Tanzania’s Vice President Emmanuel Nchimbi resigned on Tuesday, announcing his retirement from politics less than a year into office, saying he was convinced President Samia Suluhu Hassan wanted a different deputy amid rising scrutiny over political divisions and press freedom.
Nchimbi said he had written to Hassan informing her of his decision to retire from politics and public service and relinquish the vice presidency.
He said the resignation, effective 4 September, fulfilled a promise he made to Hassan in August 2025 that he would step aside if she desired a change.
“I am fully satisfied without a doubt that the Hon. President desires a change, so I have decided to fulfil my promise,” he said.
The announcement comes a week after local media reports on mounting pressure for the vice president to resign, which prompted the suspension of a local media outlet.
The announcement comes about a month after Nchimbi made a strong call for Tanzanians to push for a new constitution during a meeting of the Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition in Dar es Salaam in late July.
“If I were given the chance to tell Tanzanians just one thing, I would tell them: ‘Fight to get a new constitution,”‘ he told the meeting at the time.
He said Tanzania needed a new constitution based on national consensus to strengthen human rights, good governance and democracy in the country.
Hassan, who won a contested election last year with 98 percent of the vote, initially earned praise for easing restrictions on opposition and media after succeeding John Magufuli in 2021.
However, opposition groups now accuse her of reverting to restrictive policies, with Tanzania ranking 117th out of 180 countries in the latest press freedom index.
JN/APA