Tanzania Vice President Emmanuel Nchimbi Resigns, Retires From Politics

Tanzania’s Vice President, Emmanuel Nchimbi, has resigned from office and announced his retirement from active politics, less than a year after taking up the position.

Nchimbi announced his decision on Tuesday, August 25, saying he had become convinced that President Samia Suluhu Hassan wanted a different person to serve as her deputy.

He said he had written to the president informing her of his decision to step down as Vice President and retire from public service and active politics.

According to Nchimbi, he had promised Hassan in August 2025 that he would resign if she ever decided she wanted another Vice President. He said he was now convinced “beyond doubt” that the president desired a change.

President Hassan has accepted Nchimbi’s resignation, a government spokesperson said.

Nchimbi will officially leave office on September 4, having served as Vice President since November 2025, according to a statement issued by the spokesperson on X.

The government said constitutional procedures for appointing a new Vice President of the United Republic of Tanzania would commence.

Before becoming Vice President, Nchimbi served as Secretary-General of the ruling Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM).

He came under criticism from some members of the party in July after calling for Tanzanians to push for a new constitution during an event organised by a rights group in Dar es Salaam.

Nchimbi said the country needed a constitution that would promote not only economic and material development but also “the development of dignity and the human worth” of every Tanzanian.

President Hassan won the 2025 presidential election with nearly 98 per cent of the vote, although the election was marred by deadly violence.

A government-appointed inquiry panel later reported that at least 518 people were killed during unrest linked to the election, which followed the exclusion of major opposition candidates from the contest.