Tanzania’s Vice President, Samia Suluhu Hassan, is expected to take over the country’s governance following the death of president John Magufuli.

In a televised announcement made by the Vice-President Hassan on Wednesday, March 17, Late Magufuli, aged 61, died from a heart attack . This came after rumors claimed  he was down with Covid-19.

Tanzanian Constitution states;

“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.”

With this, Vice President Samia Suluhu Hassan,  61, will take over until 2025 as the sixth president of Tanzania and the first female president of the country while her husband, Hafidh Ameir, a retired agriculture officer, will become Tanzania’s first- First Gentleman.

Samia, who was born on January 27, 1960 assumed office, November 5, 2015, as the vice president under late President John Pombe Magufuli.