DAR-ES-SALAM, TANZANIA: As mandated in the Tanzanian constitution, Vice President H.E Samia Suluhu Hassan will be sworn in today at 4pm as the country’s 6th President replacing the late John Pombe Magufuli who died on March 17, 2021.
Suhulu will become the first female President of Tanzania and the the first female figure to assume the head of state role in the East African Region.
Accoridng to Tanzanian Government Spokesperson Dr. Hassan Abbas, the swearing ceremony will start at 10:00am today with an address to the world by the acting President Samia Suluhu. She will give details of the funeral arrangements for the late President Dr. John Magufuli who will be buried in his village Chato in Geita Region.
Dr. Hassan Abbas said there has been anxiety about government’s plans for the burial, but said this has been because of detailed discussions that have been going on to ensure the transition and funeral go well.
He said there will be plans for viewing of the body of the former leader in Dodoma, the Mwanza region and in Dar es Salaam.
“After the Vice President announces the schedule tomorrow the people will see how they will be able to take part in his farewell and there will be mourning books across the country, let’s calm down and pray for our elder,” Dr. Hassan Abbas said.
Suhulu will serve the remaining period of the five-year term that began on November 5, 2020 with a possibility of standing for another term in office come 2025.
Her swearing in will be quickly followed by a high level meeting of her party’s Central Committee on Saturday at the CCM Sub-Office in Dar es Salaam, a meeting that analysts say is likely to suggest the Vice President’s name.
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