From Outsider to Iron Lady: How Samia Suluhu Outmaneuvered Magufuli’s Shadows to Rule Tanzania

By Odhiambo Levin Opiyo

In 2017, Just after attending Uhuru Kenyatta’s inauguration , Mama Samia Suluhu then serving as Tanzania’s vice-president, went straight to Nairobi Hospital to visit Tanzania’s opposition leader Tundu Lissu.

Lissu who was major critic of President John Pombe Magufuli was receiving treatment at the hospital after being sprayed with bullets in Dodoma.

However what raised eyebrows among political commentators at that time, was why vice-president Samia Suluhu had dedicated her time to visit a major critic of her boss President John Pombe Magufuli. It pointed to something deep within the top echelons of the CCM.

Just like Vice-President Daniel Arap Moi’s predicaments in the Kenyatta’s government in the 70s, during Maghufuli’s presidency Suluhu was more of an outsider. Despite being the vice-president she was excluded from the president’s inner circle. In essence, she was there to be seen not to be heard.

According to sources close to the CCM at that time, she was imposed on Maghufuli as running mate by the party’s bigwigs who included former presidents such as Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete. Basically the two were two strange bedfellows in a political marriage of convenience. But she was very humble.

When Magufuli died in March 2021, a plan was hatched to sideline her as the power struggle ensued within the CCM. Despite being the vice-president, she was informed last about the president’s death after prime minister Kassim Majaliwa and Chief Secretary Bashiru Ally.

The Chief of General Staff Venance Mabeyo, Chief Secretary Bashiru Ally , Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa and the Director of Intelligence spent considerable time mulling on what to do. But because the constitution was very clear on who should take over incase of the president’s death they had no other option but to inform Suluhu who was away in Tanga.

As the government became occupied with funeral arrangements, behind the scenes a pro Magufuli faction within the CCM, was already putting pressure on her to have Bashiru as her vice president.

But she was able to resist the pressure and settled on Philip Mpango, the finance minister. To reinforce her position, as soon as she ascended to power she fired Bashiru as Chief Secretary, and demoted him to the nondescript position of nominated member of parliament.

As Tanzania’s new president Suluhu lacked a strong political base within the CCM, which was largely under the influence of the late Magufuli’s allies. But over the recent years she has turned out to be a very shrewd politician much to the surprise of those who mistook her humility for weakness.

She has been dismantling factions to build her own influence and to consolidate her position by reorganising the CCM. This has enabled her to sit firmly on the saddle of Tanzanian politics.

Although initially praised for introducing reforms that allowed opposition parties to hold rallies and demonstrations, she has never hesitated to deal ruthlessly with those who threaten her position and those who threaten Tanzania’s security and unity.