The president of Tanzania's semi-autonomous islands of Zanzibar has announced seven days of national mourning following the death of first Vice-President Seif Sharif Hamad.
Flags would fly at half-mast during the mourning period, Hussein Mwinyi said.
The 77-year-old Zanzibari politician had been receiving treatment at Muhumbili National Hospital in Dar es Salaam, a few weeks after contracting coronavirus.
He is likely to be buried on Thursday.
Mr Hamad, popularly known as Maalim Seif, was a giant figure in opposition politics in Zanzibar - and Tanzania in general, reports the BBC's Athuman Mtulya from Dar es Salaam.
He had joined a government of national unity in Zanzibar following last October's elections.
He was the leader of the ACT Wazalendo party and was the most prominent official in Tanzania to openly declare that he had contracted Covid-19.
The authorities have repeatedly declared that the East African nation is free from coronavirus or that the virus is under control - and stopped publishing official Covid-19 data in June last year.
Latest Stories
-
Stampede in southwestern Nigerian city causes multiple deaths
6 minutes -
Tens of thousands without water in Mayotte as curfew brought in
19 minutes -
ORAL: We won’t witch-hunt, we’ll focus on transparency, not revenge – Ablakwa
42 minutes -
Attempted robbery: Accused claims he carried cutlass for protection
59 minutes -
Excavator operator jailed for stealing
1 hour -
African fans age-shame me for putting on some outfits – Tiwa Savage
1 hour -
Embattled Liberian speaker questioned by police over parliament fire
3 hours -
‘I won’t be a judge in my own court; ORAL is about protecting public purse’ – Ablakwa
3 hours -
Bawumia joins thousands in Kumasi for burial prayers for Ashanti Regional Imam
3 hours -
Blue Gold Bogoso Prestea Limited challenges government actions in court
4 hours -
Verdicts due for 51 men in Pelicot mass rape trial that shook France
4 hours -
Syria not a threat to world, rebel leader Ahmed al-Sharaa tells BBC
4 hours -
Patrick Atangana Fouda: ‘A hero of the fight against HIV leaves us’
5 hours -
Trinity Oil MD Gabriel Kumi elected Board Chairman of Chamber of Oil Marketing Companies
5 hours -
ORAL campaign key to NDC’s election victory – North America Dema Naa
5 hours