Vice President Samia Suluhu Hassan has been sworn in as president on Friday, after the sudden death of John Magufuli from a heart illness.
In her first public address as president, the 61-year-old leader announced 21 days of mourning for Magufuli and public holidays on March 22 and on March 25, the day the late president will be buried.
“I, Samia Suluhu Hassan, promise to be honest and obey and protect the constitution of Tanzania,” said Hassan.
She said It is not the time to point fingers at each other but to hold hands and move forward to build the new Tanzania that President Magufuli aspired to.
“It’s not a good day for me to talk to you because I have a wound in my heart,” said Hassan.
Hassan ascended to the presidency after President Magufuli’s death due to heart disease was announced by the government on Wednesday, more than two weeks after he was last seen in public.
