Tanzania’s Chief Sheikh Simba buried in Shinyanga hometown

President Jakaya Kikwete puts soil in the grave of Chief Sheikh Shaaban Simba as the latter’s body was put to rest at Nguzonane graveyard in Shinyanga yesterday. Mufti Simba died on Monday. PHOTO | STATE HOUSE 

By The Citizen Correspondents

In Summary

Sheikh Simba, who has left behind 11 Children, joined the Muslim Council of Tanzania (Bakwata) in 1968 and has been a lecturer at colleges in different regions, particularly Mwanza, Shinyanga and Kagera. He became the Chief Sheikh for Shinyanga Region in 1970. He was picked as National Chief Sheikh in 2003 succeeding the late Hemed bin Jumaa bin Hemed.
Sheikh Simba died on Monday morning at TMJ hospital where he was admitted for treatment. He was suffering from hypertension and diabetes.
    

Shinyanga/Dar es Salaam. Chief Sheikh Issa Shaaban Simba, 78, was yesterday buried in his hometown of Shinyanga in a ceremony attended by President Jakaya Kikwete and other national leaders.

The body of late Mufti Simba arrived at Shnyanga Airport in the afternoon before being sent by police motorcade to his house at Majengo. The cloud of grief hovered the late Mufti’s residence as some of mourners and close relatives couldn’t control their sorrows and broke to tears.

From his house his body was taken to Nguzonane Mosque for prayers before being buried at Nguzonane graveyard at 05pm.

Apart from President Kikwete other public leaders who attended the burial are former Prime Ministers Mr Edward Lowassa and Mr Frederick Sumaye, Foreign Affairs minister Mr Benard Membe also attended, the three are contending for CCM nomination to succeed President Kikwete. Shinyanga Roman Catholic Diocese Bishop Liberatus Sangu also attended the burial.

Sheikh Simba has been leading Bakwata since 2003 after the death of his predecessor Sheikn Hemed bin Jumaa bin Hemed. Sheikh Simba died on Monday morning at TMJ hospital where he was admitted for treatment. He was suffering from hypertension and diabetes for a long time.

In Dar es Salaam, former President Mzee Ali Hassan Mwinyi led hundreds of mourners in special prayers to the fallen Mufti.

The prayers were held at Bakwata headquarters in Kinondoni and were attended by a number of leaders and politicians led by Vice President Dr Mohammed Gharib Bilal. Others in attendance were Zanzibar Minister of State in the Second vice President’s Office Mr Mohammed Aboud Mohammed, Chadema national chair and secretary general Mr Freeman Mbowe and Dr Wilibrod Slaa respectively, CUF chairman Prof Ibrahim Lipumba and former Prime Minister Dr Salim Ahmed Salim.

Ambassadors from Iran, Sudan and Comoros also attended the prayers.

Speaking at the occasion on behalf of the government Dr Bilal said the late Chief Sheikh was an ambassador of peace and urged Tanzanians to follow in his footsteps.

“Mufti Simba was an instrumental leader in maintaining cordial relationship between religious leaders and the government; we are surely going to miss him…We pray for his soul to rest in eternal peace,” said Dr Bilal.

Speaking on behalf of other politicians, Prof Lipumba said that, “The passing of Mufti Simba is a national loss. I knew him as a humble and down to earth leader and human being. We have to learn from him in building and maintaining a peaceful Tanzania.”