Samia Suluhu Hassan was born on 27 January 1960 and she is politician in Tanzania under Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM). Following the death of John Pombe Magufuli she is now the designated President of Tanzania.
Samia Suluhu is expected to be sworn in to lead Tanzania and she makes history as the first female president not only in Tanzania but also in the entire East Africa region. John Pombe Magufuli was announced dead on 17 March, 2021. She first became the Vice President following CCM’s win of presidency in 2015 General elections. She was elected alongside the late Pombe Magufuli.
Samia Suluhu and John Pombe Magufuli were re-elected in 2020 for their second term. Before becoming Vice President Samia Suluhu served as member of Parliament (MP) for Makunduchu constituency from 2010 to 2015. At the same time she also served as a Minister of State in the Vice President’s Office for Union Affairs from 2010 to 2015.
Before all that she also worked as a minister in Zanzibar (semi-autonomous region) of Tanzania.
Samia Suluhu was born in Zanzibar where she completed her secondary education and started her working life in 1977. She later undertook short courses during her free time. She later advanced her studies and in 1986 she she earned her advanced diploma in public administration from the Institute of Development Management from Mzumbe University.
In 1994 she graduated with a post-graduate diploma in economics from University of Manchester. In 2015, she earned her Master of Science degree in Community Economic Development in a joint programme between the Open University of Tanzania and the South New Hampshire University.
Career
She worked for the Ministry of Planning and Development as a clerk immediately after high school. After compeleting her education on public administration she was employed by the World Food Programme.
Politics
She first vied for public office in 2000. Upon that attempt, she was elected as a special seat member to the Zanzibar House of Representatives and was appointed as a minister by the then President Amani Karume. She was the only female minister in the house. In 2005 she was re-elected and re-appointed a minister in another portfolio.
She sought to be elected as a Member of Parliament in 2010 and vied for Makunduchi Constituency. She had a landslide victory with more than 80 percent of the votes cast. Consequently, Jakaya Kikwete appointed her as Minister of State for Union Affairs.
In 2015, the Presidential nominee for Chama Cha Mapinduzi, John Pombe Magufuli, selected her as his running mate. At the time she set history as the first female running mate in the history of the party.She later becme the first female Vice President and now she is set to become the first female president in East Africa. She will serve for the reminder of the five-year term as president.
Family
She married Hafidh Ameir (retired agricultural officer) in 1978. Together they are blessed with four children.
Photos
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