Tanzanian finance minister named new vice-president

Mpango is currently the minister of finance and planning and has been in office since November 2015.

JOHANNESBURG, March 30 (ANA) – Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan has appointed Dr Philip Mpango as the country’s new vice-president.

Mpango was nominated by Hassan and approved by the 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 Twitter, Mpango posted: “I would like to thank the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, our mother, Samia Suluhu Hassani, 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.”

Mpango is currently the minister of finance and planning and has been in office since November 2015.

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).

He urged Tanzanians to pray for him.

Mpango, 63, will be sworn in on Wednesday at the Chamwino State House in Dodoma, English news digital media Tanzania Updates reported.

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

Former health minister Ummy Mwalimu also congratulated Mpango. “May Allah guide you in fulfilling the great constitutional duty of supporting the president.”

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