Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan is mourning the death of her husband, Hafidh Ameir Hassan, who died on Monday while receiving treatment at a hospital in Zanzibar.
The death of Tanzania’s First Gentleman was announced by Vice-President Deogratius Ndejembi, who said Hafidh died at about 8am at Emilio Mzena Memorial Hospital in Zanzibar, where he had been undergoing treatment for a heart condition.
Ndejembi expressed condolences to President Samia, members of her family, relatives and friends, as well as the people of Tanzania, while announcing that funeral arrangements were underway in Kizimkazi, Zanzibar.
A Private Family Man
Hafidh Ameir Hassan was known for maintaining a relatively low public profile despite his wife’s prominent political career.
He married Samia Suluhu Hassan in 1978, long before she rose to the highest political office in Tanzania. The couple had four children — three sons and a daughter. Their daughter, Wanu Hafidh Ameir, is a member of parliament in Tanzania.
Hafidh, an agricultural academic and professional, became Tanzania’s First Gentleman in March 2021 after Samia assumed the presidency following the death of President John Magufuli.
His role was notable because Samia became Tanzania’s first female president, making Hafidh the country’s first male spouse of a serving president.
Outpouring of Condolences
News of Hafidh’s death has prompted condolences from political leaders across East Africa and the wider continent.
Kenyan President William Ruto expressed sympathy to President Samia and her family, describing Hafidh as a lifelong companion to the Tanzanian leader and a beloved father to their children.
Other regional leaders, including Burundi’s President Evariste Ndayishimiye and South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir, also conveyed condolences to President Samia and the Tanzanian people.
The African Union Commission Chairperson, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, equally expressed condolences to the Tanzanian president, her family and the people of Tanzania following the death.
Funeral Arrangements
Following the announcement of his death, preparations were made for Hafidh’s burial in Kizimkazi, in Zanzibar, which is the family’s native area.
The death comes as President Samia continues to lead Tanzania after becoming the country’s first female president in 2021. She is currently serving her second term after winning the 2025 presidential election, a contest that drew criticism from opposition groups and international observers.
For President Samia and her family, Hafidh’s death represents a deeply personal loss after nearly five decades of marriage.
The Tanzanian government has continued to receive messages of sympathy from within the country and abroad as the nation mourns its former First Gentleman.
At the time of his death, Hafidh Ameir Hassan was 77, according to Tanzanian and regional media reports.