COUNTRY IN FOCUS •

Tanzania remains a top-class investment destination in Africa .

The untimely death of President John Magufuli in March this year has put the country on a new growth path . But will new president Samia Suluhu Hassan be up for the task , asks Leon Louw .

Tanzania ’ s new President Samia Suluhu Hassan has demonstrated a pro-business narrative , particularly towards mining .

In contrast Magufuli followed a confrontational , protectionist and anti-western approach in recent years . As a result , and despite Tanzania ’ s great potential as an investment destination , the trust deficit between government and the private sector has widened over the last few years .

According to Sebastian Spio-Garbrah , chief analyst Ontario at Da ’ Mina Advisors , Tanzania ’ s new president is ultimately poised for a public U-turn on her predecessor ’ s controversial Covid-19 policies and negative attitudes towards foreign investors .

After three weeks out of the public eye and the rumour mill about his whereabouts and health in over-drive , it was announced on 17 March 2021 that President Magufuli died in a Dar es Salaam hospital . The official reason given was complications to do with a pre-existing heart condition .

In a country that has imposed virtually no Covid-19 related restrictions , the consensus among the population was that Magufuli likely died from the virus . His death , and the death of numerous other high ranking government officials in the past few months , saw Tanzania change its approach on managing the pandemic , be it putting measures in place to curb the spread of the virus or allowing vaccines into the country .

Although Tanzania has never witnessed the death of a sitting head of state , the constitution is clear as to what was supposed to happen next . The country ’ s Vice President Samia Suluhu Hassan was elevated to the role of president until the next general election takes place in 2025 .

Tanzania ’ s first female president Under Article 37 of Tanzania ’ s constitution , if a president dies while in office then the vice president assumes the presidency for the remainder of the term ( until 2025 in this case ). As a result , Suluhu became Tanzania ’ s first female and first Zanzibari president .

Suluhu also became the second female head of state in Africa ( although Ethiopia ’ s presidency is largely ceremonial ) and East Africa ’ s first sworn in female president .