Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan has revealed her intention to vie and maintain the country’s top seat in the 2025 poll.
According to The East African, President Suluhu said she ascended to the country’s presidency “because of God’s wish and constitutional requirements’’ but she is determined to maintain it by winning the election under the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) in the next election.
She challenged the women to help her drive the agenda for change in gender representation by winning the seat.
“We have favoured men to become presidents for far too long. God has given us this special opportunity… if we don’t grab it with both hands it will become like a curse upon us (women),” she reportedly said while addressing a function to mark the International Day of Democracy in Dar-es-Salaam last week.
Suluhu promised to pick more women to the leadership positions arguing that such is the most crucial way for bridging the gender gap.
She ascended to power after he predecessor Dr John Pombe Magufuli died of a mysterious illness on March 17, 2021.
She was sworn in as the first female president and as the successor of Dr Magufuli based on the dictates of the Tanzanian constitution.
However, political analysts gave her the benefit of doubt with some claiming that it was uncertain for her to win the trust of the CCM membership, owing to her Zanzibar roots.
Determined to stay
But speaking during the event, Suluhu expressed confidence in her executive performance saying she had delivered in her six months in office.
“I have used the first six months in office to learn. I was the vice president before, but during that time I did not get the chance to acquaint myself on ‘inner’ operations, now I have,” said President Samia adding, “During that time some of you took my calmness for weakness and did as you pleased. But I am glad that some of you performed well. As we move forward, the government will be led solely on strong action and not noise.”
She was voted in alongside the late president in a controversial election in late 2020, which saw massive detention of opposition politicians. Tundu Lissu of Chadema Party came second but disputed the outcome of the poll saying it was rigged in favour of Magufuli.