President Jakaya Kikwete yesterday led mourners at the burial of the late Chief Sheikh, Mufti Shaaban bin Simba who died in a Dar es Salaam hospital on Monday.
The late Simba was laid to rest yesterday at the Nguzonane cemetery here.
The body of the late Shekh Simba arrived at the Shinyanga airport from Dar es Salaam in the afternoon and was received by hundreds of Shinyanga residents and government leaders.
The body was then taken to his home at Majengo before it was taken to Nguzonane Mosque for burial prayers.
Earlier in Dar es Salaam yesterday, government officials, political and religious leaders and the citizenry were not given a chance to pay their last respect to Mufti but instead they only held prayers in the absence of the body.
Speaking during the prayers at the National Muslim council of Tanzania (Bakwata) premises where Vice President, Dr Gharib Mohammed Bilal led thousands of mourners, said the late Simba did his best to build good relationship between government and the religious leaders for the benefit of the nation.
The VP noted that the country has lost a wise person with qualities for a patron who had a very important contribution to the nation.
Bilal said the Mufti worked with great love to ensure that peace was maintained.
For his part, Civic United Front (CUF) Chairman, Professor Ibrahim Lipumba, said the nation has lost a person who worked hard to unite the citizenry.
The professor said the best way to remember the Mufti was by following his example and uniting us as one people and one nation.
For his part, Chadema National Chairman Freeman Mbowe said Mufti was a very responsible leader and hence called on the nation to follow what he used to preach during his lifetime.
For his part, IPP Executive Chairman Dr Reginald Mengi said Mufti was his bosom friend before and after being the leader.
Dr Mengi said he knew Simba as a person who loved mankind especially the under privileged persons.
He described the Mufti as person of the people despite his position.
Mengi said though physically the Mufti was no-more, the clergy would remain in the minds of the majority of people.
The Executive Director for the Religious Leaders Peace Committee, Pastor Thomas Doda said Mufti had left a big responsibility to leaders to ensure what he stood for was sustainable.
Speaking on the sideline of the prayers, Kinondoni Municipal Sheikh Mohamed Muhenga said Bakwata Constitution says that the acting Mufti is supposed to be appointed soon after the burial ceremony and the Ulamaa National Committee within Bakwata is responsible for appointing a successor.
He said that committee is the one responsible for appointing the acting Mufti.
However, the committee could only do so after the his return from the burial and would be acting Mufti for 90 days as they prepare the process for electing the new Mufti.
He noted that those who qualify were allowed to take forms to enable them to contest for the position soon after the acting Mufti is nominated.
However, the Mufti is nominated by the Islamic Religion Committee after the 90 days.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
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