Tanzania: Samia Appoints Daughter and Son-in-Law as Ministers

In a move stirring intense debate nationally and internationally, Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan has appointed her daughter, Wanu Hafidh Ameir, as Deputy Minister of Education, Science, and Technology, alongside her son-in-law, Mohammed Omary Mchengerwa, as Minister of Health. The appointments, unveiled during a televised address from Chamwino State House in Dodoma on Monday, form part of a sweeping cabinet reshuffle that named 27 ministers and 29 deputy ministers.

Mrs. Hassan’s re-election on October 29, 2025, garnered an overwhelming 97.66 percent of the vote, a figure met with skepticism by opposition groups and international observers. The election was marred by significant controversy, including violent nationwide protests, government-imposed internet shutdowns, and a crackdown on demonstrators and opposition parties. Notably, the main opposition party, Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA), had been barred from participating in the vote. CHADEMA alleges that around 700 people were killed during post-election unrest, a claim the government denies but which human rights organizations continue to investigate.

The United Nations has called for thorough, transparent investigations into reported deaths and possible evidence concealment, while the African Union declared the election “not credible,” citing notable irregularities and excessive use of force. Other international bodies, including the European Union, Southern African Development Community (SADC), and missions from the United Kingdom, Canada, and Norway, condemned both the fatalities and the systematic suppression of dissent, including the prolonged internet blackout designed to stifle communication and protests during and after the election.

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In her cabinet announcement, President Hassan also retained several key ministers such as Adolf Mkenda as Minister of Education, Science, and Technology, while making new appointments including Tanzania’s ambassador to China, Khamis Mussa Omar, as Finance Minister. The reshuffle saw the removal of seven senior officials from her previous cabinet, drawing a complex picture of political consolidation and familial influence within the ruling party.

Critics argue that these familial appointments symbolize a troubling trend toward nepotism amid a governance crisis fueled by disputed electoral outcomes and widespread repression. Analysts remain divided on whether the president aims to strengthen her reform agenda or secure loyalty by surrounding herself with trusted family members.

In the wake of the election fallout, Tanzania faces intensified calls for democratic reforms and accountability as the nation grapples with political unrest, a shattered public trust, and allegations of human rights abuses. The government’s heavy-handed crackdown following the polls, including the use of live ammunition against protesters and treason charges against opposition figures, has plunged the country into one of its deepest political crises in decades.