<p>Former Tanzanian president Benjamin Mkapa, hailed as a peacemaker in East Africa, has died aged 81 in a Dar es Salaam hospital, the government announced Friday.</p>.<p>He was the country's third president after independence from Britain in 1962 and ruled for two terms from 1995 to 2005.</p>.<p>"I'm saddened by the death of the third president of Tanzania and that is a big loss for us as a country. Let's pray for him and more information will follow later," President John Magufuli said in a short televised speech.</p>.<p>He did not reveal the cause of death.</p>.<p>Mkapa was born in 1938 to a poor family in south-eastern Mtwara.</p>.<p>He earned a degree in English in Uganda and later worked as a journalist before being appointed the press secretary for the country's first president, Julius Nyerere.</p>.<p>He held several cabinet posts, such as foreign minister and information minister, and also served as ambassador to the United States before he was elected president.</p>.<p>His presidency was marked by economic reform, including the privatisation of state enterprises and liberalisation of the economy.</p>.<p>He also secured $3 billion (2.5 billion euros) in debt relief and economic growth soared during his tenure while inflation dropped.</p>.<p>In his memoir published last year, Mkapa said the shooting to death of some 30 opposition supporters in post-election riots on the semi-autonomous island of Zanzibar in 2001 was one of the "black spots" of his stint in power.</p>.<p>After leaving office he remained active, taking part in mediation talks in Kenya after 2007-2008 election violence.</p>.<p>African Union chief Moussa Faki Mahamat on Twitter hailed him as "a statesman particularly remembered as an indefatigable peacemaker in the East African region."</p>.<p>Mkapa had most recently attempted to mediate between Burundi's government and opposition groups after a disputed 2015 election plunged the country into crisis. However the government repeatedly refused to take part and the talks went nowhere.</p>.<p>Burundi's new president, Evariste Ndayishimiye, on Twitter said he was "deeply saddened" by Mkapa's death.</p>.<p>"The people of Kenya have lost a close friend and brother, who stood with Kenya during some of our darkest hours," said President Uhuru Kenyatta, announcing a three-day period of mourning in the neighbouring country.</p>.<p>Meanwhile Kenya's veteran opposition leader Raila Odinga said Africa "has lost a giant".</p>.<p>Tanzania will hold a period of seven days of mourning, during which the national flag will be flown at half mast.</p>
<p>Former Tanzanian president Benjamin Mkapa, hailed as a peacemaker in East Africa, has died aged 81 in a Dar es Salaam hospital, the government announced Friday.</p>.<p>He was the country's third president after independence from Britain in 1962 and ruled for two terms from 1995 to 2005.</p>.<p>"I'm saddened by the death of the third president of Tanzania and that is a big loss for us as a country. Let's pray for him and more information will follow later," President John Magufuli said in a short televised speech.</p>.<p>He did not reveal the cause of death.</p>.<p>Mkapa was born in 1938 to a poor family in south-eastern Mtwara.</p>.<p>He earned a degree in English in Uganda and later worked as a journalist before being appointed the press secretary for the country's first president, Julius Nyerere.</p>.<p>He held several cabinet posts, such as foreign minister and information minister, and also served as ambassador to the United States before he was elected president.</p>.<p>His presidency was marked by economic reform, including the privatisation of state enterprises and liberalisation of the economy.</p>.<p>He also secured $3 billion (2.5 billion euros) in debt relief and economic growth soared during his tenure while inflation dropped.</p>.<p>In his memoir published last year, Mkapa said the shooting to death of some 30 opposition supporters in post-election riots on the semi-autonomous island of Zanzibar in 2001 was one of the "black spots" of his stint in power.</p>.<p>After leaving office he remained active, taking part in mediation talks in Kenya after 2007-2008 election violence.</p>.<p>African Union chief Moussa Faki Mahamat on Twitter hailed him as "a statesman particularly remembered as an indefatigable peacemaker in the East African region."</p>.<p>Mkapa had most recently attempted to mediate between Burundi's government and opposition groups after a disputed 2015 election plunged the country into crisis. However the government repeatedly refused to take part and the talks went nowhere.</p>.<p>Burundi's new president, Evariste Ndayishimiye, on Twitter said he was "deeply saddened" by Mkapa's death.</p>.<p>"The people of Kenya have lost a close friend and brother, who stood with Kenya during some of our darkest hours," said President Uhuru Kenyatta, announcing a three-day period of mourning in the neighbouring country.</p>.<p>Meanwhile Kenya's veteran opposition leader Raila Odinga said Africa "has lost a giant".</p>.<p>Tanzania will hold a period of seven days of mourning, during which the national flag will be flown at half mast.</p>