Tributes pour in as former Zanzibar President dies at 96

Dar es Salaam.  Aboud Jumbe Mwinyi aged 96, Mzee Jumbe passed away at 1pm at his home in Mji Mwema, Kigamboni District in Dar es Salaam on Sunday, where he had been living since stepped down as President of Zanzibar in 1984.

President John Magufuli mourned the death of Mzee Jumbe on Sunday, calling him “an important person who devoted himself in the fight for freedom, unity, justice and development of Zanzibaris and Tanzanians in general at a time when the country was passing through difficult times.”

Mzee Jumbe was the President of Zanzibar from1972 following Sheikh Abeid Amani Karume’s assassination, to 1984, when he was forced by the ruling party, CCM, to resign. “During his leadership, he played a key role in building and defending the Tanzania that we see today,’’ said the Head State in a statement issued by the Directorate of Presidential Communications. “My heartfelt condolences go to the family and friends during this moment of sadness,” he added.

The Former Zanzibar President passed on surrounded by his family. His body, which remained at his Kigamboni home, will be flown to Zanzibar this morning for burial later on Monday at  Migombani Village, his son Mustapha Aboud Jumbe told The Citizen on Sunday.

The former Isles President, who was born on June 14, 1920 in Zanzibar, leaves behind two wives, 14 children and over 30 grandchildren.

Condolences from numerous high profile figures leaders who spoke to The Citizenon Sunday expressed their sadness following the demise of the outspoken politician.  The CCM Spokesperson, Mr Christopher ole Sendeka said Mzee Jumbe was one of the key Isles figures who symbolised the birth of Tanzania’s ruling party CCM. His death, he said, means a lot to the party and the current political landscape in the country

ACT-Wazalendo party leader  Kabwe, hailed the fallen politician for his stance on major reforms within the Union Government.  “Mzee Aboud Jumbe will be remembered for being committed to what he believed in. He was stripped of all his leadership posts for defending a three-tier union government. He leaves behind a legacy—in the form of a memoir—that can be used as a platform to learn more about our country,” said Mr Kabwe.

Mzee Jumbe succeeded Sheikh Karume as president, following the latter’s assassination on April 7, 1972. He was initially elected by the Revolutionary Council of the Afro-Shirazi Party.

During his term of office, two ruling parties of Tanzania, the ASP and the Tanganyika African National Union (Tanu), merged to create Tanzania’s ruling party, the CCM.