Hosia Mviringi
The East African Republic of Tanzania today swore in its first female President, Samia Suluhu Hassan, following the sudden death of President John Pombe Magufuli from a yet to be known ailment.
In her oath of office, the new President pledged to be honest and to obey and protect the Constitution of the Republic of Tanzania.
“I, Samia Suluhu Hassan, promise to be honest and obey and protect the constitution of Tanzania”, said Hassan at a ceremony attended by invited dignitaries in the capital Dar es Salaam.
Hassan 61, has declared 21 days of national mourning in her first address as President of this peaceful East African nation.
President Hassan said the country needs to join hands and confront challenges ahead as a united family, without any unnecessary finger pointing.
“It is not the time to point fingers at each other, but to hold hands and move forward to build a new Tanzania that President Magufuli aspired for.
It is not a good day for me to speak to you because I have a wound in my heart”, she said.
“Today I have taken an oath different from the rest that I have taken in my career. Those were taken in happiness. Today I took the highest oath of office in mourning”, said President-designate, Samia Suluhu Hassan, soon after being sworn in.
President Hassan takes over in accordance with the Tanzanian constitution which stipulates that the Vice President will serve out the term of the current President in the event that the incumbent leaves office for any reason.
The late President John Magufuli had just secured a second five year term in October 2020, which automatically means that the new President will have to serve out the remaining four years of the current term.
President Samia Hassan also has the duty, according to the constitution, of proposing a Vice President, who will have to be confirmed through a vote by the country’s national Assembly.
President Hassan, born on the Zanzibar Island, assured the nation that nothing will go wrong as President Magufuli, whom she describes as a natural teacher, had prepared her for the task ahead. She said he had prepared her for the worst.
” Nothing shall go wrong. This is the time to stand together and get connected. Its time to bury our differences, show love for one another, and look forward with confidence”, she said.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan is married to Hafidh Ameir, now a retired Agricultural Officer and their daughter Mwanu Hafidh Ameir, one of four children, is currently serving as member of Zanzibar House of Representatives.
President Hassan served as Vice President since 2015 after having also served as Minister of State for Union Affairs in Vice President’s Office in the previous administration of President Jakaya Kikwete.
She will carry the responsibility for organising the next general elections due in 2025.
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