Samia Suluhu Hassan has been sworn in today as the sixth President of the United Republic of Tanzania at State House, Dar es Salaam.
Suluhu takes over from the late president John Pombe Magufuli, who succumbed to heart failure on Wednesday,
She will become East African nation’s first female President and will serve the remaining term of Magufuli which started last October when he was re-elected.
According to the Tanzania Constitution, the Vice President will assume Presidency and will lead for the remainder of the President’s term.
“Where the office of President becomes vacant by reason of death resignation, loss of electoral qualifications or inability to perform his functions due to physical infirmity, or failure to discharge the duties and functions of the office of President, then the Vice-President shall be sworn in and become the President for the unexpired period of the term of five years and in accordance with the conditions set out,” states the constitution.
Suluhu is supposed to propose a name for the new Vice President, who will be confirmed by way of vote by the National Assembly.