List of heads of state of Tanzania

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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 Tanganyika Independence Act 1961 was the Queen of Tanganyika, Elizabeth II, who was also the monarch of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms. The monarch was represented in Tanganyika by a Governor-General. Tanganyika became a republic under the Constitution of 1962 and the monarch and Governor-General were replaced by an executive President. After the Zanzibar Revolution in 1964, the People's Republic of Zanzibar and Pemba 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 was the same as the succession to the British throne.

Queen Reign Royal House Prime Minister(s)
# Portrait Name Start End Duration
1 Elizabeth II
(1926–)
9 December 1961 9 December 1962 1 year Windsor Nyerere
Kawawa

Governors-General

Standard of the Governor-General of Tanganyika

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. After the passage of the Statute of Westminster 1931, the Governor-General was appointed solely on the advice of the Cabinet of Tanganyika without the involvement of the British government. In the event of a vacancy the Chief Justice served as Officer Administering the Government.

Status
  Denotes Chief Justice acting as Officer Administering the Government
Governor-General Term of Office Monarch Prime Minister(s)
# Portrait Name Took Office Left Office Duration
1 Sir Richard Turnbull
(1909–1998)
9 December 1961 9 December 1962 1 year Elizabeth II Nyerere
Kawawa

President of Tanganyika

Under the 1962 Constitution, 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 Speaker of the National Assembly served as Acting President.

Status
  Denotes Speaker of the National Assembly acting as President
President Term of office Political party
(at time of election)
# Portrait Name Took office Left office Duration
1 Julius Nyerere
(1922–1999)
9 December 1962 29 October 1964 1 year, 325 days Tanganyika African National Union

President of Tanzania

Under the 1964 and 1977 Constitutions, 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 the National Assembly for a five-year term. In the event of a vacancy the Vice President served as Acting President.

Status
  Denotes Vice President acting as President
President Term of office Political party
(at time of election)
# Portrait Name Took office Left office Duration
1 Julius Nyerere
(1922–1999)
1 November 1964 5 November 1985 21 years, 4 days Tanganyika African National Union (1964-77)
Chama Cha Mapinduzi (1977-85)
2 Ali Hassan Mwinyi
(1925–)
5 November 1985 23 November 1995 10 years, 18 days Chama Cha Mapinduzi
3 Benjamin Mkapa
(1938–)
23 November 1995 21 December 2005 10 years, 28 days Chama Cha Mapinduzi
4 Jakaya Kikwete
(1950–)
21 December 2005 5 November 2015 9 years, 319 days Chama Cha Mapinduzi
5 John Magufuli
(1959–)
5 November 2015 Incumbent 83 days
(as of 27 January 2016)
Chama Cha Mapinduzi

Living former heads of state

Name Term/Reign Office Date of birth
Elizabeth II 1961–1962 Queen of Tanganyika April 21, 1926
Ali Hassan Mwinyi 1985–1995 President of Tanzania May 8, 1925
Benjamin Mkapa 1995–2005 President of Tanzania November 12, 1938
Jakaya Kikwete 2005–2015 President of Tanzania October 7, 1950

External links

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