Samia adopts motherly touch, rolls out special plan for Gen Z

By Newsflash Writer

Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan on Friday directed authorities to free nearly 500 young people who had been arraigned on treason charges for taking part in anti-government protests during the October 29 General Election — a gesture seen as a calm, motherly outreach to a pivotal demographic at the start of her final presidential term.

In a nationally anticipated address to a country still shaken by the heavy-handed violence unleashed on protesters by security agencies, Samia said most of the youths “did not understand the gravity of their actions” and had been “swept along by the momentum.”

“Being a mother, I see our youth as the builders of our nation, not its destroyers,” she told lawmakers as she inaugurated the newly formed National Assembly in Dodoma. “I have instructed state prosecutors to review each treason file and drop charges for those who were misled by influencers from within or outside Tanzania.”

The exact death toll from the brutal crackdown on Gen Z demonstrators — which also claimed the lives of innocent bystanders — remains unknown, though estimates range from hundreds to possibly thousands. Authorities have yet to issue official figures.

Samia was declared to have secured just under 98 percent of the vote. In what amounted to her first implicit acknowledgment of the domestic crisis underlying the unrest, she dedicated the opening half of her 90-minute parliamentary speech to laying out new government strategies aimed at addressing youth frustrations.

These plans include the creation of a special ministry and a presidential office department focused on youth issues, job creation, and income-generation opportunities.

Pledges on governance reforms and reconciliation

Addressing broader concerns about governance and the reform demands that fueled the protests, Samia noted that the state had already set up an inquiry team to investigate the election-related turmoil. The findings, she said, would guide a renewed national dialogue with the opposition.

“Now that Tanzanians have given me a fresh mandate, I will continue extending a hand of reconciliation to my political opponents. But we shall do so guided by our own norms and traditions, not external pressure,” she affirmed.

On democratic standards, she insisted that “there is no single universal model,” adding that Tanzania was under no obligation to mirror political systems of other nations.

Despite her strong tone on foreign influence, questions remain about whether she will soften her administration’s hard stance on critics and opposition groups beyond the youth amnesty.

On Thursday, she signaled an intention to reassure investors and development partners about the credibility of the disputed election by appointing her former Finance Minister, Dr. Mwigulu Nchemba, as prime minister. His elevation is widely seen as a strategic move to bolster confidence as she begins her second and final term.

Dr. Nchemba, 50, who holds a PhD in economics, has been central to Samia’s economic diplomacy efforts since she assumed power in 2021. He has previously served in several ministerial roles under former president John Magufuli, including Agriculture, Home Affairs, and Constitutional and Legal Affairs.

By choosing him as her principal aide, Samia bypassed several high-profile CCM legislators seen as frontrunners for the position — among them former deputy prime minister Dotto Biteko and outgoing Speaker Tulia Ackson Mwansasu, whose last-minute withdrawal from the Speaker race triggered speculation about her possible elevation.

Nchemba’s extensive experience appears to have given him a decisive advantage, suggesting that Samia expects him to play a central role in helping her manage the fallout from the most contentious election in Tanzania’s history while restoring both domestic and international trust in her leadership.

Major development and infrastructure plans ahead

Samia’s next immediate task will be assembling a new cabinet to serve under Dr. Nchemba — a team expected to offer insight into how she plans to confront the mounting political and economic challenges ahead. The new cabinet lineup is expected within a week.

She pledged to accelerate economic growth, strengthen infrastructure, enhance public services, ensure justice, and preserve national peace and stability to drive Tanzania’s development over the next five years.

Her administration’s top priorities include constructing new roads, flyovers, interchanges, and bridges across Dar es Salaam and other key regions by 2030, with the goal of attracting greater investment in shipping and cargo logistics.

She also outlined plans to build a new standard gauge railway connecting Tanga Port to Musoma on Lake Victoria — a corridor expected to boost trade with Malawi, Zambia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Tanzania will also partner with Zambia to modernise the Tazara railway.

Additional priorities include acquiring eight new Air Tanzania aircraft, establishing new airports in northwestern Tanzania, and investing heavily in ICT to drive digital transformation and industrial growth.

Samia said that manufacturing, tourism, and financial services would become the country’s leading economic engines by 2030. Her government hopes to increase annual tourist arrivals from the current 5.6 million to eight million within five years through improved marketing, wildlife conservation, and aggressive campaigns targeting Europe, the US, and other major tourism markets.

Other areas of focus include boosting agricultural production, expanding health infrastructure, ensuring universal access to medical services, and constructing a national water grid for equitable distribution.

She highlighted the construction of the Kidunda Dam, which will supply water to Dar es Salaam and the Coast Region, as a key priority.

The government will also broaden health insurance coverage, upgrade medical facilities, and ensure fair service delivery — especially for rural and economically vulnerable citizens, she said.