East Africa to have its first female President in Tanzania’s Samia Suluhu Hassan

Tanzania, led by their vice president Hon Samia Suluhu Hassan is mourning the passing of president John Pombe Magufuli who succumbed to heart complications on Wednesday 17 March 2021.

Amidst the tragedy, all eyes are set on the vice president who is set to take over until 2025 as the sixth president of Tanzania.

Hon. Suluhu will not only be Tanzania’s first female president but also the first female president in Eastern Africa.

The 61-year-old will also be the first head of the country from the semi-autonomous region of Zanzibar.

The Tanzania Constitution states that the vice president takes over as president if the office of the president becomes vacant:

“Where the office of President becomes vacant by reason of death, then the Vice-President shall be sworn in and become the president for the unexpired period of the term of five years.”

Hon. Suluhu assumed office on November 5, 2015 as the 10th vice president of the United Republic of Tanzania.

Before being picked as the running mate of CCM’s presidential candidate in the 2015 General Elections, Hon. John Pombe Magufuli, she was the Minister of State in the office of the Vice President in charge of Union Affairs.

Before that, Hon, Suluhu had served as the minister of Tourism, Trade and Investment from 2010 to 2015 and as Minister of Youth Employment, Women and Children Development in Zanzibar.

Hon. Suluhu joined politics in 2000 as a special seat member to the Zanzibar House of Representatives and was appointed minister by President Amani Karume of Zanzibar.

She is married to Hafidh Ameir, a retired agriculture office and they have three children.

Her only daughter, Mwanu Hafidh Ameir is a member of the Zanzibar House of Representatives.