By The Arusha News Reporter
The late Cleopa David Msuya, former Vice President and Prime Minister of Tanzania, was laid to rest last weekend in his hometown of Usangi, in Mwanga District, Kilimanjaro Region.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan led the state funeral, joined by national leaders, dignitaries, religious leaders, and hundreds of mourners. She hailed Msuya as a “true patriot” who served Tanzania with exceptional integrity and dedication.
President Samia, who personally attended the burial, said Msuya remained a trusted statesman whose wisdom was regularly sought even after his retirement. She described him as one of the architects of Tanzania’s post-independence economic structure and governance.
Former Presidents Ali Hassan Mwinyi, Jakaya Kikwete, and Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa were among the dignitaries who paid their last respects. Speaker of Parliament Dr. Tulia Ackson, ministers, ambassadors, and political party representatives also joined the procession.
The burial ceremony was marked by a mixture of solemn hymns and national pride. A funeral mass was conducted by leaders of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (ELCT), to which Msuya belonged. Traditional choirs from Moshi and Mwanga performed farewell songs as the flag-draped casket was lowered into the grave.
The funeral not only honored Msuya’s lifelong service to the nation but also highlighted his humble lifestyle, dedication to unity, and legacy as a role model for generations to come.
