Tanzania President Appoints New Prime Minister After Disputed Poll

Tanzania’s President, Samia Suluhu Hassan, has named a longtime ally and former finance minister, Mwigulu Nchemba, as the country’s new Prime Minister following a disputed presidential election that sparked deadly unrest.

Parliament confirmed Nchemba’s nomination in a near-unanimous vote, reflecting the dominance of the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party after Hassan was declared winner of the October 29 election.

Rights groups report that hundreds of protesters were killed in post-election violence, with the U.N. Human Rights Office suggesting the toll could be in the hundreds, while opposition figures allege over 1,000 deaths.

The Tanzanian government has dismissed the figures as exaggerated and has not released an official death figure.

Nchemba, who served under former President John Magufuli, pledged to “work diligently” in his new role.

Tanzania projects a 6% economic growth this year, driven by large-scale infrastructure projects in transport and power, despite cuts in aid from international partners, including the United States.

Analysts believed that Hassan’s choice reflects continuity and loyalty within her administration.

Political scholar, Richard Mbunda of the University of Dar es Salaam, noted that Nchemba’s steady presence in the cabinet since 2021 indicates the president’s deep trust in him.