Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan has acknowledged that Tanzania’s reputation for stability was tarnished by the unrest that occurred in the East African nation during its disputed elections last month.
As she took the oath for her new cabinet, Samia cautioned that the violence might severely hinder the country’s progress.
The 65-year-old president stated that we primarily rely on loans from international creditors, but the recent events have damaged our global reputation.
The opposition candidate was declared the winner of the October presidential election with 98% of the vote, but the opposition, which was prohibited from participating, criticised the election as a “mockery of democracy”.
Malawi’s former President Lazarus Chakwera, who also serves as the Commonwealth envoy, is scheduled to travel to Tanzania to oversee reconciliation initiatives between the two countries.
According to the opposition, hundreds may have died as security forces suppressed the protests during a five-day internet shutdown that followed the 29 October elections. An official death toll has still not been released by the authorities.
Images and videos of Tanzanians who have died have been circulating online after a disputed election in which key leaders of the opposition were imprisoned or barred from participating.
A nation that had projected itself as a place of serenity and organisation for nearly six decades was shocked by the violence.
At least 240 individuals were charged with treason following the protests.
President Samia recently initiated an official inquiry into the recent unrest and advised prosecutors to evaluate the possibility of lowering or dismissing charges against detained individuals who were not directly implicated in the protests.
Samia took office in 2021 following President John Magufuli’s death, and was initially commended for relaxing restrictions on politics, but the political environment has since become more restricted.
She warned on Tuesday that her next term may be accompanied by economic difficulties, pointing out that obtaining financial backing from foreign banks could be a tough task.
Initially, during the first term, we relied on external borrowing due to our financial stability and the progress we had achieved. The stain we’ve brought upon ourselves could now also obstruct that, she said.
“For this reason, we must concentrate on mobilizing domestic resources and utilizing our God-given resources,” Samia said to her ministers.
Her daughter, Wanu Hafidh Ameir, has been appointed deputy education minister to the 27-member cabinet.
Mohamed Mchengerwa, Wanu’s husband, continues to serve in the cabinet, holding the position of health minister. Seven members of the previous cabinet have had their positions taken away from them.
Commonwealth Secretary-General Shirley Botchwey stated on Monday that Chakwera would be leading “constructive dialogue” during his four-day trip to Tanzania.
Meetings are scheduled with government officials, party leaders, community groups, religious leaders, traditional leaders and foreign diplomats.
