By Lake Zone Watch Writer
The second president of the United Republic of Tanzania, Ali Hassan Mwinyi, died yesterday evening aged 98.
Mwinyi ruled Tanzania from 1985 to 1995 after Father of the Nation, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, who led the country’s independence struggle from colonial rule.
Announcing Mzee Mwinyi’s death at State House in Dar es Salaam yesterday, President Samia Suluhu Hassan, said the nonagenarian leader died of lung cancer at Mzena Hospital in Dar es Salaam where he was admitted for treatment.
President Samia announced a seven-day mourning period in honour of the departed leader as all flags will fly at a half mast.
Mzee Mwinmyi, popularly known as Mzee Ruksa among the populace because of his liberal policies during his regime, is the man who oversaw the adoption of the market-oriented economic policies in the mid-1980s as the nation abandoned the centralised economic planning where the major means of production were under state control.
The fallen leader will be remembered for holding the presidency in both parts of Union as he also ruled Zanzibar from 1984 to 1985 before being elected to head the union government.
The government is expected to announce Mzee Mwinyi’s burial arrangements today.