Feb, 18th 2021 – Tanzania’s Chief Secretary of the State John William Kijazi has died. A statement from the government spokesman said he died on Wednesday night at the Benjamin Mkapa Hospital in Dodoma where he was receiving treatment.
Part of the statement read, “Rais wa muungano wa Tanzania Mhe. Dkt. John Pombe Magufuli anasikitika kutangaza kifo cha katibu Mkuu Kiongozi Mhe. Balozi John William Kijazi kilichotokea leo tarehe 17 Februari, 2021.”
The cause of what led to the death of the veteran politician and diplomat is still not clear. Funeral preparations are to be announced at a later date. “Information about burial arrangements of Mr. Kijazi will be released later,” read the statement.
William Kijazi was Tanzania’s representative in different foreign missions including India, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal based in New Delhi, India from 2007 – 2016. This made him Tanzania’s Head of Mission abroad.
#BREAKING: Chief Secretary of the State, Amb. John William Kijazi has passed away tonight at Benjamin Mkapa Hospital in Dodoma. President Magufuli has confirmed the demise of the veteran politician and diplomat through a statement from the State House.
— Tanzania Daily (@TanzaniaDaily) February 17, 2021
👉 https://t.co/WJplYraOkJ pic.twitter.com/eMfw0wc0F3
Before becoming an ambassador, he was the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Works and later on Ministry of Infrastructure Development from 2002 to 2006. Thereafter he was appointed Ambassador to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and eventually assigned to New Delhi, India.
William Kijazi is the second high-ranking official in Tanzania to die after the first Vice President of Zanzibar, Maalim Seif Sharif died in the morning. He died while undergoing treatment after being hospitalized since 9th February.
Sharif is the first person in Tanzania to publicly reveal a Covid-19 status since April last year, when President John Magufuli declared the country coronavirus-free.