Hon Samia Suluhu Hassan is the Most Powerful Politician in Tanzania. H.E. Samia Suluhu Hassan, since s 19 March 2021, she is the president of the United Republic of Tanzania. She is the most powerful woman politician in Africa, as a head of state with full executive powers.
She was the 11th Vice President of the United Republic of Tanzania, who Assumed Office on 5th November 2015 under President Dr John Pombe Magufuli.
She is a down-to-earth woman. Very humble. She even cooks for her husband, that is what she said when she was vice president. Yet she is the second most powerful politician in Tanzania. Meet the first female and current vice president of the republic of Tanzania-Hon Samia Suluhu Hassan.
In July 2015, CCM selected her as the first female running mate with presidential candidate John Magufuli. The duo emerged as the winners in the general election.
She has often said that her rise in politics is not out of favours but from her competence. Many in the East African region are hoping that her elections are a sign of things to come. Will a woman ever rise to the presidency in any of the countries? Only time will tell.
Life in politics
She joined the ruling party (CCM) elective politics in 2000 and gradually climbed the ladder to the pinnacle of power.
She was elected as a special seat member in the Zanzibar House of Representatives and was appointed the minister for labor, gender development and children by president Amani Karume.
In 2005 she was re-elected and re-appointed as a minister of tourism trade and investment. Here she faced stiff male chauvinism yet she survived. Out of her adeptness she inspired other women, causing the number of women in the cabinet to rise to four.
In the 2010 elections, she stood for the parliamentary seat for Makunduchi constituency and triumphed by 80%. President Jakaya Kikwete appointed her as the minister of state for Union affairs, in the Union Government.
In 2014 she was elected vice-chairperson of the constituent assembly and was instrumental in drafting the country’s new draft constitution.
Education and work
Hon Samia has a great inclination towards learning. With all the political temperatures during the 2015 election period, she received a master’s in science in economic development through a joint program between the Open University of Tanzania and Southern Hampshire University.
Before that, after completing her secondary education, she was employed as a clerk at the ministry of planning and development. She took short courses on a part-time basis. She joined and graduated from Mzumbe University with an advanced diploma in public administration. She was then employed on a project funded by the World Food Program. 1992-1994 she went to Manchester University and graduated with a post-graduate diploma in economics.
Mama Samia once served as a managing director of Mwamvuli wa NGO(1998-1999); a planning office in the revolutionary government of Zanzibar planning(1987-1988).
She is also an appreciable supporter of courses that aim to improve health, such as that of Millen Magese, who fights against endometrial diseases. Plus, she is against hiding and denying physically challenged children amenities. Those found to carry out such actions must answer to the law. Hon Samia is not in favour of early marriages and urges the people to educate the girl child as she is of substantial value to the country.
Family
As a native of Zanzibar, born in 1960, she married Hafidh Ameir( former agricultural officer and a current consultant). They have four children, of whom one of the sons is a representative in the Zanzibar parliament.