Joseph Isangura
President Samia Suluhu Hassan looked back on the difficult circumstances that propelled her into leadership in 2021, describing her ascension to the presidency as something few—including herself—had imagined.
“The global economy was in distress due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” she said. “Socially, the country was still grieving the passing of our beloved leader, and politically, we had just come out of the tense 2020 general elections.”
Samia, who had been serving as Vice President under the late President John Pombe Magufuli, assumed power following his sudden death in March 2021. “In such an atmosphere, no one could have predicted I would be the one to receive the presidential mantle,” she said. “But the Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania mandated that the Vice President take over, and I did—because the nation needed continuity.”
The occasion for her speech was a special award presented to her by Parliament, recognizing her leadership and national service. The event, held in Dodoma, was filled with warmth and applause as Samia took the stage to reflect not only on her tenure but also on the foundations of her political journey.
“I feel comforted to be among you once again,” she told lawmakers. “This is only my second time addressing Parliament since becoming President, but I still hold dear the memories from my time here.” She served in the 10th Parliament from 2010 to 2015 and was a member of the Constituent Assembly in 2014 that debated a proposed new national constitution.
The president was visibly moved as she spoke of her past in Parliament and the skills it taught her. “It raised me, nurtured me, and prepared me for the leadership I now hold,” she said.
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Since taking office, Samia has embraced reform. Her government lifted bans on opposition political rallies that had been in place for nearly six years, signaling a new openness in Tanzania’s political landscape. “Let us accept our ideological differences,” she said. “Tanzania belongs to all of us.”
Internationally, her efforts have not gone unnoticed. In 2023, Samia received the prestigious Global Goalkeeper Award from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, recognizing her administration’s strides in maternal health, child nutrition, and efforts to reduce child mortality.
With her trademark humility, Samia closed her speech by thanking Parliament using multiple Tanzanian tribal languages, a gesture that resonated across the political divide. “Ahsante,” she said with a soft smile, “and thank you again for recognizing me. I remain your servant.”
As the country moves forward, the President urged national unity and collective responsibility. “We’ve come through difficult times,” she said. “But now is the moment to shape a better future together.”
