Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan announced a major cabinet reshuffle on Monday, November 17, 2025, appointing her daughter and son-in-law to senior ministerial positions. The move has ignited a political firestorm, with opposition figures and civil society groups accusing the administration of entrenching nepotism and undermining meritocracy in the East African nation.

In the reshuffle announced from State House in Dodoma, the president named her daughter, Wanu Hafidh Ameir, as the Deputy Minister for Education, Science and Technology. Simultaneously, Ameir's husband and the president's son-in-law, Mohamed Mchengerwa, was appointed as the Minister of Health. Mchengerwa previously served as the Minister for Regional Administration and Local Government.

The appointments were part of a broader restructuring that includes 27 ministers and 29 deputy ministers. The reshuffle also saw Ridhiwani Jakaya Kikwete, the son of former President Jakaya Kikwete, promoted to a full cabinet minister, taking charge of Public Service Management and Good Governance. These appointments have amplified concerns that power is being consolidated within a small circle of politically connected families.

A Question of Meritocracy

Critics immediately condemned the appointments as a clear conflict of interest and a setback for governance reforms. Opponents argue that elevating family members to strategic ministries erodes public trust and contradicts President Samia's earlier image as a reformist leader committed to inclusivity and competence-based appointments. The appointments come shortly after a contentious general election on October 29, 2025, where President Samia was declared the winner with nearly 98% of the vote, a result that opposition parties rejected, citing widespread irregularities and the barring of leading challengers.

Wanu Hafidh Ameir, born in 1982, is a lawyer by profession and a long-serving politician with the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party. She has been a member of the Zanzibar House of Representatives and the National Assembly of Tanzania for several years. Her husband, Mohamed Mchengerwa, has held several cabinet positions since President Samia first appointed him to her cabinet on March 31, 2021, including roles in the President's Office and as Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism. He has been the Member of Parliament for Rufiji since 2015.

Regional Implications and Governance Watch

While the appointments are an internal Tanzanian affair, they are being closely watched across the East African Community (EAC). For Kenya, Tanzania's largest trading partner in the bloc, political stability and predictable governance in its neighbor are crucial for regional trade and security. The perception of growing nepotism could impact investor confidence and the country's political trajectory, with potential ripple effects for EAC integration projects and diplomatic relations. Kenyan companies have significant investments in Tanzania, amounting to an estimated $1.7 billion and creating over 56,000 jobs, making political developments in Dodoma a matter of keen interest.

The reshuffle saw seven ministers from the previous cabinet dropped, including the former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Energy, Dr. Doto Biteko. However, key figures such as the Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Ambassador Mahmoud Thabit Kombo, and the Minister for Education, Prof Adolf Mkenda, were retained, suggesting a mix of continuity and change. The new cabinet and deputy ministers were scheduled to be sworn in on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, at the State House in Chamwino, Dodoma.

President Samia's administration has defended its mandate, urging the new cabinet to focus on integrity and effective public service delivery. However, the vocal domestic backlash highlights a growing divide and raises critical questions about the direction of governance in Tanzania, a key partner for Kenya and the wider East African region.