With no major opposition candidates cleared to contest the election on Wednesday, October 29, many Tanzanians are viewing the vote less as a competitive race and more as a coronation for President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who is seeking her first full term in office.
The 65-year-old became Tanzania’s first female head of state following the death of President John Magufuli in 2021. Magufuli was admired for his no-nonsense approach to fighting corruption but criticised for his authoritarian clampdown on dissent.
Since assuming the Presidency, Suluhu Hassan, formerly Vice-President, has implemented reforms that mark a clear departure from her predecessor’s policies. Her “four Rs” approach, reconciliation, resilience, reform, and rebuilding, has reopened Tanzania to foreign investors, restored donor relations, and strengthened engagement with institutions like the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.
–ChannelAfrica–
