Finance minister sworn in as Tanzania’s vice-president

Tanzanian President Hassan appointed Mpango as the country’s new vice-president on Tuesday.

JOHANNESBURG, March 31 (ANA) – Former minister of finance and planning Dr Philip Mpango has on Wednesday been sworn in as the vice-president of Tanzania.

His inauguration ceremony was held on Wednesday at Chamwino State House, Dodoma, in the presence of President Samia Suluhu Hassan, CGTN reported.

Hassan appointed Mpango on Tuesday after he was approved by parliament by 100% of the votes.

Mpango’s appointment comes after Hassan, the former vice-president, was sworn in as president after the death of John Pombe Magufuli.

On Tuesday Mpango posted on his Twitter page that: “I would like to thank the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, our mother, Samia Suluhu Hassan, for her proposal to run for her and I promise to implement all that is in our Chama Cha Mapinduzi manifesto and support our mother shoulder to shoulder.”

“I will help the president to make sure we go right, pray to God for everyone for his religion as this guarantee is great.”

After he was sworn in, Mpango said to the president that he could not have dreamed and he did not expect at all that he, the child of the poor, would be given the opportunity to serve the nation in the position of vice-president.

He thanked the president, saying that he won’t be like Judas who betrayed Jesus for money, but he promised to keep his promises of helping the president.

Mpango previously served as the acting commissioner general of the Tanzania Revenue Authority, the executive secretary in the President’s Office (planning commission), the deputy permanent secretary at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs, and personal assistant to the president (economic affairs).

Leaders, executives and members of the ruling party congratulated Mpango on his appointment.

– African News Agency (ANA); Editing by Yaron Blecher