Tanzania: Between Progress, Power, Democracy, Hope, and Resistance

By Adonis Byemelwa

When Samia Suluhu Hassan stepped into the shoes of the late President John Magufuli in March 2021, the air in Tanzania felt heavy with uncertainty. For the first time in its history, the nation was being led by a woman—soft-spoken yet resolute, unfamiliar in some political circles but undeniably grounded. The weight of that moment was not just historic; it was emotional. Many Tanzanians saw in her a new possibility: a gentler hand, a broader vision, a departure from the past. Yet for others, the road ahead appeared unpredictable. Could she command authority? Would her presidency be more symbolic than substantive?

Fast forward to today, as the 2025 general elections loom, the question is no longer about whether Samia could lead—it’s about how she’s led, and what future she's asking the country to embrace once again.

Building Blocks of Progress: Infrastructure and Growth

One of President Samia’s most visible legacies is her focus on infrastructure. Throughout the country, from the heavily trafficked corridors of Dar es Salaam to regional airstrips serving smaller cities, the signs of her administration’s impact are concrete—literally. Projects like the expansion of Julius Nyerere International Airport’s Terminal 3 and improvements to regional airports have indicated a shift toward a more connected, investment-friendly Tanzania. In the bustling streets of Dar es Salaam, the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system is alleviating some of the intense congestion that has troubled commuters for decades.

But infrastructure alone doesn't sustain a nation—it must accompany economic empowerment. Tanzania’s GDP growth under Samia has shown consistent upward movement, jumping from 4.8% in 2023 to 5.4% in the first half of 2024.

Inflation has been managed tightly, holding steady at the 3% mark. Her government has also created a friendlier climate for foreign direct investment, with nearly 900 projects registered in less than a year, collectively worth $7.7 billion and promising over 200,000 jobs.

While such numbers can often feel abstract to everyday Tanzanians, the increase in job availability and the modernization of the business environment have resonated more tangibly in urban centers and industrial zones.

Healing the Nation: Healthcare as a National Priority

Perhaps one of the most human-centered achievements under President Samia has been the transformation in healthcare delivery. In a country where access to healthcare has long been a challenge—particularly in rural and underserved communities—the numbers tell an encouraging story. Between 2021 and 2024, the number of health facilities increased from around 8,500 to over 9,600.

Yet beyond the numbers lies a deeper narrative. Hospitals are now equipped with advanced diagnostic tools—MRI machines, CT scanners, and digital X-rays—that just a few years ago were considered luxuries reserved for private clinics or overseas referrals.

Maternal and under-five mortality rates have declined, not just due to better technology but thanks to a new push in policy, putting women and children at the center of the healthcare conversation. The introduction of a Universal Health Insurance scheme marks another milestone, aiming to leave no Tanzanian behind in the pursuit of wellness.

The Samia Effect: Women, Youth, and the Future of Work

There’s a certain poetry in having a woman lead a nation that, for decades, struggled to mainstream gender equality in governance and development. Samia didn’t just step into leadership—she carried the banner of possibility for women across the continent.

The “Build a Better Tomorrow” (BBT) initiative reflects this ethos. Designed to harness the energy of the nation’s youth and women, the program pushes agribusiness as a platform for job creation and self-reliance. It aims to create three million jobs by 2030, empowering a generation that has too often been excluded from formal employment pathways.

Her scholarship initiatives have also left a mark, targeting disadvantaged students and expanding access to education, especially for girls. The ripple effect is slow but palpable. For many young women in rural Tanzania, “President Samia” isn’t just a politician; she’s a living example that dreams can break through ceilings.

Cracks in the Façade: Politics, Pressure, and Public Trust

Every legacy carries its contradictions, and for President Samia Suluhu Hassan, the tension between progress and political pressure has become increasingly visible. While her administration is often praised for infrastructure growth and healthcare reforms, the democratic space under her leadership appears to be shrinking.

The exclusion of Chadema, the main opposition party, from the 2025 elections—branded a “procedural matter” by the authorities—has stirred deep skepticism. For many Tanzanians, it felt less like bureaucracy and more like deliberate sidelining, a pre-election maneuver that limits meaningful competition.

Then came the arrest of opposition leader Tundu Lissu on treason charges. His case, already controversial, became even more fraught when activists and supporters—some from neighboring Kenya—were detained for showing solidarity. Their treatment, especially that of foreign observers, raised serious alarms. The message from the state was unmistakable: political dissent is not just discouraged, it’s risky.

Compounding the tension are allegations of abductions—activists disappearing, only to resurface shaken and silent. Rights groups have condemned these as signs of state intimidation. Yet President Samia has remained defiant, insisting Tanzania is a sovereign nation and won’t be dictated to by outsiders. That position, while resonant with nationalist sentiment, has done little to ease international concern.

On the ground, the feeling is mixed. Some citizens applaud her resolve and development record. Others whisper their concerns, wary of surveillance, unsure of how far they can speak

Campaigning in Green and Yellow: The Road to 2025

President Samia’s re-election campaign is hard to miss. The country is awash in green and yellow—motorbikes branded “Samia 2025,” large billboards bearing her image, rallies wrapped in choreography and color. It’s a campaign with undeniable muscle, but one not without critique. Some question whether state resources are being indirectly channeled into campaign optics. Others wonder if the playing field is truly level when opposition voices are subdued or absent altogether.

Still, the campaign’s symbolism matters. It shows a leader not just sitting on incumbency but actively reaching out, mobilizing, and presenting her case to the people, sometimes through spectacle, sometimes through substance.

The Case for Women in Power

Across Africa, the winds of change are slowly picking up, and Samia Suluhu Hassan stands among the vanguard. With the election of Namibia’s female president, the continent now watches two women at the helm of sovereign nations. That in itself speaks to shifting norms and possibilities.

Samia has often made her case not with grand feminist slogans, but through action—showing that female leadership can be pragmatic, nurturing, and bold. From expanding legal aid for widows to reforming land rights and property access for women, her policies often strike at the intersections where gender and poverty meet. And in doing so, she has challenged the status quo—not just for Tanzanians, but for Africa at large.

Looking Ahead: The Promise and the Pitfalls

As Tanzania approaches its next election, it sits at a crossroads. The past four years have brought progress, but also pain points. President Samia’s legacy is one of ambition and vision—one that has modernized key sectors and given voice to long-marginalized groups. But it's also one struggling with the weight of democratic expectations, where the pursuit of control sometimes eclipses the promise of consensus.

Her reelection bid will be a referendum not just on roads built or scanners bought, but on trust. Trust in the process, trust in pluralism, and trust in whether leadership can listen as much as it leads. For many Tanzanians, the jury is still out. But one thing is clear—Samia Suluhu Hassan has already reshaped the contours of Tanzanian politics. Whether she gets another term or not, the story of her presidency is already a defining chapter in the nation’s history.

*Culled from June Issue of PAV Magazine