This is a list of the heads of state of Tanzania, from the independence of Tanganyika in 1961 to the present day.

From 1961 to 1962 the head of state under the Constitution of 1961 was the queen of Tanganyika, Elizabeth II, who was also the monarch of other Commonwealth realms. The monarch was represented in Tanganyika by a governor-general. Tanganyika became a republic within the Commonwealth under the Constitution of 1962 and the monarch and governor-general were replaced by an executive president. After the Zanzibar Revolution, which overthrew the Sultanate of Zanzibar in January 1964, the People's Republic of Zanzibar united with mainland Tanganyika to form the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar, which was later renamed to the United Republic of Tanzania.

Monarch (1961–1962) The succession to the throne was the same as the succession to the British throne.

Portrait Name Reign Royal House Prime minister(s) Took office Left office Time in office 1 Queen Elizabeth II 1961 1962 year Windsor NyerereKawawa

Governor-general The governor-general was the representative of the monarch in Tanganyika and exercised most of the powers of the monarch. The governor-general was appointed for an indefinite term, serving at the pleasure of the monarch. Since Tanganyika was granted independence by the Tanganyika Independence Act 1961 (10 & 11 Eliz. 2. c. 1), rather than being first established as a semi-autonomous dominion and later promoted to independence as defined by the Statute of Westminster 1931, the governor-general was to be always appointed solely on the advice of the Cabinet of Tanganyika without the involvement of the British government. As Tanganyika became a republic before Richard Turnbull, the former colonial governor, was replaced, this has never happened. In the event of a vacancy the chief justice would have served as the officer administering the government.

Portrait Name Term of office Monarch Prime minister(s) Took office Left office Time in office 1 Sir Richard Turnbull 1961 1962 year Elizabeth II NyerereKawawa

Republic (1962–present) Political parties

Symbols Elected unopposed

Died in office

President of Tanganyika Under the Constitution of 1962, the first constitution of the Republic of Tanganyika, the president replaced the monarch as executive head of state. In the event of a vacancy the Vice-President of Tanganyika served as acting president.

Portrait Name Term of office Political party Elected Cabinet(s) Took office Left office Time in office 1 Julius Nyerere 1962 1964 TANU 1962 Nyerere I

President of Tanzania Under the Constitution of 1964, the first constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania, the president replaced the president of Tanganyika and the president of Zanzibar as executive head of state. The president was elected by a yes-or-no confirmation referendum for a five-year term after being nominated by a TANU/CCM electoral college. Following the restoration of a multi-party system in 1992, multi-candidate elections were introduced in 1995, with the president elected via First-past-the-post voting.Tanzania: Electoral system In the event of a vacancy the vice-president serves as president for the remainder of the presidential term.

Former president John Magufuli took a monthly salary of 9 million Tanzanian shillings (approximately US$4,000).

Portrait Name Term of office Political party Elected Cabinet(s) Prime minister(s) Took office Left office Time in office 1 Julius Nyerere 1964 1985 TANU Nyerere II Kawawa Nyerere III Nyerere IV CCM Nyerere V Kawawa Sokoine Msuya Sokoine Salim 2 Ali Hassan Mwinyi 1985 1995 CCM Mwinyi I Warioba 1990 Mwinyi II Malecela Msuya 3 Benjamin Mkapa 1995 2005 CCM 1995 Mkapa I Msuya Sumaye 2000 Mkapa II 4 Jakaya Kikwete 2005 2015 CCM 2005 Kikwete I Sumaye Lowassa 2010 Kikwete II Pinda 5 John Magufuli 2015 2021 CCM 2015 Magufuli I Majaliwa 2020 Magufuli II 6 Samia Suluhu Hassan 19 March 2021 Incumbent CCM 2025 Suluhu Majaliwa Nchemba

Timeline since 1962

Standards

See also Politics of Tanzania List of governors of Tanganyika President of Tanzania Vice-President of Tanzania Prime Minister of Tanzania List of prime ministers of Tanzania List of sultans of Zanzibar President of Zanzibar Vice President of Zanzibar List of heads of government of Zanzibar

References

External links World Statesmen – Tanzania Rulers.org – Tanzania