Samia Hassan Suluhu, who was the first female Vice President upon John Pombe Magufuli’s election in 2015, is set to be sworn in as President for the uncompleted period of the recently deceased head of state’s five-year term – going by the Tanzania’s constitution.
“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,” the country’s constitution states.
She will not only be Tanzania’s first female president, but also the first in East Africa.
Suluhu will consult with her Chama Cha Mapinduzi ruling political party to propose her possible successor as Vice President with the official appointment being confirmed by the National Assembly via votes of not less than 50 per cent of all the Members of Parliament.
Born in the Sultanate of Zanzibar in 1960, Suluhu has an international education with a postgraduate degree in economics among other qualifications.
She was a parliament member for the Makunduchi constituency from 2010 to 15 and has been Minister of State in the Vice-President’s Office for Union Affairs since 2010.
In 2014, she was the vice-chairperson for the Constitutional Assembly which was tasked with drafting Tanzania’s new constitution.
Suluhu is married to Hafidh Ameir, a retired agriculture officer, and together they have three sons and a daughter.
Their daughter, Mwanu Hafidh Ameir is a member of the Zanzibar House of Representatives.
