Mama Samia
Samia Suluhu Hassan became the 6th President of Tanzania on 19 March 2021, the first woman to hold the office in the country's history.
Known across the country as Mama Samia, she ascended to the presidency following the death of President John Magufuli, having previously served as the 10th Vice President of Tanzania from 5 November 2015.
A native of Zanzibar, she brings decades of experience in Tanzanian public administration, spanning ministerial roles in the semi-autonomous government, the Union Parliament, and the Vice-Presidency, before assuming the highest office of the United Republic of Tanzania.
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Who is Mama Samia
Samia Suluhu Hassan was born on 27 January 1960 in Zanzibar, part of the United Republic of Tanzania.
She is a Tanzanian politician and the sixth president of Tanzania, serving since 19 March 2021.
She is the first woman to serve as President of Tanzania and was also the first woman to serve as Vice-President of the country.
She rose to the presidency following the death of her predecessor, John Magufuli, two days earlier.
Education and Early Career in Tanzania
After graduating from high school in 1977, she was employed by the Ministry of Planning and Development as a clerk.
From 1983 to 1986, she studied for and obtained a Diploma in Public Administration from the Institute of Development Management, present-day Mzumbe University.
Upon graduation, she was employed as a Project Manager for the World Food Program (WFP).
She earned a Postgraduate Diploma in Economics at the University of Manchester in 1994.
In 2015, she obtained an MSc in Community Economic Development via a joint program between the Open University of Tanzania and the Southern New Hampshire University.
Political Career in Zanzibar and the Union
In 2000, she entered politics by joining the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party and served as a minister in the semi-autonomous region of Zanzibar from 2000 to 2010.
She was appointed Minister for Youth Employment, Women and Children Development for the Zanzibar Government from 2000 to 2005.
In 2005, she was appointed Minister for Tourism, Trade, and Investment in Zanzibar, a role she held until 2010.
She then served as the Member of Parliament for the Makunduchi constituency from 2010 to 2015 and as Minister of State in the Vice-President's Office for Union Affairs during the same period.
In 2014, she was elected as the vice-chairperson of the Constituent Assembly tasked with the drafting of the country's new constitution.
Vice Presidency and Ascension to the Presidency
In 2015, CCM's presidential nominee John Magufuli chose her as his running mate, and she subsequently became the first female Vice-President in the history of Tanzania on 5 November 2015.
Magufuli and Suluhu were re-elected for a second five-year term on 28 October 2020.
Two days after the sudden death of President Magufuli in March 2021, she was sworn in as the 6th President of the United Republic of Tanzania on 19 March 2021.
According to the Tanzanian constitution, she took on the remainder of Magufuli's five-year term which had begun in November 2020.
Presidency and Policy Direction
As president, Mama Samia implemented policies intended to limit the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in Tanzania, marking a shift from her predecessor's stance on the issue.
Her administration has been associated with a reopening of Tanzania to international engagement and a renewed emphasis on dialogue with the private sector, development partners, and neighbouring economies.
Her background in trade, tourism, and investment portfolios in Zanzibar informs a policy tone oriented toward openness and economic cooperation across the Union.
Investment Opportunities Under Mama Samia's Tanzania
The presidency of Mama Samia has coincided with a re-engagement of Tanzania with international investors, opening avenues across sectors historically anchored in her ministerial experience, including tourism, trade, and investment promotion.
Investors can explore opportunities aligned with the administration's outward-facing posture, notably in hospitality and tourism infrastructure, building on the legacy of her earlier tenure as Minister for Tourism, Trade, and Investment in Zanzibar.
Union-wide priorities under her leadership create room for private capital in sectors that intersect with economic development, community empowerment, and youth employment, themes rooted in her earlier ministerial portfolios.
The reopening posture on health, travel, and diplomatic relations further supports opportunities in aviation-linked services, cross-border trade, and Zanzibar-mainland integrated ventures.
Last Update: July 2026
