In 2017, long before she became Tanzania’s first female president, Samia Suluhu Hassan, then Vice-President, made an unusual and politically charged visit to Nairobi Hospital. She had just attended President Uhuru Kenyatta’s inauguration in Kenya, but instead of heading back to Dar es Salaam, she detoured to visit Tundu Lissu, the fierce opposition figure who had narrowly survived an assassination attempt in Dodoma.
Lissu, a staunch critic of President John Pombe Magufuli, was recovering from multiple gunshot wounds after unknown assailants had sprayed his car with bullets. His shooting was widely viewed as politically motivated. Suluhu’s visit, though discreet, raised eyebrows across East Africa.
Why would the Vice-President, who served directly under the authoritarian Magufuli, pay such a public show of sympathy to his most vocal critic?
Two Strangers in One Palace: Suluhu and Magufuli
Behind the scenes, it was no secret that Suluhu and Magufuli were uneasy allies. Their partnership was a political arrangement forced by CCM elders, notably former President Jakaya Kikwete, who saw Suluhu’s nomination as a unifying gesture for the ruling party and the country’s regions.
While Magufuli consolidated power with a loyal inner circle known for hardline tactics and secrecy, Suluhu was often sidelined, regarded as a decorative figurehead rather than a power player. Much like Daniel arap Moi’s early days as Vice-President under Jomo Kenyatta, Suluhu’s position was more symbolic than influential.
Her humility, soft tone, and gentle public demeanor led many to underestimate her political instincts.
March 2021: The Death That Triggered a Power Struggle
When Magufuli died in March 2021, Suluhu’s real test began. The Tanzanian Constitution was clear: the Vice-President takes over. But the machinery of power hesitated.
According to insider accounts, Suluhu was informed last of the president’s death, after Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa, Chief Secretary Bashiru Ally, and Chief of General Staff Venance Mabeyo had convened to deliberate the future. The powerful security and intelligence elite contemplated alternative power routes but found themselves boxed in by constitutional clarity.
Eventually, Suluhu—who was away in Tanga—was informed. Reluctantly, the state proceeded to swear her in as President.
The Battle for the Vice Presidency
No sooner had she taken office than the Magufuli camp pushed back. They lobbied for Bashiru Ally, the powerful Chief Secretary, to be appointed Vice President—a move designed to keep power within their camp.
But Suluhu resisted.
In a decisive move, she appointed Philip Mpango, the then Finance Minister, as her deputy, and removed Bashiru Ally from the influential Chief Secretary post, reassigning him to the marginalised role of nominated Member of Parliament. The message was clear: Samia was not going to be a puppet.
Consolidating Power: The Rise of a Shrewd Operator
Despite lacking a loyal political base when she assumed the presidency, Samia Suluhu has steadily consolidated her hold over Tanzanian politics. She began dismantling Magufuli-era factions, reshuffling party ranks, and building a network of her own loyalists within CCM.
In her first year, she was hailed as a reformer—lifting bans on opposition rallies, meeting with rivals, and promising political openness. But as her presidency matured, she revealed a steel beneath her silk.
Critics began to emerge, and Suluhu responded decisively. Some opposition figures accused her administration of subtle authoritarian tendencies, particularly in suppressing dissent and tightening control over state institutions. Human rights groups have occasionally raised red flags, questioning the balance between security enforcement and civic freedom.
Legacy in the Making
Today, President Samia Suluhu Hassan stands as one of Africa’s most consequential female leaders. What began as a quiet and uncertain vice presidency has transformed into a commanding leadership role, shaped by tact, patience, and a well-timed assertion of authority.
Her journey mirrors that of other underestimated leaders who rose from the shadows to dominate their political landscape. In Suluhu’s case, her calculated defiance, including that 2017 visit to a man branded as an enemy of the state, now seems like the early signal of her independence of thought.
She may have entered State House as a figure to be seen, not heard—but today, Tanzania hears her loud and clear.
