Tanzanian President Samia Hassan continues to string together successes. After having overcome the political crisis linked to the death of John Magufuli, and decreed a series of development projects, it finally established its control over the ruling CCM party.
At an extraordinary congress of Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM) on Friday, the president of Tanzania was elected president of the party. Although she was the only candidate, the fact that no one from the circle of the late Magufuli showed up speaks volumes. Samia Hassan had secured the support of Magufuli's supporters by keeping the most influential in government. However, within the CCM, Hassan intends to establish his power. Barely a day after being voted president of the party, she made a major reshuffle.
Unpredictable appointments, between continuity and renewal
It is therefore at the Jakaya Kikwete conference center that 1862 votes by the regional CCM delegates leaned for the new party leader. Note that even the famous Angellah Kairuki, fierce heir to Magufuli's policy, did not protest. Kairuki was named in the top 20 most influential African women by Forbes. Currently, she holds the post of Minister of State Investments.
Nevertheless, Kairuki was not among the names proposed by Hassan to the CCM Council. Council members are often referred to as Tanzania's next rulers. The party in power has, in fact, counted all the presidents in the country's history among its ranks.
Then, Daniel Chongolo, mayor of Kinondoni, in Dar es Salaam, will be the new strong man of the CCM. He will fill the post after the previous Secretary General, Bashiru Ally, left him following Magufuli's death. However, in order to balance the powers within the party, Samia Hassan made a more controversial choice. The Tanzanian president has appointed Shaka Hamdu Shaka, a relative of John Magufuli, as secretary of Ideology and publicity. This key position derives its importance from the ethnic and religious divisions within the CCM. Indeed, President Hassan is a Muslim from Zanzibar. However, Shaka, like the late President Magufuli, is a practicing Catholic from the mainland.
Several other unpredictable appointments took place during the first CCM leadership meeting. Two faces of the opposition, Seleman Mathew and Lazaro Nyalandu, have been appointed to the Council. In this case, the two are respectively a leader of the CCM who had deserted, and a representative of the opposition Chadema party.
A popular president
However, reactions to President Hassan's choices have been generally positive. In the Tanzanian press, we read: “ the president does not believe in big names, only in results ". Change will therefore be Samia Suluhu's priority. She said: “You have a responsibility to the party and to the nation. Recent reforms, my 34 years of experience, and our combined efforts will lead the country to prosperity. », She announced.
Indeed, Samia Hassan did not wait for the end of the national mourning for the death of Magufuli to start working. Barely a few days after her inauguration, she put in place sanitary measures, that his predecessor refused. Then, she completed an agreement with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni to start work on the new pipeline. This project, which will transport Ugandan oil to Tanzanian ports, is the most ambitious in East African history.
on the occasion of Union Day on April 26, Hassan paid the costs of the festivities fairly to the governments of Tanganyika and Zanzibar. In addition, she pardoned 5000 prisoners, in a move that won her a popular plebiscite.