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Uncredited / AP
Samia Suluhu Hassan has been sworn in as the first female president of Tanzania.
Samia Suluhu Hassan, 61, made history on Friday when she was sworn in as Tanzania’s first female president at State House, government offices in Dar es Salaam, the country’s largest city.
Dressed in a hijab and holding a Koran in her right hand, Hassan took the oath of office, administered by Chief Justice Ibrahim Jumavowing, in which he vowed to defend the East African country’s constitution.
The inauguration was witnessed by cabinet members and former Tanzanian presidents Ali Hassan Mwinyi, Jakaya Kikwete and Abeid Karume. The former heads of state were the only ones in the room wearing masks to protect themselves against Covid-19.
Then Hassan went out to inspect a military honor guard.
Hassan’s inauguration comes two days after he announced the death of President John Magufuli, who had not been seen in public for more than two weeks.
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Magufuli had denied that Covid-19 was a problem in Tanzania, saying that national prayer had eradicated the disease from the country. But weeks before his death, Magufuli recognized that the virus was a danger in the country.
Uncredited / AP
Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan said being sworn in as president was a bleak occasion.
Although it was announced that Magufuli died of heart failure, exiled opposition leader Tundu Lissu says the president died of Covid-19.
In her first public speech as president, Hassan announced 21 days of mourning for Magufuli and holidays on March 22 and March 25, the day the late president will be buried.
“It’s not a good day to talk to you because I have a heart wound,” Hassan said. “Today I have taken an oath different from the rest I have taken in my career. Those were carried away in happiness. Today I took the highest oath of my position in mourning, ”he said.
Uncredited / AP
President John Magufuli of Tanzania, a prominent Covid-19 skeptic whose populist government often threw his country into a harsh international spotlight, has died aged 61 of heart failure.
She said that Magufuli “who always liked teaching” had prepared her for the task ahead. “Nothing will go wrong,” he said, urging all the people of the country to work to unite the nation.
“This is the time to get together and connect. It is time to bury our differences, show love to each other and look forward with confidence, “he said.
“This is not the time to point fingers at us, but to hold hands and move forward to build the new Tanzania that President Magufuli aspired to.”
