Former Tanzanian President, John Magufuli who died from a heart condition on Wednesday, will be buried on March 25 in his native town Chato in the Geita region.

President Samia Suluhu Hassan announced the burial date on Friday in Dar Es Salaam.

Speaking for the first time after she was sworn in as President on Friday at State House in the commercial capital Dar es Salaam, Hassan said the body of former President Magufuli will lie in state for the weekend at the national stadium where people in the commercial capital can pay their last respects.

On March 22, the body of Magufuli will lie in the capital Dodoma to allow the general public to pay their last respects, said President Hassan.

Hassan appealed to Tanzanians to be patient during this difficult period of losing their brave, visionary, revolutionary and patriotic leader.

“We should take over from where President Magufuli has accomplished.

“We should stop pointing fingers at each other.

“We need to forge ahead as a nation,’’ she said.

Tanzania will remain calm as it has always been, she said before she chaired her first cabinet meeting.