Tanzania on Friday, got its first ever female president with the swearing in of Samia Suluhu Hassan, after the sudden death of John Magufuli from heart complications, AfricaNews has reported.
The 61-year-old appeared dressed in black suit and red headscarf and took the oath of office in Dar es Salaam before she inspected troops at a military parade as well as received a cannon salute.
Personalities that attended the inauguration were members of the Cabinet and Tanzania’s former presidents Ali Hassan Mwinyi, Jakaya Kikwete and Abeid Karume.
Taking the oath, Suhulu said: “I, Samia Suluhu Hassan, promise to be honest and obey and protect the constitution of Tanzania,” at the brief ceremony.
Under Tanzania’s constitution, Suhulu will serve for the remaining years of Magufuli’s second five-year term, which will expire in 2025.
Recall that two days ago, Suhulu announced the death of President John Magufuli, who had been sick and not been seen in public for more than two weeks.
“It’s not a good day for me to talk to you because I have a wound in my heart. 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,” she said.
She said that Magufuli “who always liked teaching” had prepared her for the task ahead, assuring that “Nothing shall go wrong.”
She urged all the country’s people to work to unite the nation.
“This is the time to stand together and get connected. It’s time to bury our differences, show love to one another and look forward with confidence. It is not the time to point fingers at each other but to hold hands and move forward to build the new Tanzania that President Magufuli aspired to.”
Suhulu, who hails from Zanzibar, the semi-autonomous island in the Indian Ocean, rose through the ranks over a 20-year political career from local government to the national assembly.
A stalwart in the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), she was named Magufuli’s running mate in the 2015 presidential campaign.
The pair were re-elected in October last year in a disputed poll marred by allegations of irregularities.
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.
She must consult the party about appointing a new vice president. Analysts say she could face pressure from powerful Magufuli allies within the CCM, who dominate intelligence and other critical aspects of government, and could try and influence her decisions.
By AfricaNews
