SAMIA Suluhu Hassan becomes the first female president in Tanzania taking over from President John Magufuli who died on 17 March 2021. NICODEMUS MINDE, PhD Fellow, United States International University Born in 1960, she hails from Makunduchi, an old town on Unguja island, in Zanzibar. Her father was a teacher and her mother a housewife. After graduating from high school she studied public administration and later obtained a Masters in community economic development. She began her political career in 2000 when she was elected as a special seat member in the Zanzibar House of Representatives. Special seats are reserved for…