Tanzania’s vice-president announces resignation in unprecedented move

Tanzania's Vice-President Emmanuel Nchimbi has resigned, marking a rare event in the nation's political landscape. Nchimbi, a 54-year-old, shared his resignation letter on his Instagram account, citing his desire to honor President Samia Suluhu Hassan's wishes. He is set to retire from public life at the end of next week, less than ten months since his swearing-in. This move makes Nchimbi the first vice president in Tanzania's history to step down.

Nchimbi and President Suluhu were partners in last October's contentious presidential election, which resulted in a landslide victory for the pair. However, the election was marred by widespread violence following the polls, leading to the deaths of over 500 people, according to an official inquiry. Opposition parties and human rights groups blamed the security forces for a brutal crackdown on anti-government protesters.

In his resignation letter, Nchimbi stated that he felt convinced that the president wanted changes, and thus decided to fulfill his promise. He thanked both the president and the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party for their trust in him, as well as the Tanzanian people for their support during his tenure. Despite some controversial remarks he made recently, Nchimbi pledged to remain a "good citizen of Tanzania" and continue to serve his country.