Samia Suluhu Hassan was sworn in as the first female President of Tanzania on Friday. He has held the post after the death of former President John Magufuli due to illness. Suluhu, 61, took oath of office in the President’s office in Dar es Salaam wearing a black dress and red scarf. After this, he was given a canon salute by the army.
During the swearing-in ceremony, Suluhu said, I, Samiya Suluhu Hassan, promise to follow and protect the Tanzanian constitution. After this, the leaders present at the oath ceremony encouraged them with thunderous applause. According to the constitution, Hassan will complete the remaining five-year term of Magufuli, which is to end by 2025. Hasan hails from Zanzibar Island, located in the Indian Ocean.
Samiya Hassan was elected Vice President last year
Samiya Hasan has been active in politics for the last 20 years. He has paved the way from various posts in local government to the National Assembly. Samiya Hassan, who comes from the ruling CCM party, contested for the post of Vice President in 2015. During this period Magufuli was elected the President of the country. At the same time, Hassan took the post of Vice President. In October last year, the two leaders were re-elected. However, in the elections held last year, both leaders were accused of rigging.
Now the Vice President has to be selected
At the same time, now the post of Vice President has become vacant after Samiya Hassan took over as President. In such a situation, he has to discuss with the party leaders for the new Vice President. Experts say that Hassan may get a fight in the party with the faction supporting Magufuli. Hassan’s popularity outside the country is not as much as that of Magufuli. However, when she announced that Magufuli had passed away on Wednesday night, she came into the discussion.