Samia Suluhu Hassan: The Quiet Force Reshaping Tanzania

When Samia Suluhu Hassan took the oath of office in March 2021, she became Tanzania’s first woman president and the first Zanzibari to lead the United Republic. She assumed power during a pandemic and after the sudden death of President John Magufuli, inheriting a deeply polarised polity and an economy that had lost momentum. Four years on, she has consolidated power, overseen a rebound in economic growth, and positioned Tanzania as a more open and collaborative player in East Africa. As Tanzanians debate the significance of her 2025 re‑election, her calm, reformist style and emphasis on inclusive growth have started to reshape the nation’s trajectory.

From Zanzibar to State House: Biography and Political Journey

Born in Makunduchi, Zanzibar, on 27 January 1960, Samia Suluhu studied public administration at the Institute of Development Management (now Mzumbe University) and obtained a post‑graduate diploma in economics from the University of Manchester in 1994. She worked for the UN World Food Programme and entered politics in 2000 when she was elected to the Zanzibar House of Representatives. As Minister for Gender, Children and Social Development and later Minister for Tourism, Trade and Investment, she championed women’s rights and youth employment.

Suluhu joined the national parliament in 2010 and served as Minister of State in the Vice‑President’s Office, overseeing union affairs between mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar. In 2015, the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) selected her as running mate to John Magufuli, making her the country’s first female vice‑president. She unexpectedly ascended to the presidency on 19 March 2021 after Magufuli’s death.

Her early actions signalled a break with the previous administration. She resumed COVID‑19 data reporting to the World Health Organization, launched a nationwide vaccination programme, reopened the country to international cooperation, and allowed pregnant girls and young mothers to return to school. These moves hinted at a pragmatic leader prioritising public health, international trust, and women’s rights.

Reforms and Achievements

Economic Revival and Infrastructure Investment

Tanzania’s economy stagnated during the pandemic, but growth rebounded to 5.5 % in 2024 after slowing to 3.9 % in 2021. Exports rose from US$6.39 billion in 2021 to US$8.7 billion in 2024, foreign reserves climbed to US$5.6 billion, and nominal GDP expanded from TSh 156.4 trillion to TSh 205.84 trillion over the same period. The finance minister and central bank governor told the IMF that growth would reach about 6 % in 2025, though they flagged risks from regional conflicts and commodity price volatility. Inflation remained below 5 %, and per‑capita income increased to TSh 2.94 million

Energy and infrastructure have been a centrepiece of Suluhu’s agenda. She promised to double electricity generation to 8,000 MW by 2030, up from around 1,600 MW in 2020 and 4,000 MW in 2025. Her administration connected 360 villages and 189 urban neighbourhoods to the grid and prioritised rural electrification. Large projects such as the Julius Nyerere hydropower plant, the Standard Gauge Railway, and the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system have continued under her watch, while roads, ports, and airport improvements form part of Tanzania’s push to become a regional logistics hub.

Agriculture and Youth Empowerment

Food security has improved markedly. Tanzania achieved 128 % food self‑sufficiency, enabling exports of surplus crops. Nearly every one of the country’s 12,300 villages now has electricity. Suluhu launched the ‘Building a Better Tomorrow’ (BBT) initiative, which allocates up to 10 acres of land to qualified youth and provides training and financing through a Youth Guarantee scheme. By early 2023, the programme had secured 600,000 hectares and begun enrolling the first cohort of young agripreneurs. She aims to raise agricultural growth to 10 % by 2030, supported by irrigation and logistics investments.

Diplomacy and Regional Integration

Suluhu has adopted an outward‑looking foreign policy. Her May 2021 visit to Kenya thawed relations and led to the removal of 23 non‑tariff barriers, boosting bilateral trade past Sh100 billion for the first time. She chaired the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Troika and engaged widely at the UN, African Union, and World Economic Forum. In October 2024, the African Development Bank applauded Tanzania’s progress on food security and rural electrification and pledged support for youth and women job‑creation programmes.

Suluhu also re‑engaged international financiers; the IMF extended a US$1 billion Extended Credit Facility, and donors resumed budget support suspended under Magufuli. Her government finalised investment agreements for the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) project and pursued value addition in the mining sector.

Governance, Media Freedom and Constitutional Reform

Upon taking office, Suluhu advanced a 4Rs philosophy: Reconciliation, Resilience, Reforms, and Rebuilding. She lifted a six‑and‑a‑half‑year ban on political rallies in early 2023 and invited exiled opposition leaders to return. Analysts noted that under her leadership, the political atmosphere became calmer: “During former President John Magufuli’s era, everyone within CCM appeared radical, yet with President Hassan at the helm, the political atmosphere has changed; things are calmly and peacefully moving.”

Her government also amended the Political Parties Act, Election Expenses Act, and created an Independent National Electoral Commission to ensure fairer elections. A new constitution is being drafted for 2025–2030, signalling an intent to modernise governance structures.

Suluhu took steps to ease press restrictions. Media violations fell from 41 in 2020 to 17 in 2022, and at least four banned newspapers regained their licences. However, restrictive laws from the Magufuli era remain, and press freedom still depends on presidential goodwill. The Bertelsmann Transformation Index 2024 observed that while Suluhu has liberalised politics and improved relations with international partners, growth remains uneven and governance reforms are fragile.

Gender Equality and Social Inclusion

As Africa’s only current female head of state, Suluhu has championed gender parity. She advocates a 50/50 gender balance but emphasises competence over tokenism; empowering both girls and boys is essential for sustainable development. Her administration revoked a controversial ban that barred pregnant girls and young mothers from returning to school, allowing them to continue their education after childbirth. In January 2023, she announced that the government would allocate land and credit to youth under the BBT programme to spur agribusiness. These initiatives align with her message that development must be inclusive of women and youth.

Leadership Style: Calm, Collaborative, and Visionary

Suluhu’s leadership contrasts sharply with Magufuli’s confrontational style. In a 2021 Reuters profile, she described herself as a “soft‑spoken” leader who does not need to shout to be understood. She emphasised that one can speak calmly yet still convey authority. Commentators noted her consensus‑building approach and “calm and competent” presence. Dar es Salaam columnist Elsie Eyakuze remarked that Suluhu brought “a certain calm that we have all been hoping for” and projected assurance. Academic Aikande Kwayu described her as diplomatic and shrewd, noting that she avoids public confrontations while adeptly navigating CCM factions.

Her conciliatory tone has helped ease tensions within CCM and between the mainland and Zanzibar. Analysts observed that after lifting the rally ban, the political atmosphere became peaceful and constructive. Yet critics argue that her cautious style sometimes masks continuity with the previous administration, particularly in security matters.

The 2025 Election and Democratic Credentials

In the 29 October 2025 general election, the National Electoral Commission declared Suluhu the winner with 31.9 million votes (about 97.66 %), while opposition leaders were disqualified. Protests erupted, and human rights groups alleged that dozens were killed; the government dismissed those figures as exaggerated. Election observers from SADC reported that in many areas “voters could not express their democratic will” due to restrictions and ballot‑box stuffing.

The African Union Commission recognised her victory but urged Tanzanian authorities to uphold fundamental rights and freedoms, including peaceful assembly and expression. It also reaffirmed the AU’s readiness to support Tanzania’s efforts to preserve peace and democracy. Suluhu responded by condemning violence and calling for unity: “Our responsibility is to build our today to be better than our yesterday. I beg that we continue protecting our values of unity and collaboration.”

Her landslide re‑election secures another five‑year mandate, giving her an opportunity to entrench reforms and lead the constitutional review. Yet the controversy underscores the need for credible institutions and a level playing field if Tanzania is to remain a “haven of peace.”

Public Support, Women and Youth Empowerment, and International Reputation

Suluhu’s emphasis on reconciliation has restored some public trust. Her government increased funding for political parties (Sh87.87 billion) and introduced reforms aimed at levelling the electoral playing field. By lifting bans on opposition activities and promoting dialogue, she has opened political space while maintaining stability. Her 4Rs message resonates with Tanzanians tired of confrontation and economic stagnation.

Women and youth have been central to her agenda. At the UN Global Compact Rising Woman conference in 2024, she argued that gender equality goes beyond numbers, calling for a 50/50 gender balance where both men and women are judged on competence. She overturned the school ban on pregnant girls and launched the BBT agribusiness programme, providing land and finance to thousands of youths. These policies have strengthened her support among women and young people.

Internationally, Suluhu is viewed as a stabilising figure. World Bank president Ajay Banga commended Tanzania for using evidence‑based policies and resuming cooperation. The African Development Bank credited her leadership for achieving food self‑sufficiency and near‑universal electrification. Neighbouring leaders, including Kenya’s President William Ruto, have praised her collaborative diplomacy. Despite criticisms over civil liberties, she has restored Tanzania’s standing with donors and investors.

Conclusion: Legacy and the Road Ahead

President Samia Suluhu Hassan has reshaped Tanzania’s political and economic landscape through quiet determination rather than bombast. Her rise from local politics in Zanzibar to the highest office in the land reflects perseverance and a capacity to build consensus across divides. By resuming transparency in public health, revitalising the economy, investing in infrastructure, empowering women and youth, and reopening political space, she has charted a reformist course. Her calm, collaborative leadership style contrasts with the previous administration’s authoritarianism and has restored Tanzania’s image abroad.

Yet the overwhelming victory in 2025 and subsequent protests expose persistent democratic deficits. For her legacy to endure, Suluhu must deepen institutional reforms, entrench the rule of law, and ensure that the draft constitution reflects the aspirations of all Tanzanians. If she maintains her vision of inclusive growth, gender equality, and regional cooperation while addressing governance shortcomings, Samia Suluhu Hassan may well be remembered as the quiet force that re‑imagined Tanzania’s future.