Yesterday, Tanzanians confirmed the tragic demise of their former President. The unprecedented news left many in shock as the country set a two-week mourning period. According to Samia Hassan, the deceased had succumbed following a 10-year illness of heart disease. Sources reported that President Magufuli had died at around 6 pm after a deteriorated condition at the Jakaya Kikwete health facility.
Following his demise, the Chama Cha Mapinduzi party members resorted to entrusting the current vice president Magufuli’s seat. Therefore, inauguration plans are underway as the east African state plans to swear in Samia Hassan as the new President.
Who is Samia Hassan?
Samia Hassan, aged 61, was born in Sultanate Zanzibar in 1960. She first became a prominent figure in 2015 when Tanzanians elected Magufuli as the President. Being his close running mate, she obtained the post of first female vice President in Tanzania. The re-election of Magufuli in 2020 earned her a second term as the state’s vice president.
Between 2010 and 2015, she has served as a member of Parliament for the Makunduchi constituency. Within the same period, she also served as a state member in the Vice President’s office for union affairs. Other than her political career, she has gone throw international schools, from which she has graduated with a master’s in economics.
Samia Swearing-in Plans
The swearing-in of Samia is set to proceed as soon as possible as per the Tanzanian constitution. She is likely to serve as the new President of Tanzania till the completion of the five-year term.
“Where the office of President becomes vacant because of death, then the Vice-President shall be sworn in and become the President for the unexpired period of the term of five years.”
The swearing-in of Samia would render her the first female President of Tanzania and East Africa at large. After confirming with the Chama Cha Mapinduzi party members, Samia will propose her possible successor. The person will then be voted in by the national assembly members, and by chance, he or she gets more than 50% of the votes; he or she will succeed Suluhu.
Suluhu is set to become President for five years. However, Tanzanians were saddened by the death of Magufuli; they are glad that Mrs. Suluhu made it to the history books as the first female African President of Tanzania. As the new post came as a surprise to Suluhu, she pledges to serve her country.
Meanwhile, before Magufuli’s death, there were endless controversies over the Presidential seat. Tundu Lissu, an influential opposition leader, seemed to have eyed the seat for a long time. During the last Presidential election, he was exiled to Belgium after proving threatful to the state’s security. He was among the people who were spreading rumors that Magufuli was severely ill from the novel virus. Tundu even said that he was receiving medication in an undisclosed private hospital in India.
His allegations were far from the truth, as Samia confirmed that the former President was ailing from a heart condition and was in a Tanzanian hospital. Other than Samia’s swearing-in, not much is known about Tanzania’s plans.
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