Regional leaders are gathering in the Tanzanian capital Dodoma on Monday as the state funeral got underway for late president John Pembe Magufuli who died last week of heart complications.
The presidents of South Africa, Mozambique, DR Congo, Zambia and Kenya are among several heads of state who are already in Tanzania for the funeral.
Magufuli’s coffin draped in the national colours have been wheeled around Dodoma’s main stadium earlier on Monday.
After he died his body was placed for public viewing in Tanzania’s former capital and largest city Dar es Salaam before it was airlifted to Dodoma.
Several people were reported injured during a stampede on Monday in connection with a public viewing of Magufuli’s body which would be interred on Wednesday.
Magufuli has been Tanzania’s fifth president since winning elections in 2015 and was into his second term when he died last Wednesday.
His vice-president 61-year old Samia Suluhu Hassan has since been sworn in as Tanzania and East Africa’s first female head of state.
WN/as/APA