Tanzania President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s Husband Dies In Zanzibar
Tanzania is mourning the death of First Gentleman Hafidh Ameir Hassan, who died in Zanzibar on Monday.
Hafidh, the husband of President Samia Suluhu Hassan, passed away while receiving treatment at Emilio Mzena Memorial Hospital.
Vice-President Deogratius Ndejembi announced his death, saying he had been battling a heart condition.
Hafidh died at 08:00 local time, or 06:00 GMT, according to the official announcement.
Funeral Preparations Begin
Funeral arrangements are already underway in Kizimkazi, a village in Zanzibar.
The announcement has brought attention to a figure who largely remained away from the political spotlight.
Unlike many spouses of African heads of state, Hafidh rarely accompanied President Samia to major public engagements.
His appearances alongside the president were generally limited to selected official occasions.
Tanzania’s First First Gentleman
According to BBC, Hafidh became Tanzania’s first First Gentleman when Samia assumed the presidency in 2021.
His wife became president following the death of John Magufuli, making her Tanzania’s first female head of state.
He was an agricultural academic by profession and had largely stayed outside the political arena.
A Marriage That Predated Politics
Hafidh and Samia married in 1978, years before she embarked on her political career.
Their marriage lasted for more than four decades.
The couple had four children together, comprising three sons and one daughter.
Their daughter, Wanu Hafidh Ameir, followed her mother into politics.
She currently serves in Zanzibar’s House of Representatives in the National Assembly.
Remembered As A Private Figure
Hafidh’s death marks the loss of a figure who occupied a unique position in Tanzania’s recent political history.
His funeral arrangements in Kizimkazi are now underway as Tanzania and Zanzibar prepare to bid farewell to the academic who became the country’s first presidential husband.
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