PRESIDENT Samia Suluhu Hassan and Zanzibar’s Dr Hussein Mwinyi on Tuesday joined other Tanzanians to mourn former Zanzibar Election Commission (ZEC) Chairman Jecha Salim Jecha who died in Dar es Salaam yesterday at 74.
The late Jecha, who rose to fame following his cancellation the 2015 Zanzibar elections over irregularity grounds had been ailing for quite long and was admitted at Dar es Salaam-based Lugalo Military Referral Hospital.
According to a statement issued by the Directorate of Presidential Communications, President Samia has sent condolences to the family, relatives and friends following the death of Jecha.
“President Samia has received the news on Jecha’s demise with grief and sadness,” reads part of the statement.
On his side, Zanzibar President Dr Mwinyi yesterday postponed his tour of Pemba Island to join other Zanzibaris to mourn Jecha’s demise.
The deceased was laid to rest at his home village- Kibeni, Mkwajuni in Unguja North Region yesterday, where President Mwinyi led other mourners to pay last respect before burial took place at around 4.30pm local time.
Both President Samia and Dr Mwinyi, in their condolence message, prayed for the bereaved family to remain calm at this trying period, saying the country has lost a highly valuable person.
Zanzibar First Vice-President Mr Othman Masoud Othman and the retired Second Vice- President Ambassador Seif Ali Iddi and ministers and ZEC officers were among the many people who turned out for the Jecha’s burial.
Ruling party CCM Deputy Secretary General, Zanzibar, Dr Muhamed Dimwa described the deceased as a highly valued asset to the ruling party, saying CCM will always remember his valuable contributions to the country’s social and economic development. “This (death) is a great loss to both CCM and the country as a whole,” he mourned.
Mr Jecha was one of the 38 CCM cadres who vied for the party nomination to the presidency in the 2020 general election.
Jecha was born in Unguja North in 1952 and pursued his primary education between 1959 and 1965 before going for secondary education in between 1966 and 1969. He then joined the University of Dar es Salaam and graduated in 1977 before moving to the United States of America’s New York University for postgraduate studies.
The late Jecha, a professional teacher, joined the public service in 1972 and eight years later in 1980 moved to the central government where he served for eight years to 1988.
He later joined ZEC as a member in 2008 before ascending to the helm as its chairman. He officially retired in 2018.
Meanwhile, President Samia has also extended condolences to the family of the late President Benjamin Mkapa, following the death of Bernard William Mkapa, who was his brother.
President Samia requested family members to be patient during this difficult period of mourning and prayed for the deceased to rest in peace.
