Tanzania’s president appoints daughter to key cabinet role

Tanzania’s President, Samia Suluhu Hassan, has selected her daughter for the nation’s cabinet, according to Africa News and agencies on November 18th.

The announcement was made during a televised address on November 17th, where Hassan confirmed that Ameir would serve as the country’s Deputy Minister of Education. Ameir’s husband and Hassan’s son-in-law, Mohamed Mchengerwa, was appointed as the Minister of Health in the same address.

A further 27 ministers and deputy ministers were announced during the televised address from Chamwino State House in the nation’s capital, Dodoma. The reshuffle saw seven senior ministers from the previous cabinet replaced.

Ameir is not the only relative of a prominent politician to receive a cabinet role, as Ridhwani Kikwete, son of former President Jakaya Kikwete, has been appointed as the Minister of Public Service Management and Good Governance.

Hassan was sworn into office on November 3rd, after being declared the winner of the October 29th election, having achieved 98% of the vote. However, the legitimacy of the election has been questioned as opposition candidates were barred from standing, while foreign reporters were banned from entering the country.

At least 700 people were killed when authorities cracked down on demonstrations that protested the election results. This state-sanctioned violence was condemned by Human Rights Watch (HRW) on November 4th, although information has been difficult to verify due to what the HRW referred to as “internet blockades.”

A six-day internet blackout was imposed by the government between October 29th and November 3rd, with mobile phone users receiving a message that they could face “treason charges” if they shared images or videos that may cause unrest.

Furthermore, at least 240 people have reportedly been charged with treason over post-election protests, as Hassan’s government imposed a curfew on Tanzania’s citizens.

On November 11th, the UN called for an investigation into deaths caused by post-election violence. Although the reported death toll is at least 700 people, the opposition party, Chadema, has estimated that the true figure is at least 2000 people.

Members of the Chadema party have been detained on charges of treason, while the deputy leader, John Heche, has faced charges of terrorism. Heche was arrested before the elections, which his party condemned as a “sham.”

Hassan had been accused of silencing critics in the run-up to the election, with civil rights groups denouncing the “wave of terror” inflicted upon the people of Tanzania, which included activists being abducted.

Africa News and agencies, Maghrebi.org