President Samia Suluhu Hassan takes the Oath of Office in Dodoma, November 3, 2025.
By The Arusha News Political Desk Reporters
All eyes will turn to the capital city, Dodoma, on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, when newly elected President Samia Suluhu Hassan is expected to inaugurate the first session of the 13th Parliament.
The highly anticipated sitting will not only mark the formal first session of the new Parliament but also unveil two of the country’s most significant leaders — the Speaker of the National Assembly and the Prime Minister. The Speaker is voted for by fellow MPs and must be an elected MP from the party with the majority seats in Parliament.
Several CCM MPs have picked up forms to contest the position although incumbent Speaker, Ms Tulia Akson, is widely expected to retain her seat. The Prime Minister on the other hand, is nominated by the President and his/her name presented to Parliament for approval in a process regarded largely as mere formality owing to party majority in the House.
The new Prime Minister will succeed Mr Majaliwa Kassim Majaliwa, who had announced earlier that he was not going to seek re-election in his Ruangwa constituency, in effect, retiring from Parliament and therefore ineligible for appointment as PM. Majaliwa served two full terms, first under late President John Pombe Magufuli, and also under President Samia.
According to the order of business, newly elected Members of Parliament will have spent the preceding days — from (today), November 8 – 10 (Monday) — for registration, orientation and briefings in preparation for their new five-year legislative tenure of office. Tuesday’s proceedings will include the swearing-in of MPs, the election of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker and the confirmation of the Prime Minister followed by the formation of a new cabinet.
Political observers say the unveiling of the new Speaker and Prime Minister will set the tone for Tanzania’s next phase of governance, shaping the relationship between the Executive and the Legislature in the years ahead as well as pointers on uniting the nation following the chaos that erupted during and after the October 29, 2025 polls.
Meanwhile the election of President Dr Samia with 97.6 per cent of the vote has sparked calls for unity, calm and renewed confidence in the country’s tourism industry as the nation moves past a tense period.
In Arusha, often regarded as the heartbeat of Tanzania’s tourism economy, industry leaders have stressed the importance of peace and stability as the foundations for economic growth and prosperity.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Tanzania Association of Tour Operators (TATO), Mr Elirehema Maturo, told The Arusha News that Tanzania remains a safe safari destination but authorities must redouble efforts to sustain peace and restore traveller confidence.
“The appropriate authorities must ensure that peace thrives in Tanzania,” said Mr Maturo. “Tanzania is still a safe safari destination and we must not allow any violence to undo the enormous efforts that have already been made to make our country Africa’s top tourism destination.”
Mr Maturo explained that during the post-election unrest some tourists were stranded but were assisted through various arrangements, including lodge fee cancellations and safe escorts to national parks. He expressed gratitude to the Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA) and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority (NCAA) for their flexibility in allowing temporary payment arrangements for park fees.
“We are grateful to the government for the ad-hoc payment arrangements,” he said, though acknowledging, “serious cancellations occurred during the turmoil which was unfortunate.” However, it was not clear how much business Tanzania lost.
Background to the unrest
The days surrounding the general election were marked by rare scenes of unrest in several cities, including Arusha, Dar es Salaam, Mwanza and Mbeya. Demonstrations erupted as sections of the public and opposition figures voiced concerns over what they perceived as an uneven electoral process. Several opposition candidates were barred from participating or detained before the vote, which many observers said limited political participation.
Analysts have suggested that much of the anger stemmed from frustration among the youth and opposition supporters who felt excluded from the political process. The post-election protests, though short-lived, left a visible mark on urban centres such as Arusha, where businesses briefly closed and movement was restricted.
Calls for healing, rebranding
The Arusha Chapter Chairman of the Tanzania Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (TCCIA), Mr Walter Maeda, said the government should act swiftly to address the grievances that fueled the violence.
“The government must ensure that the grievances of the youth are addressed and that we all do the necessary healing to make sure the worst civilian violence in Tanzania’s post-independence history does not happen again,” Mr Maeda said.
He noted that the incidents — unprecedented in recent Tanzanian history — had not only led to loss of lives and damaged property but also shook investor confidence. “We need to rebrand Tanzania to restore its reputation as a haven of peace and right destination for investment and economic opportunities,” he added.
As the dust settles down, many in Northern Tanzania hope that the lessons learnt from this election season will lead to stronger institutions, more inclusive governance and a renewed focus on peace as the cornerstone of national development, national cohesion and identity.
