Tanzania's Vice-President Emmanuel Nchimbi Resigns

Emmanuel Nchimbi, the Vice-President of Tanzania, has announced his resignation, effective at the end of next week, and plans to retire from public life. This decision, made public through a letter on his Instagram account, marks a historic moment as he becomes the first vice-president to resign voluntarily since Tanzania's independence in 1964.

In his letter to President Samia Suluhu Hassan, Nchimbi referenced a promise made upon taking office, stating he would resign if she felt a different vice-president would better serve her administration. He expressed gratitude to the president, the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party, and the Tanzanian people for their support throughout his career.

Nchimbi's resignation follows reports of a rift between him and President Samia, although no official explanation for this tension has been provided. He was sworn in as vice-president in November 2022 after serving as Samia's running mate in a contentious election that saw the winning ticket receive approximately 98% of the vote.