• Samia was sworn-in as Tanzania's President following the death of John Magufuli.
• Samia asked all Tanzanians not to look to the future with doubt but great hope that the country will forge ahead into greatness.
Image: STATE HOUSE TANZANIA
Newly sworn-in president of Tanzania Samia Suluhu Hassan has rallied all Tanzanians to unite for a better future.
Suluhu, while speaking after taking her oath of office at State House in Dar es Salaam on Friday, said during the mourning period, all Tanzanians should remain united as they focus to build a better country that the late President John Magufuli envisioned.
She said she was grateful for the support and comforting messages that she had received from across the globe but especially from the opposition parties within Tanzania.
"Huu ni wakati wa kuomboleza, kusimama na kushikamana kama watanzania. Ni wakati wa kuzika tofauti zetu na kuwa wamoja kama taifa, ni wakati wa kufarijiana na kuonyesha upendo, kudumisha amani na kuenzi utu, uzalendo na utanzania wetu," she said.
(This is a time to mourn, to stand and unite as Tanzanians. It is a time to forget and bury our differences and be as one nation, a time to comfort each other and wipe our tears as we show love, peace and democracy).
Samia asked all Tanzanians not to look to the future with doubt but great hope that the country will forge ahead into greatness.
"Huu si wakati wa kutazama mbele kwa shaka bali kutazama mbele kwa matumaini na kujiamini. Si wakati wa kutazama yaliyo pita bali kutazam yajayo," she said.
She added, "Sio wakati wa kunyosheana vidole bali kushikana mikono na kusonga mbele tukifarijiana ili kujenga taifa ambalo kiongozi wetu shupavu alikusudia".
Samia was sworn-in as Tanzania's President following the death of Magufuli.
Magufuli died on March 17 after a 10-year battle to heart complications.
At exactly 10:15 am on Friday, Suluhu took oath of office at State House Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Those in attendance included former President Jakaya Kikwete and Zanzibar's Hussein Mwinyi.
She was later accorded a full military honor accompanied by a 21-gun salute at a brief ceremony conducted at the State House in Dar el Salaam.
She then inspected a guard of honor mounted by the Tanzania Military.
Samia has been serving as the Vice President to the late President John Pombe Magufuli who was announced dead on Wednesday.
Samia becomes the first female and sixth President of the United Republic of Tanzania.
The 61-year-old will serve the remaining term of Magufuli which started last October when they were re-elected.
In her opening remarks, Samia said Magufuli will be buried on March 25.
She said the country will be in a 21-day mourning period where all flags will fly at half-mast.
Samia said on March 20, the body will be moved from the mortuary to St Peters Church for a brief service before being moved to Uhuru grounds for public viewing.
The body will remain there until March 21 before being bid farewell.
On March 22, the body of the late will be moved to Dodoma for public viewing before being moved to Mwanza on March 23.
On the same day, the body will be moved to his Chato town where his constituents will have a chance to view the body.
On March 24, family members and all international and invited guests will have a chance before the burial day on March 25.
According to Samia, Magufuli will be laid to rest after a church service at Chato Catholic Church.