Samia Suluhu Hassan has been sworn in as the sixth President of the United Republic of Tanzania.
Suluhu was sworn in at 10.15 a.m on Friday at State House, Dar es Salaam following the death of President John Pombe Magufuli.
According to the Tanzanian Constitution, after the death of the incumbent President, the Vice President now takes over for the remainder of the term.
She makes history to become the first female President of Tanzania, and the first female Head of State in the East African Community (EAC).
The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader Raila Odinga was among the first Kenya’s political leader to congratulate Suluhu.
“Congratulations @SuluhuSamia on taking office as the first female President of Tanzania. Mama @IdaOdinga and I pray for your success in the task ahead of leading your people and enhancing ties between our nations,” said Odinga on his Tweeter account.
The 61 years old, was born on January 27, 1960, in the Sultanate of Zanzibar. She went to school in Zanzibar and studied statistics at the Zanzibar Institute of Financial Administration before getting employed by the Ministry of Planning and Development as a clerk.
In 1986 she joined Mzumbe University for advanced studies in Public Administration before joining the Institute of Management for Leaders, Hyderabad in India or a course in management.
Suluhu made her political debut in the year 2000. She was elected as a special seat member to the Zanzibar House of Representatives and was appointed a minister by President Amani Karume.
She was the only high-ranking woman minister in the cabinet. While this was a fete never achieved before, due to societal gender stereotypes, Suluhu had to fight for her place at the decision making table.
In the year 2005, she was re-elected and was re-appointed as a minister in another portfolio.
In 2010, she sought election to the National Assembly, vying in the parliamentary constituency of Makunduchi and won by more than 80 percent.
Former Tanzania President Dr. Jakaya Kikwete appointed her as the Minister of State for Union Affairs.
In 2014, Kikwete Tanzania appointed her Minister of State for Union matters for the office of the Vice President.
In the same year, she was also elected the Vive chairperson for the Constitutional Assembly – the body tasked with drafting the country’s new constitution.
Following President Magufuli’s death on March 17, 2021, Suluhu becomes the sixth President of Tanzania, the first Zanzibari president and the country’s first female president not just in Tanzania but EAC.
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