Samia Suluhu Hassan (61) became the first female president of Tanzania this week following the sudden death of Dr John Pombe Magufuli.

But who is Samia Suluhu Hassan?

Samia Suluhu was born on 27 January, 1960 in Zanzibar. After completing her secondary education in 1977, she was employed by the Ministry of Planning and Development as a clerk.

After getting married and as a mother of four, she went back to school and obtained a postgraduate degree in Economics from the University of Manchester in 1994.

In  2000 Samia who gave her first shot at politics. She was elected as a special seat member to the Zanzibar House of representatives and was appointed a minister of labor by President Amani Karumi as the only high ranking female minister in the cabinet.

She was re-elected in 2005 and was reappointed as minister in another portfolio.

In 2010 Samia was elected to the National Assembly in the parliamentary constituency of makunduchi where she won by more than 80%.

She held the position up to the year 2015. She was appointed Minister of State for union affairs by President Jakaya Kikwte in 2014.

She was elected as the Vice Chairperson of the constituent assembly tasked with drafting the country’s new constitution.

Samir’s star continued to shine and in 2015 Chama Cha Mapinduzi presidential candidate, Dr John Pombe Magufuli, chose her as his running mate for the year’s general election.

This made her the first ever female running mate in the party’s history.

Upon Magufuli his victory in the election, Samir. Consequently became the first female vice president in the history of United Republic of Tanzania

Please watch the video above this post for more details.Â