Tanzania becomes the first regional state in the Eadt Africa to have a female head of the state after the swearing in of Samia Suluhu Hassan as the president of the country following the death of President John P Magufuli.
Suluhu was sworn in on Friday at the State House in Dar es Salaam.
The 61-year-old,shortly after taking oaths of office inspected troops at a military parade while she received a cannon salute in a brief swearing in ceremony.
“I, Samia Suluhu Hassan, promise to be honest and obey and protect the constitution of Tanzania,” she said before a room of dignitaries, who applauded when the brief ceremony was complete.
According to Tanzania’s constitution, Suluhu will serve the remainder of Magufuli’s second five-year term (4yrs and 8months), which expires in 2025.
She is the only other current serving female head of state in Africa alongside Ethiopia’s President Sahle-Work Zewde, whose role is mainly ceremonial.
The Zanzibar “Jogoo la Shamba” rose to limelights through a 20-year political career from local government at different ranks to the national assembly.
She was named Magufuli’s running mate in the 2015 presidential campaign.
In October 2020, the duo were re-elected in a disputed poll marred by allegations of irregularities.
