16 October 2015

Tanzania: Kigoda Laid to Rest in Handeni

President Jakaya Kikwete on Thursday evening led hundreds of people in Handeni District, Tanga Region, to bury the body of the former Minister of Industry and Trade, Dr Abdallah Kigoda.

The late Dr Kigoda passed away on Monday at Apollo Hospital in India while undergoing medical treatment. Earlier in the morning, Vice-President, Dr Mohamed Gharib Bilal, led mourners and government officials to pay their last respects to the body of the late Dr Kigoda at Karimjee Hall in Dar es Salaam.

The occasion was also attended by Prime Minister, Mr Mizengo Pinda, Speaker of the National Assembly, Ms Anne Makinda, Chief Secretary, Ambassador Ombeni Sefue, former presidents Ally Hassan Mwinyi and Benjamin Mkapa, former Prime Minister Dr Salim Ahmed Salim as well as other government leaders.

Presenting government and Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) condolences, the Minister of Home Affairs, Mr Mathias Chikawe, said the government was saddened by the grim news of the death of Dr Kigoda, as he dedicated his career in contributing to national development. He said that the late Kigoda will be highly remembered by his remarkable contribution through different positions he served in his life time.

"We have lost a well educated and good leader who was focused. He stood for what he believed. He was charming, humble and interactive to any one and never felt superior to others. May his soul rest in eternal peace," he said.

Speaker Makinda told mourners that the Parliament has lost an intellectual who used to advise the Parliamentary budget committee of which his arguments led to the improvement of important issues including undertaking budget sessions.

"I knew him before he joined the Parliament as we worked together at the Planning Commission. He never feels shame to share his points of view.

We have lost him but still we have a room to use and exploit his ideas," she said. "We have lost our key player who played a crucial role in the industrial sector.

He used to support and encourage the growth of trade and industries in the country," said Mr Seif Ally Seif, who represented the union of owners of industries in Tanzania. The late Kigoda was born on November 25, 1953 in Tanga Region.

He had served as Minister of Industry and Trade (1996-1997), Minister of Energy and Minerals (1997-2000), Minister of State in the President's Office for Planning and Privatisation (2000 - 2005) and again as Minister of Industry and Trade from 2012 to 2015.

Until his death, he was CCM parliamentary candidate for Handeni constituency in Tanga Region where he was seeking re-election in this year's general election.

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