Julius Nyerere died on October 14, 1999 at St. Thomas's Hospital in London. Nyerere was battling chronic leukemia for over a year. On October 1st, Nyerere, was in intensive care due to a major stroke. At 10:30 a.m.on October 14th with his wife, Maria, and six of his eight children by his bedside, Julius Nyerere had passed away. Current Tanzanian President, Benjamin Mkapa, went on national television, with his voice full of emotion announced the man that most knew as, Mwalimu (teacher) had died.