Tanzania’s President Appoints Daughter and Son-in-Law to Cabinet in Government Reshuffle
DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania – In a significant cabinet reshuffle, Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan has appointed close family members to key ministerial positions, a move that highlights a trend of political nepotism in parts of Africa.
The President named her daughter, Wanu Hafidh Ameir, as the new Deputy Minister for Education. Simultaneously, her son-in-law, Mohamed Mchengerwa, was appointed as the Minister of Health.
The reshuffle also brought another political scion into the government, with Ridhwani Kikwete, the son of former President Jakaya Kikwete, being named the Minister of Public Service Management and Good Governance.
The appointments come just months after President Suluhu Hassan won a decisive electoral victory in October, securing nearly 98% of the vote. The new cabinet is scheduled to be sworn in on Tuesday.
These choices reflect a wider pattern across the region where leaders often elevate relatives or close allies to positions of power. In neighboring Uganda, President Yoweri Museveni’s government includes First Lady Janet Museveni as the Minister of Education and Sports, and his son, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who serves as a senior army commander and is widely seen as a potential successor.
Similarly, in Rwanda, while President Paul Kagame has denied allegations that he is preparing his daughter, Ange Kagame, for a political role, his sons hold positions within the country’s military establishment.
The consolidation of power within ruling families continues to be a defining feature of politics in several African nations, drawing both domestic and international scrutiny.
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