President Jakaya Kikwete collapsed yesterday after delivering a speech during the African Inland Church of Tanzania (AICT) centenary anniversary at CCM Kirumba Stadium in Mwanza.
He, however, recovered swiftly and continued to preside at the well-attended function. Both President Kikwete and State House later attributed the collapse to fatigue.
Midway through his speech, President Kikwete asked thousands of AICT followers converged at the stadium to allow him to speak while seated, saying he felt exhausted.
Even while seated, his voice gradually faded, and he slumped in his chair shortly after winding up his speech, prompting his aides to surround him and carry him to a room within the stadium, apparently for First Aid.
Panic gripped AICT followers, who were anxious to know what had befallen President Kikwete, compelling AICT Presiding Bishop Mussa Magwesela to ask the congregation to glorify God and pray for the President's quick recovery.
Mwanza Regional Commissioner Abbas Kandoro, who accompanied the President's aides as they carried him away, returned after about five minutes and allayed fears over the Head of State's health.
He said President Kikwete was in good health, and blamed his collapse on fatigue and exhaustion caused by a tight schedule.
The President himself reappeared after about 15 minutes, and assured the crowd at the packed stadium that he was well.
He said exhaustion taken its toll on him, and continued to preside over the ceremony.
He launched a fundraising drive by pledging a contribution of Sh1 million towards the development fund of the Tanzania Albinos Society (TAS) in Mwanza Region.
"I'm now strong...I now want to take this opportunity to launch the fundraising drive� let me be the first to offer my contribution of Sh1 million," he said after returning to the podium amid cheers from AICT followers and their leaders.
President Kikwete said before leaving the stadium that he was to blame for what happened after ignoring his aides� advice that he should rest.
He said the tight schedule he followed in the past few months had taken its toll. Elaborating, he said he travelled to Arusha to open the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) meeting almost immediately after returning home from New York.
From Arusha went to Mwanza where he presided at a function on Saturday evening before attending the AICT centenary celebrations as the guest of honour.
"What befell me today is the result of my refusal to heed what my aides had advised me. They told me to rest after returning from the US. They advised me not go to Arusha or Mwanza, but I refused. I�ll listen to them next time," he said.
A statement issued by the State House yesterday said President Kikwete left the country for the US on September 20, and returned home on Thursday night after a 19-hour journey.
He travelled to Arusha the next morning to open the CPA meeting after which he flew to Mwanza for the AICT function, at which Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda was to preside.
President Kikwete opted to take Mr Pinda's place after asking the Prime Minister to represent him in the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) meeting to which the Head of State had been invited.
Meanwhile, the President's Private Office announced yesterday that it was going to review the President's itinerary in order to reduce his workload.
President Kikwete earlier commended AICT for the pivotal role it had played in education, healthcare and the provision of other social services in the past century.
"I'm confident that you will attain more success in the next century, although the majority of us here won't be around to witness another centenary anniversary like this one," he said.
He underscored the need to safeguard the existing unity in the country, saying many countries that had taken peace and unity for granted were now regretting.
President Kikwete said the killing of albinos had shamed the country.
Yesterday's incident brought back memories of President Kikwete's collapse at Jangwani grounds in Dar es Salaam as he was holding his final campaign rally on December 13, 2005, just a day before Tanzanians went to the polls in the country's third multiparty elections.
It was left to outgoing President Benjamin Mkapa to calm the crowd, saying it was only exhaustion that was troubling Mr Kikwete, who later addressed journalists at his home after he was taken to Lugalo Military Hospital.
President Kikwete's collapse in Mwanza was the second incident involving the Head of State at CCM Kirumba Stadium in recent years.
A man broke through the security cordon and wrestled Mr Kikwete to the ground as he was addressing a campaign meeting ahead of the 2005 presidential election.
Lucas Garani, who was then 34, was jailed for 10 years for assault. Garani told the court during his trial that he was a traditional healer who had been sent to "fortify and strengthen" the then CCM presidential candidate
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