Samia Suluhu Hassan Makes History as Tanzania’s First Elected Female President
Tanzania’s president-elect Samia Suluhu Hassan made history on Saturday by becoming the first elected female president of Tanzania and East Africa.
Hassan secured a landslide victory with 31.91 million votes, representing 97.66 percent of the total ballots cast. The vote confirmed her position in a seat she had been occupying following the death of her predecessor, John Pombe Magufuli.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced the presidential results Saturday morning, fulfilling its pledge to declare results within 72 hours of voting.
"Following section 41 (6) of the Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania of 1977… I announce Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan as having been elected the president of the United Republic of Tanzania through the Chama cha Mapinduzi party," said INEC chairman Justice Jacobs Mwambegele.
Hassan collected her certificate later Saturday. In her victory speech, she described the overwhelming mandate as a clear signal that the public had given Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM) approval to implement its campaign promises.
After congratulating her opponents for conducting civil campaigns, Hassan called for national unity.
"The 2025 election is now done. It is now time to stand together as a nation," Hassan stated.
She also commended INEC for overseeing what she described as a "free, open and fair" election.
However, Hassan condemned protests that occurred in several regions on Election Day, describing them as "uncouth."
"What happened in Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Mwanza and Songwe were neither civil nor patriotic," she said. "A patriot builds the country, not to tear down what was built by the energy and the sweat of the citizens. The government utterly condemns those happenings."
She added that maintaining national security remains a top priority, stating there is "no alternative but to use all the security tactics to remain with a safe country."
The same day saw Hussein Ali Mwinyi sworn in as leader of the semi-autonomous archipelago of Zanzibar, following his victory declaration on Friday.
Residents awaited INEC’s announcement regarding the timing of Hassan’s official swearing-in ceremony.
