Joseph Isangura
Tanzania’s Ambassador to Cuba, Humphrey Polepole, has stepped down from his post and relinquished all official public roles, citing deep ethical concerns and disillusionment with the state of governance in Tanzania.
The resignation, communicated through a letter dated July 13, 2025, was addressed directly to President Samia Suluhu Hassan. Polepole also gave up his broader responsibilities as Tanzania’s representative to multiple nations in the Caribbean, Central America, Colombia, Venezuela, and Guyana.
Confirming the news to a local Swahili-language newspaper, Polepole stated that his decision was “not made lightly” and was driven by internal conflict between his personal values and what he described as a deviation from the principles of public service. His resignation has come at a time of rising national introspection over leadership accountability ahead of the 2025 Tanzanian general election.
Once a central figure in the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party, Polepole served as the party’s Ideology and Publicity Secretary and was known for his strong defense of former President John Magufuli’s policies. His diplomatic appointment to Cuba in 2021 was seen as both a reward and a repositioning within the party’s elite ranks.
In his resignation letter, Polepole expressed growing frustration with what he described as the erosion of constitutional values, ethics, and national unity. “I can no longer serve in a leadership space where principles are treated as optional and the Constitution as a suggestion,” he wrote.
He criticized the emerging political culture within CCM, claiming it now emphasizes loyalty to party elites over loyalty to citizens. He warned of a trend in which “individual interests have overtaken public interest” and said this shift threatens the democratic foundation laid by the nation’s founding father, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere.
As of now, there has been no official response from Ikulu, the office of the president. However, Polepole’s departure has ignited conversations both online and within diplomatic and political circles, with many observers questioning whether other public figures may follow his example.
Political analysts suggest that his resignation could signal cracks within the ruling party, particularly as Tanzania navigates an increasingly complex domestic and foreign policy landscape. The role of ambassadors in maintaining relationships with Latin American and Caribbean nations has grown in importance amid global realignments post-COVID-19 pandemic.
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Polepole’s resignation marks the first high-profile diplomatic exit under President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s leadership. Since taking office in 2021, Samia has steered Tanzania toward more international engagement, but has also faced criticism from various quarters over governance reforms, media freedom, and the balance between continuity and change from her predecessor’s hardline policies.
While Polepole did not indicate any intention to join the opposition or re-enter partisan politics, he hinted at continuing to contribute to national discourse. “This is not the end of my service to Tanzania,” he said. “It’s the beginning of a different kind of responsibility—one that answers to conscience, not power.”
Polepole’s bold step highlights the moral dilemma facing many senior leaders in Africa who must choose between staying in the system or standing for reform. His resignation serves as a powerful reminder that diplomacy is not only about protocol and state dinners—it’s also about values, integrity, and accountability to the people one represents.
