Thousands of Tanzanians over the weekend, lined on the streets of the country’s largest city, Dar es Salaam, to pay their respects to President John Magufuli.

People wept and threw flower petals as the coffin, towed on a gun carriage by a military vehicle and draped in the Tanzanian flag.

The body was transferred from a church to Uhuru Stadium where religious leaders recited prayers at a service attended by top officials and party officials.

Mourners wore black, or the green and yellow colours of the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party, but few inside the stadium or among the packed crowds outside wore face masks.

Recall the death of Magufuli was announced last week Wednesday by Samia Suluhu Hassan – The country’s newly sworn in president.

Magufuli, 61, died from a heart condition after weeks of absence –and the government’s denial of his critical heath state.

While Tanzania observes the 21-day of national mourning, the late president will lie in state in several locations across the country.