Samia Suluhu Hassan is the woman set to become Tanzania’s next president. She will become the first female president of the East African Nation, Africa’s only current female political head of government – the Ethiopian presidency is a largely ceremonial role – and joins the shortlist of women on the continent who have made it to the top.
The 61-year-old is affectionately known as Mama Samia – in Tanzanian culture that reflects the respect she is held in, rather than reducing her to a gendered role.
According to the constitution, she was elected as Magufuli’s running mate in 2015 and re-elected last year along with him and should serve out the rest of the five-year term in the top job.
But she was a surprise choice for a running mate in 2015, leaping over several other more prominent politicians in the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party, which has been in power in one form or another since independence 1961.
First elected to a public office in 2000, she came to national prominence in 2014 as the Constituent Assembly’s vice-chairperson, created to draft a new constitution. Her calm demeanour in managing occasional outbreaks of pandemonium and how she dealt with some of the more outspoken members earned her plaudits.
In terms of personality, she strikes a contrast with Magufuli.
Where he appeared impulsive, not afraid to speak off the cuff and let his feelings be known, she is more thoughtful and considered.
She is also said to be a good listener who believes in following the correct procedures.
‘Capable leader.’
One MP, January Makamba, who worked with her in the vice-president’s office, has called her “the most underrated politician in Tanzania”.
“I have observed at close quarters her work ethic, decision-making and temperament. She is a competent leader,” he said.
But where this places her in terms of the policy is not yet clear. Most significantly, she has to decide whether to continue her predecessor’s sceptical approach to dealing with coronavirus.
There was no doubt that she was loyal to the president, but she was not afraid to strike out independently.
Perhaps the most significant evidence of that was in 2017 when she visited opposition leader Tundu Lissu in hospital in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi after he had survived an assassination attempt.
With people speculating that state agents had been involved, the visit’s pictures sent shockwaves through the country.
Mr Lissu went into exile afterwards – returning briefly to participate in elections last year – but went back to live in Belgium, saying he had received more death threats.
Private person
Despite being vice-president since 2015, and having served as a state minister in the previous government, little is known about Ms Samia’s private life.
She was born in January 1960 on Zanzibar – the semi-autonomous islands off the coast of mainland Tanzania. Later, she studied public administration, first in Tanzania and then as a post-graduate at UK’s Manchester University.
In 1978, she married Hafidh Ameir, who is known to be an agricultural academic but has also kept a low profile. Since Ms Samia became vice-president, the two have not been pictured together.
They have four children, with one, Mwanu Hafidh Ameir, who is currently a member of the Zanzibar House of Representatives.
BBC
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