By Spy Uganda
In a move underscoring continuity within the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party, President Samia Suluhu Hassan has appointed Dr. Mwigulu Nchemba—her long-serving former Finance Minister—as Tanzania’s new Prime Minister. Parliament ratified his appointment on Thursday, 2025, with an overwhelming majority, coming just weeks after Hassan’s decisive victory in the October 29 presidential elections. Opposition leaders, however, maintain that the polls were marred by irregularities.
At 51, Dr. Nchemba steps into the role as a seasoned CCM loyalist with a long record of public service. Since entering parliament in 2010, he has risen steadily through the party ranks, previously serving as Deputy Secretary-General of CCM and holding several high-profile cabinet positions, including Minister of Agriculture and later Minister of Finance. During his tenure at the Finance docket, he steered the country through the economic shocks of the COVID-19 pandemic and led major debt restructuring efforts.
Even after President Hassan reshuffled her cabinet in 2021, Nchemba retained significant influence, later overseeing the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism—a position that further cemented his standing within the ruling establishment.
Speaking to parliament moments after taking the oath of office, Nchemba pledged to prioritize economic growth and accelerate infrastructure projects. He highlighted ongoing investments in roads, railways, and the energy sector, initiatives the government says will support Tanzania’s projected 6 percent GDP growth this year.
But he assumes office at a delicate moment. Several international donors, including the United States, have cut or suspended aid over concerns about human rights and governance. Meanwhile, the government’s proposed 2026/2027 budget is expected to rise by 12 percent, presenting the incoming Prime Minister with the challenge of balancing developmental ambitions against mounting fiscal pressures.
Opposition politicians argue that Nchemba’s elevation will further consolidate CCM’s grip on power, deepening fears about shrinking democratic space. Tanzania—long considered one of East Africa’s most stable nations—continues to face scrutiny over what critics describe as increasingly authoritarian governance, first under the late President John Pombe Magufuli and now under President Hassan.
