Magufuli, 61, died from a heart attack, according to a televised announcement by Vice-President Hassan on Wednesday evening, March 17, following weeks of speculations he was down with Covid-19.

According to the Tanzanian Constitution; “Where the office of President becomes vacant by reason of death, then the Vice-President shall be sworn in and become the President for the unexpired period of the term of five years.”

This means Samia Suluhu Hassan, the 61-year-old vice-president, is set to take over until 2025 as the sixth president of Tanzania.

Hon. Suluhu will not only be Tanzania’s first female president but also the first female president in Eastern Africa.

Samia Suluhu Hassan was the 10th Vice President of the United Republic of Tanzania, who assumed office on November 5, 2015, under President John Pombe Magufuli.

Previously, she was the Minister of State, in the office of the Vice President in charge of Union Affairs.

Born on January 27, 1960, Suluhu was an MP for Makunduchi constituency from 2010 to 2015 and had been the Minister of State in the VP’s Office for Union Affairs since 2010.

From 2005-2010, she served as a Minister for Tourism, Trade and Investment and in 2000-2005 a Minister of Youth Employment, Women and Children Development, both in Zanzibar.

From 2005-2010, she served as a Minister for Tourism, Trade and Investment and in 2000-2005 a Minister of Youth Employment, Women and Children Development, both in Zanzibar.

In 2000, she decided to join politics and was elected as a special seat member to the Zanzibar House of Representatives and was appointed a minister by President Amani Karume.

Announcing the President’s death in a live television broadcast, the country’s Vice-President, Samia Suluhu Hassan, said the President died on Wednesday, March 17, from heart complications at a hospital in Dar es Salaam.

Suluhu said “Our beloved president passed on at 6 p.m. this evening, all flags will be flown at half-mast for 14 days. It is sad news. The president has had this illness for the past 10 years”

President John Magufuli was one of Africa’s most prominent COVID-19 sceptics. He had downplayed the severity of the virus and called for prayers and herbal-infused steam therapy to counter the virus.

Mr Magufuli’s death came just days after speculations that he was sick with the virus. The rumours started swirling after Mr Lissu, the opposition figure in exile, said that the president had Covid-19 and was being treated in a hospital in neighbouring Kenya.