Dr Edmund Sengondo Mvungi, who died on Tuesday afternoon at Milpark hospital in South Africa, will be buried on Monday in Mwanga District, Kilimanjaro Region.

The Constitutional Review Commission (CRC) member was being treated for severe wounds sustained as he fought off suspected robbers, who invaded his residence in Dar es Salaam on November2, this year.

Speaking on behalf of the family, NCCR-Mageuzi National Chairman James Mbatia said the body of Mvungi will be flown to the country tomorrow and be preserved at Lugalo Military referral hospital in Dar es Salaam.

“On Saturday morning, the body will be taken to St Joseph Cathedral for prayers after which government officials, politicians and other civil servants will pay their last respects to Mvungi mid afternoon at Karimjee grounds,” said Mbatia.

The body will then be taken to Dr Mvungi’s residence at Kibamba-Msakuzi for members of his family and other colleagues to pay their last respects. The body will be flown to Kilimanjaro’s Mwanga district on Sunday for burial on Monday.

According to Mbatia, NCCR-Mageuzi will fly its flag at half mast until next Tuesday to mourn Dr Mvungi who was also a member of the party’s National Executive Council.

Meanwhile Essero Mafuru, UoI and Chenjerayi Millinga, TSJ report that Dar es Salaam Special Zone Commander, Suleiman Kova announced yesterday that police had arrested one more person in connection with the attack on Dr Mvungi, bringing the number of suspects to ten.

Kova named the suspect as John Mayunga (56) alias Ngosha who was found in possession of the pistol allegedly belonging to the Dr Mvungi.

“When we searched Mayunga’s house we found the pistol belonging to Dr Mvungi. Documents we obtained from the family members showed that the pistol we found in Mayunga’s house indeed belonged to the late Mvungi, and was among items that were stolen on the material day,” Kova told a news conference yesterday.

In a related development, President Jakaya Kikwete yesterday visited and consoled Dr Mvungi’s family at Kibamba-Msakuzi.

Accompanying him were the Regional Commissioner Said Meck Sadiki, Members of the Constitutional Review Commission headed by Judge (rtd) Joseph Warioba and Kinondoni District Commissioner Jordan Rugimbana.

The President in a State House statement of condolences to the Chairman of Constitutional Review Commission (CRC), Retired Judge Joseph Warioba expressed shock at the death of Dr Mvungi, saying: “I am very much grieved by the news of his death.”

Kikwete said Dr Mvungi contributed to various development activities in the nation and that he met his death when the country still needed his wisdom in putting together the new constitution.

“From the time he was a journalist for Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) newspapers - Uhuru and Mzalendo - to his position as a lecturer at the university of Dar es Salaam and as a Lawyer with South Law Chambers and chairman for …NCCR and his aspiring to the Presidency in 2005 and now as a commissioner for constitution review commissioner, Mvungi has been instrumental in the developments of the nation, for which he shall be forever remembered,” said the President.

He added: “I join you in mourning…through you, I express my condolences to the family members, friends and neighbours. May God rest his soul in peace.”

CCM General Secretary, Abdulrahaman Kinana, sent CCM’s condolences to Mvungi’s family, CRC Chairman, retired Judge Joseph Warioba and NCCR Chairman, James Mbatia.

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