Samia Suluhu: Tanzania to produce first female East African president

Tanzania could be poised to produce the first female president in East Africa if the country’s vice president Samia Hassan Suluhu (pictured) will be sworn in as head of state following the death of President John Pombe Magufuli.

The Tanzanian constitution stipulates: “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.”

Article 37 further states: “Upon receiving such a resolution, the chief justice must then appoint a medical board of no less than three people who are experts recognised as such by the law governing medical practitioners in Tanzania. This board is then tasked with making a determination and advising the chief justice accordingly.’’

The chief justice must then present a medical certificate on the situation of the president to the speaker for approval.

But the 61-year-old could face resistance from her own party which is said to be possibly divided over the succession issue. But The East Africa Report quotes anonymous political analyst Dodoma saying the law must be followed adding that even the late Magufuli was equally unpopular before ascension.

“For a long time religious affiliation played a part within CCM politics. All factions needed to come together in order to maintain party stability. I hope CCM members will remember this because even Magufuli himself was not popular until he was elected as flag bearer,” the analyst says as revealed by the media outlet.

Suluhu was born and bred in Zanzibar and has been serving as the country’s vice president since 2015 when President Magufuli was voted in for his first term.

She holds a Bachelor Degree in Public Administration from Mzumbe University a post graduate Diploma in Economics from the University of Manchester.