Hafidh Ameir Hassan, the husband of Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, has died while receiving treatment at a hospital in Zanzibar. He was 81 years old.
Vice-President Deogratius Ndejembi, who made the official announcement, said Ameir had been suffering from a heart condition. He died at 08:00 local time on Monday at the Emilio Mzena Memorial Hospital.
Ameir was an agricultural academic who largely kept a low public profile. He married Hassan in 1978, before she entered national politics, and became Tanzania’s first First Gentleman after his wife took office in 2021 following the death of President John Magufuli.
The First Gentleman rarely appeared in public alongside the president, only occasionally being seen with her at official events. The couple had four children together: three sons and a daughter. Their daughter, Wanu Hafidh Ameir, is also a politician who currently serves in Zanzibar’s House of Representatives in the National Assembly.
Vice-President Ndejembi led tributes as he conveyed his condolences to President Hassan, Ameir’s family, and friends. Kenyan President William Ruto expressed his “deep sorrow” at the passing, saying that “President Samia has lost a lifelong companion, her children a beloved father, and Tanzania a distinguished son.”
Ndejembi said funeral arrangements are under way in Kizimkazi, a village on the semi-autonomous island of Zanzibar. The nation mourns the loss of a figure who, despite his private nature, was a steadfast companion to the president throughout her political journey. His death marks a somber moment for the country, as condolences pour in from leaders and citizens alike.
