Mr. Magufuli, 61, died last week as a result of heart complications.
“The death of a revolutionary has saddened the continent,” said Felix Tshisekedi, President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
His successor, President Samia Suluhu Hassan, remembered him as a religious man and a champion of the poor.
“He was not only our leader, but also a guardian and parent to many… and an honest man,” said President Samia.
Mr. Magufuli, nicknamed the bulldozer, was well-liked by many Tanzanians who admired his no-nonsense approach to governance.
Critics, on the other hand, accused him of being an autocrat who suppressed dissent.
He also downplayed the coronavirus’s effects and halted the publication of the country’s case numbers and fatalities. Opposition politicians claim Mr. Magufuli died of Covid-19, but this has yet to be confirmed.
Tanzanian leaders attending the funeral and the majority of the thousands of people in Dodoma’s stadium did not wear face masks or practice social distancing, both of which were health measures that the late president frequently mocked.
Visitors’ leaders and other delegations, on the other hand, wore masks.
Tens of thousands of people flooded Dar es Salaam’s streets, the country’s largest city, over the weekend to pay their respects.
On Sunday, a stampede occurred at a stadium where Mr. Magufuli’s coffin was on display; the number of casualties is unknown at this time.
On Friday, he will be buried in his northwestern hometown of Chato.
What did Africa’s leaders have to say?
Mozambique President Filipe Nyusi said the former Tanzanian president “will live on in many people’s hearts.”
Malawi’s President Lazarus Chakwera paid tribute to Mr. Magufuli, calling him “Africa’s finest son” whose “life of service” would be remembered.
President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa described him as a “true pan-Africanist” who was unapologetic about his African heritage.
Mr. Ramaphosa recalled the former president as a “warrior” against corruption who worked for his people.
He also stated that Tanzania’s president is a supporter of African culture and traditions, particularly the use of Swahili, East Africa’s lingua franca, throughout the continent.
“Swahili has been introduced in South African schools as a tribute to the late President John Magufuli, who insisted on its use,” said Mr Ramaphosa.
This was echoed by Botswana’s President Mokgweetsi Masese, who said Mr. Magufuli, like Tanzania’s founding President Julius Nyerere, was a “great teacher.”
“He expected us to speak Swahili even in Botswana… We have also included Swahili in our curricula.”
Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta addressed Mr. Magufuli’s successor in his tribute, saying;
“To you, my sister and now my counterpart, the road has been shown to you by our brother President Magufuli.”
“The Democratic Republic of the Congo and the African Union are both saddened by the death of Dr. John Magufuli, a revolutionary. Tanzanians are in our thoughts and prayers. The Democratic Republic of the Congo stands by you during this trying time “said President Tshisekedi, the African Union’s current chairman.
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