magufuli, who died at the age of 61.

Vice-President Samia Suluhu Hassan said Magufuli had died from complications related to a heart condition.

One woman, who lives in Magufuli's hometown of Chato, gave an emotional reaction to the news:

"I have received this news with great sadness. I am really touched. He was not my relative, but he was someone who listened to people's problems and he was down to Earth. It is really painful," she said.

"To be honest this news has hurt me so bad, it’s like I have been told of my father’s death. Because he was our elder, president and our national leader," said Dulli from Kiembe Samaki in the semi-autonomous islands of Zanzibar.

Tanzania opposition figure Zitto Kabwe offered his "deepest condolences to Janet Magufuli and the whole family of John Pombe Magufuli, I’m offering my condolences to the deputy chairman of CCM (the ruling party) and CCM members on the loss of their chairman".

Former Tanzania Prime Minister Fredrick Sumaye said he was "so shocked and at first I thought it was not true. It is very shocking news. Losing a sitting president is a huge tragedy."

Meanwhile, tributes have been pouring in for the Tanzanian leader.

Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta says he's learned "with profound sorrow" and sadness the death of President Magufuli.

President Kenyatta said Magufuli was a champion of pan-Africanism. "I have lost a friend, colleague and visionary ally," he said.

Kenyatta, who is the