"One day before his death, there was a slight change in his condition, and he became aware that something had changed. I think he knew that God had guided him, that he wouldn't recover. He said, 'Take me home to die.' I said, 'No, Your Excellency, you're in good hands here, the doctors are here to continue treating you.'"
"Let me say one thing that has never been said before because I was there when he called me CDF (Chief of Defence Forces). He said to me, 'I cannot recover. Order these doctors to take me home.' I told him, 'Your Excellency, I don't have that authority.' He said, 'So, CDF, you can't order the doctors to take me home?' I replied, 'Health matters are not within the jurisdiction of the CDF. Your Excellency, please remain calm, the doctors will advise.'"
"When he saw that I was firm on this, he asked for his parish priest, Father Makubi from St. Peter's. He also asked for Cardinal Pengo to come. We tried to reach Pengo; he was in a service and couldn't be reached. He asked me, 'CDF, haven't you reached Pengo?' I told him, 'He's in church, Father. He will come when he's done.' So, they both came, Cardinal Pengo and Father Makubi. According to Catholic rituals, they prayed for him and administered the sacrament of the anointing of the sick, as he was in danger of dying."
"After they finished praying, he rested. But by noon, they called the hospital people, and they called me as Chief of Defence Forces, they called the DGS (Director General of Security), and the IGP (Inspector General of Police) and told us, 'His condition is not good, please come.' We went and found him calm, but he couldn't speak anymore. We called other doctors; I remember we called Professor Maseru, Professor Janabi was there the whole time, so he gave support. They tried to check on him, and we stayed until evening. It was around twelve-thirty or one in the morning when he passed away. There were three heads of security present: me (CDF), the IGP, and the DGS." - Retired Chief of Defence Forces, General Venance Mabeyo.
General Mabeyo said this in an interview with a journalist from Daily News Digital, commemorating the death of President Dr. John Magufuli, who passed away on March 17, 2021.
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