President Jakaya Kikwete lays a wreath on the grave of the former Chancellor of the University of Dar es Salaam, the late Ambassador Fulgence Kazaura during his burial at his village of Kajumo.

President Jakaya Kikwete yesterday led hundreds of mourners to bury the former University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) Chancellor Ambassador Fulgence Kazaura who died last Saturday in India.

According Rwekaza Mukandala, the current UDSM Vice-Chancellor, the late Kazaura was buried at Kajumo Village, Misenyi District in Kagera Region.
Mukandala told The Guardian on Sunday by telephone that a requiem mass was conducted around noon, led by Bukoba Auxiliary Bishop Methodius Kilaini, after the family and the village members paid their last respects.  He was buried in a grave yard located at his house premises.
Lands, Housing and Human Settlements minister Prof Anna Tibaijuka, EAC Secretary General, Ambassador Richard Sezibera and several former ambassadors were among those present.
The late Kazaura who served in various government positions died last Friday night in Chennai, India where he was receiving cancer treatment.
His body’s arrived in Dar es Salaam on Wednesday and the last respect were paid last Friday at Nkuruma Hall at UDSM.
Based on the family report, Ambassador Kazaura fell ill in 2012 and was accessed treatment in the country, but in Hune last year he was diagnosed with throat cancer before being taken to a cancer Centre in Chenai for treatment.
Kazaura served as permanent secretary in several ministries, was Tanzanian Ambassador to the European Union headquarters in Belgium, and later served as economic advisor to the president.
He served as Deputy Secretary General of East African Community (EAC) before being appointed UDSM Chancellor, the post he served for nine years.
UDSM Vice-Chancellor Mukandala told this paper yesterday that the university community was shocked by the news of his death as his health was said to be improving in the past few days.
Kazaura was appointed to the position in 2005 taking over from the late Paul Bomani. He was again appointed to the post by President Kikwete for another term in 2012 after serving for six years.
In another development, the management of Groupe Bank of Africa has expressed shock and sadness following the sudden demise of one of its leaders.
According to official statement from the bank, Professor Kazaura worked as the Board Chairman of its Tanzania subsidiary Bank of Africa, and  managed to conduct meetings of the Board of Directors since 1996, which contributed to the development of the bank’s activities and products in the Tanzanian market.
The Group Chairman and CEO Mohamed Bennani, said:  “Upon learning about the sad demise of Ambassador Kazaura, I would like to present sincere condolences to the members of the family, on behalf of myself as well as the Directors, Management and Staff of Bank of Africa -Tanzania.”
He said that his numerous friends among the directors and management had deep respects for him and now feels that they have lost a dear friend.
Kazaura had worked with another Group Director in charge of Anglophone countries, Abdekabir Bennani, who also expressed shock at the news of the sudden death.
He said that as Chairman of Bank of Africa – Tanzania, he managed the Board’s discussions with skill and efficiency while simultaneously creating a friendly atmosphere. He was respected by all the directors and his absence will be felt in our future meetings.
Since 2007 when the then Eurafrican Bank was acquired by Group Bank of Africa to Bank of Africa -Tanzania, under the Group Chairmanship of Paul Derreumaux, he said:
 “Chairman Kazaura was a living example.
It is possible to have, at the same time, different qualities: the authority, the simplicity, the skill and the kindness, dedication, competency. I’m very glad to have worked with him for a couple of years and he will still be a precious support for the bank and myself.”
For his part, Vincent De Blouer who is also Board member said “I have been a member of the Board of Directors of Eurafrican Bank and Bank of Africa -Tanzania, with Ambassador Kazaura as Chairman for close to 15 years.”