Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan has nominated former Finance Minister Mwigulu Nchemba as the country’s next Prime Minister, following the October 29 general election.
Nchemba, aged 50, has served as Finance Minister since March 2021 and as a Member of Parliament for Iramba West since 2010. His nomination intercepts the press and international focus on Tanzania’s election, which has drawn criticism from opposition parties and observers alleging vote-rigging and suppression of challengers.
According to Tanzanian media, the nomination was formally approved by Parliament shortly after President Hassan’s proposal. The move sees Nchemba replace outgoing Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa, who has served since 2015.
Observers interpret the appointment as a strategic signal: by elevating his trusted Finance Minister at a sensitive political moment, President Hassan appears to be reinforcing stability and reassuring investors amid concerns over the legitimacy of the latest election and the government’s reform agenda.
Nchemba’s economic credentials include holding a PhD in Economics and a track record of steering Tanzania’s fiscal policy. Prior to becoming Finance Minister, he held other senior ministerial roles including Agriculture, Home Affairs and Constitutional & Legal Affairs.
The nomination comes after Tanzania announced plans to raise spending by some 13 percent in the fiscal year beginning July 2025, a budget framework presented by Nchemba himself. With this new role, the expectation is that Nchemba will continue driving economic policy, managing widening budgets, and facing the twin challenges of debt sustainability and investor confidence.
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