Magufuli's farewell stampede left 45 Tanzanians dead - Police

DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania

It is now official. The stampede that occurred on the second day when Dar es Salaam residents were paying their last respects to the body of the late President John Magufuli killed 45 people.

Thirty-seven more people were injured as a huge number of mourners sought to force their way into Uhuru stadium to pay their last respects to the fallen President on Sunday, March 21, 2021, police have confirmed.

According to the Dar es Salaam Special Zone police Commander, Lazaro Mambosasa, a stampede occurred when some Dar es Salaam residents attempted to enter the already full stadium via unofficial entrance points as the crowd got larger for the security officers to control.

“They went to the stadium in order to express their love for their departed leader but because the number of people was huge, some became impatient and opted to use unofficial entry points and that was how the problem occurred.” Mambosasa, told Mwananchi newspaper adding that the deceased were not criminals.

He said all the 37 people who were injured in the stampede were progressing well and had been discharged from various hospitals.

 “Whenever there is a national event that brings many people together, it is advised that people should obey the laid procedures. That way, we will be able to avoid a recurrence of the loss of lives that we have just had.” He stressed.

Though the Commander could not name the victims, what is known is that the stampede dealt a heavy loss to the family of David Mtuwa of Dar es Salaam who lost six members of his family.

On Thursday, March 25, hundreds of mourners turned up at his home to pay their last respects to the family members who lost their lives during the stampede at the stadium.

The deceased were his children Christian (11), Michelle (8), Nathan (6), and Natalia (5), his wife Suzan Ndana Mtuwa (30s) and housemaid Anita Mfikwa (27).

Another reported victim was Rose John who was also killed during the stampede and her body was transported to Kagera for burial.

Late president Magufuli died at the Mzena Memorial Hospital in Dar es Salaam on March 17, and his body was laid to rest at his Chato hometown on Friday, March 26.

The burial took place after Tanzanians had paid their last respects in Dar es Salaam, Dodoma, Zanzibar and Mwanza.