Tanzania’s Vice President Emmanuel John Nchimbi has resigned from office and announced his retirement from active politics and public service, less than a year after assuming the country’s second-highest office.
Nchimbi formally submitted his resignation to President Samia Suluhu Hassan on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, saying he was stepping down to allow the President to appoint a new Vice President.
In a statement issued from Dodoma, Nchimbi said his decision was also in fulfilment of a commitment he made to President Samia when he took office in November 2025. He said he had promised to serve faithfully and relinquish the position whenever the President considered it necessary to appoint a new deputy.
His resignation will take effect on September 4, 2026, in accordance with Articles 50(2)(c) and 149(2) of Tanzania’s Constitution.
The announcement comes amid weeks of speculation over Nchimbi’s position within the government and growing political tensions in the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party.
In June, Tunguu MP Simai Mohamed Said, a CCM legislator from Zanzibar, made remarks during parliamentary proceedings that were widely interpreted as criticism of an unnamed government figure described as a traitor. Simai is one of five members of Zanzibar’s House of Representatives who were sworn into the Union Parliament in Dodoma in April 2026.
Nchimbi’s departure also follows his public calls for constitutional reforms in Tanzania, adding to the political developments surrounding his tenure.
With his resignation, President Samia is expected to begin the process of appointing a new Vice President to fill the vacant position.
