Tanzania vice President resigns, announces retirement from politics

Tanzania’s Vice President, Emmanuel Nchimbi, has resigned from office and announced his retirement from active politics, saying he had become convinced that President Samia Suluhu Hassan wanted a new deputy.

Nchimbi said on Tuesday, August 25, that he had formally written to President Hassan to notify her of his decision to step down as vice president and withdraw from public service and active politics. His resignation will take effect on September 4.

According to Nchimbi, he had previously assured Hassan in August 2025 that he would willingly step aside if she decided she wanted a different vice president. He said he had now become “beyond doubt” convinced that the president wanted a change.

Resignation Follows Media Controversy

Nchimbi’s announcement comes days after Tanzanian authorities suspended the publishing licence of MwanaHALISI newspaper, a publication known for its critical reporting, for six months.

The newspaper had published reports alleging that Nchimbi was under pressure to resign and that tensions existed between him and President Hassan. Authorities, however, accused the publication of violating professional standards relating to accuracy, balance and verification.

The close timing of the suspension and Nchimbi’s resignation is expected to intensify questions about the circumstances surrounding his departure.

Political and Media Concerns

President Samia Suluhu Hassan secured a landslide victory in Tanzania’s 2025 election, reportedly receiving 98 percent of the vote. However, international observers raised concerns about the electoral process, while hundreds of people were reportedly killed in unrest linked to the election.

Hassan initially received praise after assuming office in 2021 for relaxing some restrictions on opposition parties and the media. In recent years, however, opposition groups have accused her administration of returning to more restrictive policies reminiscent of her predecessor, John Magufuli.

Tanzania currently ranks 117th among 180 countries in the press freedom index cited from Reporters Without Borders.

Hassan Faces Decision on New Deputy

Nchimbi’s resignation now leaves President Hassan with the responsibility of choosing a new vice president at a politically sensitive moment.

His decision to leave both government and active politics after less than a year in one of Tanzania’s most senior positions is likely to add further uncertainty to the country’s political landscape.