How President Samia Suluhu Hassan Has Graced the Mantle of Leadership in Tanzania
Introduction
I remember quite vividly, when the then Vice President Samia Suluhu Hassan had to announce to the nation, of the demise of her predecessor the late Dr. John Pombe Magufuli. Clad in a somber black hijab, her tone was calm yet heavy, as though she was suppressing an ocean of grief while deliberate to project stability. Her demeanor was composed, with an air of stoicism, reflecting both her respect for the late president and her awareness of the gravity of the moment. Her firm voice reassured a grieving nation. Her announcement marked not just the end of Magufuli’s era, but the beginning of her own. In that moment, Samia’s poise spoke volumes. She was mourning a leader but also signaling readiness for a new chapter in Tanzania’s history.
When President Samia Suluhu Hassan stepped into the highest office in 2021, Tanzania found itself at a crossroads between the weight of a powerful political legacy and the promise of a softer, more inclusive leadership style. In the years since, “Mama Samia,” as she is fondly known, has not only steadied the nation’s course but infused its politics with a rare blend of grace, composure, and quiet determination. Leading a party long dominated by towering male figures, she has worn the mantle of leadership with humility and purpose, proving that strength in governance can coexist with empathy, and that a steady hand can steer a nation just as effectively as a firm one.
A remarkable achievement I find worthy of special mention in the opening of this homage, should we choose to set aside all her other accomplishments, is that she stands as the first woman in Tanzania to hold the office of President in a society long shaped by patriarchal traditions. In this celebration of her leadership, we recognize how she has demonstrated impeccable administrative proficiency, assuming the baton from her male predecessor with bravery and charting her own path with grace, strength and vision. Follow me on this penmanship as I unpack President Samia’s defining accomplishments from her first tenure as Madam President.
Forging Unity under the 4Rs Philosophy
President Samia introduced the 4Rs philosophy i.e., Reconciliation, Resilience, Reforms, and Rebuilding. She recognized that in the aftermath of political polarization and social strain, Tanzania’s progress depended on healing divisions, restoring trust, and rebuilding both institutions and hope. She understood that national unity and tolerance were vital for progress and set the tone for inclusive governance and political reconciliation. The tenets of this national philosophy advocated for the need to reconcile, forgive one another and unite in driving change and building the country. She reiterated that reconciliation cannot be achieved in the presence of discrimination and deprivation of economic and civil rights.
Reconciliation
From her first months in office, President Samia Suluhu Hassan made national unity and political reconciliation the moral compass of her leadership. In a political climate long characterized by division and mistrust, she set out to heal old wounds through dialogue, inclusion, and reform. Her most decisive gesture came in January 2023, when she lifted the six-year ban on opposition rallies, a restriction that had silenced much of Tanzania’s political discourse. The move marked a clear departure from her predecessor’s hardline approach and opened a new chapter of democratic engagement.
Her commitment to reconciliation extended beyond politics to the media and civil society. Within weeks of assuming power, she emphasized freedom of expression and media pluralism by ordering the reopening of previously banned newspapers including Mawio, Mseto, Mwanahalisi, and Tanzania Daima—stating firmly that the government should “not ban the media by force.” This decision was widely celebrated as a bold step toward restoring press freedom and rebuilding trust with journalists and civic groups.
President Samia’s personal diplomacy has also become a hallmark of her reconciliatory leadership. Her administration also oversaw the release of CHADEMA chairman Freeman Mbowe, signaling a willingness to mend relations with key opposition figures and reaffirming her belief that dialogue, not suppression, strengthens democracy. As a powerful symbol of outreach after years of political hostility, she reopened dialogue with opposition parties after years of political tension, meeting with CHADEMA and ACT-Wazalendo leaders to promote trust.
Her leadership style has also extended to the private sector and community organizations. She regularly convenes dialogue platforms between the government, opposition, and business leaders, emphasizing that “there is no issue that cannot be discussed in the interest of national unity.” And that consultation and inclusion are key to good governance and trust. In observation, her administration has worked tirelessly to reconcile with frustrated investors and business profiles burdened with tax debts and allegations of economic sabotage, both local and international.
Resilience
President Samia’s leadership has focused on building a stronger, more adaptable economy and society in the face of challenges like COVID-19 and global economic shifts. In public health, her administration reinstated evidence-based scientific approaches during the COVID-19 era. Tanzania rejoined global vaccination efforts, aligning with international protocols and health institutions to ensure safe immunization campaigns and consequently reversing the isolationist stance of the past.
She reengaged international partners and revived Tanzania’s global standing, especially through diplomatic and trade relations. President Samia initiated a full review of Tanzania’s foreign-policy framework and in 2024 unveiled a new edition that centers economic diplomacy and diaspora engagement; Hence transforming embassies and foreign missions into instruments for trade, investment, and national development.
President Samia’s investment strategy has focused on building long-term resilience through infrastructure and agriculture, thus ensuring communities are better equipped for economic and climate shocks. Under her leadership, Tanzania advanced the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), a USD 3.1 billion flagship project connecting Dar es Salaam to Dodoma — to reduce transport costs and boost regional trade. In regions like Mbeya and Geita, her government has funded extensive road networks, power substations, and even proposed a new regional airport to open up mining and agricultural zones. Recognizing that resilience begins in the hands of farmers, President Samia also launched the USD 63.2 million TANIPAC initiative in partnership with the African Development Bank, providing over 60,000 farmers with metal silos and solar-powered equipment to combat post-harvest losses.
President Samia has strategically built more than physical infrastructure. She has fortified the nation’s ability to adapt, recover, and thrive amid global and domestic challenges. She depicts a brand of resilience that is non-reactionary; but rather deliberate, inclusive, and forward-looking — the quiet strength of a leader determined to secure Tanzania’s future.
Reforms
Under President Samia Suluhu Hassan, reform has become more than a slogan, it’s a strategic thrust toward modernizing Tanzania’s institutions, economy, and legal framework. She has demonstrated a keen interest in adapting to changing global business dynamics by launching the Blueprint for Regulatory Reforms to Improve the Business Environment and attract foreign investment (MKUMBI II). Under its directives, the Blueprint has made significant revisions to taxes, fees, and administrative charges as well as addressing regulatory bottlenecks as part of the ongoing reform push. According to Tanzania Investment Centre, Tanzania registered new foreign and domestic projects worth over USD 10.5 billion in capital value from the year 2021 to mid-2023. In the 2023/2024 fiscal year, 707 projects valued at USD 6.561 billion were recorded. Early 2025 data has shown continued momentum with USD 3.7 billion registered in the first five months.
In tandem to this, President Samia’s administration has signaled a shift in restrictive laws affecting media, political parties, and civil society. She ordered a review of Tanzania’s media law to remove harsh restrictions on press freedom. In her efforts to rebuild trust, President Samia has made a priority to reduce financial burdens on journalism by having public agencies settle their debts to media houses. Her administration ensured a leeway to media houses in reporting corruption and parliamentary scrutiny.
In governance, she has promoted transparency and accountability, reshuffling key institutions to enhance efficiency. In April 2025 she launched a consolidation of laws aiming at simplifying legal access, reducing ambiguities and making statutes more accessible to common citizens.
Rebuilding
President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s tenure has been marked by an intentional effort to rebuild Tanzania’s image, economy, and institutions, restoring both national pride and international trust in the country’s leadership. Her first priority was revitalizing diplomacy. After years of relative isolation, she re-opened Tanzania to the world, embarking on dozens of high-profile state visits and welcoming multiple heads of state to Dar es Salaam and Dodoma.
In February 2025, President Samia welcomed and chaired the Joint EAC-SADC Extraordinary Summit on the DRC Crisis in Dar es Salaam State House. This emergency, high-level summit brought together leaders from East and Southern African blocs to address the escalating security crisis in eastern DRC.
In January 2025, President Samia chaired the Mission 300- Africa Energy Summit in Dar es Salaam, in partnership with the African Union, African Development Bank and World Bank. The Mission 300 summit aimed at accelerating electrification for 300 million Africans.
In September 2023, at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre in Dar es Salaam, a large continental food-systems forum was hosted under President Samia’s patronage, Africa Food Systems Forum (AGRF 2023). It drew thousands of delegates convening for agriculture, food security and climate-resilient policies.
In July 2023, President Samia officially launched the Africa Heads of State Human Capital Summit in Dar es Salaam. This was a continent-level heads-of-state summit which convened many African leaders and over a thousand delegates. The summit focused on education, health and human capital.
In 2024, her administration launched a new foreign policy blueprint focused on economic diplomacy and diaspora engagement, turning embassies into engines for trade and investment. Tanzania has since strengthened ties with the United States, the European Union, and Gulf nations, and secured new bilateral agreements with Kenya, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, thus underscoring President Samia’s vision of Tanzania as a bridge for regional cooperation and continental stability.
Her domestic rebuilding agenda has been equally ambitious. President Samia has revived key development projects that had stalled or slowed, signaling continuity with reform. The Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) project linking Dar es Salaam with Dodoma and Mwanza, remains a cornerstone of her transport vision. She also accelerated completion of the Kigongo–Busisi Bridge across Lake Victoria — East Africa’s longest bridge — which is now transforming transport and trade across the Mwanza and Geita regions. In the energy sector, her government continues the Julius Nyerere Hydropower Project, set to generate 2,115 MW, making Tanzania a potential electricity exporter in the region. Beyond flagship projects, she has invested in rural electrification, road networks, and water projects, ensuring the benefits of national progress reach local communities.
Equally transformative has been her work to emphasize gender balance in leadership, appointing women to key ministerial and diplomatic positions, symbolizing a new, inclusive era in Tanzanian politics. Through these diplomatic strides, infrastructural revivals, and acts of empathetic governance, President Samia Suluhu Hassan has done more than rebuild the nation’s image — she has redefined it. Her administration’s steady hand has projected Tanzania once again as a credible partner abroad and a reconciled, forward-looking nation at home, laying the groundwork for sustained progress and stability.
The Royal Tour Success
We cannot speak of President Samia’s footprints without mentioning ‘Tanzania: The Royal Tour’. In 2022, President Samia appeared in a one-hour documentary-style film in which she serves as a tour guide to producer Peter Greenberg, showcasing Tanzania’s culture, wildlife, heritage, and investment opportunities to a global audience. Tanzania’s episode marked the first time an African head of state participated in the Royal Tour TV series, and the first time a sitting Tanzanian president featured in a global tourism documentary. The purpose of the Royal Tour was to rebuild Tanzania’s international image, revive tourism and attract investors after the COVID-19 pandemic and promote Tanzania as a premier destination for travel, business and cultural exploration.
The impact of this initiative by President Samia was massive. The film boosted tourism and visibility globally. Tanzania saw increased coverage by CNN, BBC, and international travel networks -which created a surge in global interest and led to more flights and partnerships with airlines. It encouraged new investments in infrastructure, such as hotels and airstrips, and a greater focus on sustainable tourism. It reinforced President Samia’s 4Rs philosophy especially in Rebuilding Tanzania’s image and Resilience in post-pandemic recovery.
Key Economic Partnerships and Deals
President Samia has spearheaded a series of high-profile economic partnerships aimed at revitalizing Tanzania’s economy and reestablishing its global positioning. Her leadership has indeed attracted significant foreign investment through bilateral and multilateral cooperation, as made evident in the following agreements, including the DP World Port modernization, China-Tanzania Strategic Partnership, and UAE cooperation agreements.
DP World- Tanzania Partnership
In October 2023 Tanzania signed an agreement with DP World, a global logistics and port management company based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The 25-year concession agreement gives scope for DP World to manage, develop, and modernize several berths at the Dar es Salaam Port, one of East Africa’s busiest maritime gateways. The goal of this partnership is the enhancement of efficiency, expansion of trade capacity, and attraction of regional cargo traffic- positioning Tanzania as a logistics hub for landlocked countries such as Zambia, Malawi, Rwanda, DRC and South Sudan. The project is valued at USD 250-500 million in the initial phase, and potentially scaling to over USD 1 billion.
Agricultural funding partnerships
During the AGRF 2023, under President Samia’s administration, Tanzania secured over USD 400 million in agricultural funding from the World Bank and the African Development Bank to strengthen food security and modernize rural economies.
UAE- Bilateral Cooperation and Investment Agreements
In May 2025, President Samia deepened ties with UAE by signing multiple Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) on mining, customs, and trade cooperation to boost private sector investment. Specifically, the UAE Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry and Tanzania’s Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (TCCIA) signed an MoU to create a bilateral business council aiming at intensifying trade, investment flows and private sector collaboration.
State Visit to China and Comprehensive Strategic Partnership
Her state visit to China in November 2022, elevated bilateral relations between Tanzania and China to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. In this partnership, Tanzania secured support for development projects and access to Chinese financing and investments, while also opening avenues for cooperation on infrastructural and trade initiatives.
Railway Infrastructure- Turkish Contractor and Financing
Domestically, President Samia’s government advanced the USD 3.1 billion Standard Gauge Railway project in partnership with Turkey’s Yapi Merkezi, underscoring her commitment to transformative infrastructure development.
Milestones in Tanzania’s Education Sector
Tanzania’s education sector has undergone remarkable transformation under the leadership of President Samia Suluhu Hassan. Her administration restored the right to education for young mothers, expanded free education from primary through secondary levels, and introduced bold curriculum reforms that prepare our youth for a modern economy by aligning curricula with skills, innovation, and labor market demands. Through her vision, thousands of new classrooms have been built nationwide, easing overcrowding and improving learning conditions. She has also championed the construction of girls’ science schools aiming at encouraging girls into science and technology fields. The Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan Girls’ Secondary School in Namtumbo, Ruvuma was opened in September 2024 focusing on science and technical subjects. Over one hundred vocational centres have been constructed, ensuring that every young Tanzanian, boy or girl, can acquire the skills to build a better future. She laid the foundation stone for a new campus at Mzumbe University, proving her commitment to expanding tertiary education infrastructure. President Samia’s efforts in education reflect her belief that an empowered nation begins with an educated generation; one equipped, confident, and ready to drive Tanzania’s progress.
Restoring Hope through Health
President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s administration has ushered in a new era of progress and inclusivity in Tanzania’s health sector. One of her earliest and most defining actions was restoring a science-based approach to public health, officially recognizing COVID-19 and launching a nationwide vaccination campaign in 2021. This decisive move reestablished cooperation with the World Health Organization and rebuilt international confidence in Tanzania’s health governance. Under her leadership, the number of health facilities has grown significantly, from about 8,500 in 2021 to over 9,600, improving access to healthcare, particularly in remote and rural areas. Her government has prioritized maternal and child health, earning Tanzania the prestigious Global Goalkeeper Award from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in recognition of notable reductions in maternal and infant mortality. Beyond infrastructure, President Samia has focused on transparency, accountability, and data-driven decision-making, while promoting partnerships with international organizations to strengthen service delivery and capacity building. Her administration restored collaboration with international health bodies and resumed full data sharing with WHO, reversing earlier opacity. These achievements reflect her broader vision of a resilient, equitable, and modern health system capable of meeting the needs of every Tanzanian.
Record Breaking Revenue Performance
President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s headship has recorded unprecedented growth in domestic revenue collection through the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA). Her administration’s emphasis on transparency, digital innovation, and taxpayer trust has transformed TRA into one of the country’s strongest institutions. Between 2021 and 2025, national revenue collection rose by more than 70 percent, with the Authority consistently surpassing its monthly and annual targets. In the 2024/2025 fiscal year, TRA collected TZS 32.26 trillion, achieving 103 percent of its target and marking twelve consecutive months of record-breaking performance. The government has also intensified efforts to curb tax evasion, recovering over TZS 200 billion in potential losses. These results reflect President Samia’s broader economic reform agenda, modernizing fiscal management, broadening the tax base, and reinforcing citizens’ confidence that taxes are being used to build a stronger, more self-reliant Tanzania.
Inclusive Growth and Social Resilience through TASAF
President Samia Suluhu Hassan has revitalized Tanzania’s Productive Social Safety Net (PSSN II) program implemented by Tanzania Social Action Fund (TASAF), hence positioning it as a key pillar of her administration’s commitment to inclusive growth and poverty reduction. Through her leadership, the government has expanded financial resources and strengthened institutional oversight under TASAF in order to ensure that social protection reaches those most in need. PSSN II has benefited more than 1.1 million beneficiary households across the country targeting those under the poverty line in 186 project area authorities.
The program provided conditional cash transfers (CCTs) that supported spending on health and education, helping poor households invest in their human capital. Through the public works component, PSSN II enabled beneficiary households to earn income by participating in community-based labor-intensive projects during lean seasons, which helped cushion them from shocks. The program contributed to household poverty alleviation, better access to food and income, and improved uptake of health services among pregnant women and children under five.
A major stride under President Samia has been the program’s drive toward financial inclusion through the Livelihood Enhancement intervention, which encouraged beneficiaries to form Community Savings and Investment Groups (COMSIP). These groups empowered participants, especially women, to save, access credit, and engage in small-scale investments, fostering long-term self-reliance beyond cash transfers. In addition, TASAF has expanded the use of electronic payment systems (e-payments) to deliver funds directly to beneficiaries, enhancing efficiency, transparency, and security in cash disbursements. Through these integrated efforts, President Samia has transformed the PSSN program from a traditional welfare scheme into a dynamic platform for economic empowerment and social resilience, reflecting her broader vision of a just and inclusive Tanzania.
Key elements of her support include:
Policy backing and resource allocation through sustaining and expanding PSSN’s funding; which ensured that conditional cash transfers and public works components reached more vulnerable households.
Linking PSSN II to broader development goals: Her leadership integrated PSSN II interventions with health, education, and livelihoods support; for example, ensuring that beneficiary households also access essential healthcare and that school attendance compliance requirements are met.
Strengthening coordination and efficiency: Through her governance reforms, the administration has pushed for better implementation structures, monitoring & evaluation, and alignment of PSSN II with Tanzania’s national development plans.
Earning Global and National Acclaim
From prestigious international honors to high civilian decorations, President Samia’s achievements have resonated globally and even domestically. Her leadership has not only transformed Tanzania’s social and economic landscape but has also earned her widespread recognition.
Her most notable awards are as follows: –
In August 2025 she was conferred the medal of honor in Recognition for Sports Development by the International Military Sports Council (CISM) for her role in sports promotion and fostering peace through sports.
In June 2025 she was conferred the Special Honorary Award by the Parliament of Tanzania recognizing her exemplary leadership and contributions to inclusive development and national progress.
In May 2025, the UAE President conferred upon her the Mother of the Nation Order as a high civilian honor in recognition of her distinguished achievements and social contributions.
In February 2025 she received the Global Goalkeeper Award, Recognition for Contributions to the Health Sector given by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
In 2022 she was awarded the Super Builder Award – Babacar N’Diaye Trophy at the African Development Bank’s Annual Meeting for her commitment to infrastructure (roads, rail, airports) development in Tanzania.
The Road Ahead
President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s tenure marks a defining chapter in Tanzania’s modern history — one characterized by reconciliation, resilience, reform, and rebuilding. Through her visionary 4Rs philosophy, she has restored national unity, strengthened institutions, and positioned Tanzania as a rising force in regional and global affairs. Her leadership has transformed critical sectors: revitalizing education and healthcare, modernizing infrastructure, expanding social protection through the PSSN, and boosting domestic revenue to record levels through enhanced fiscal reforms. Internationally, she has rebranded Tanzania’s image through diplomacy, innovation, and inclusive governance, earning global recognition and the trust of her people. Yet the true measure of her legacy will lie not only in the achievements of her first term, but in how effectively her leadership sets the foundation for a more sustainable future.
Looking ahead, President Samia’s agenda will be tested by emerging global and domestic challenges, from climate adaptation and food security to digital transformation and equitable growth. Her government’s ability to balance reform momentum with fiscal discipline, and openness with stability, will determine Tanzania’s long-term trajectory.
Regionally, Tanzania is poised to consolidate its role as a bridge for East and Southern Africa, leveraging diplomacy, trade, and infrastructure to deepen regional integration. Her continued emphasis on economic diplomacy and diaspora engagement offers a model for how African nations can transform external partnerships into engines for internal progress.
At home, her commitment to inclusive governance, social protection, and gender equality continues to redefine leadership in Africa. By nurturing trust, empowering women, and strengthening institutions, she has demonstrated that transformational leadership can be both empathetic and effective.
The future of President Samia’s leadership appears promising, one defined by continuity, innovation, and the deepening of the reform agenda she so boldly began. With her steady, pragmatic approach and unwavering commitment to equity and progress, Tanzania is poised to consolidate its gains and step confidently into a new era of sustainable development, unity, and prosperity. Her legacy, still in the making, is shaping not only the future of Tanzania but also setting a new standard for visionary leadership across Africa.