Dodoma and Rose Athuman in Dar es Salaam — SAMIA Suluhu Hassan on Thursday became the Deputy Chairperson-elect of the Constituent Assembly, triumphing in a 'Battle of the Amazons' with a landslide.
She scooped 390 votes (74.6 per cent) out of 523 votes cast; beating Ms Amina Abdallah Amour who garnered 126 votes (24.1 per cent), while seven votes (1.3 per cent) were spoilt.
Samia will now team up at The Chair with veteran politician Samuel Sitta, who on Wednesday was elected Chairperson, scooping 487 votes out of the 563 cast.
A long-serving cabinet minister, MP for Urambo East (CCM) and former Speaker of the National Assembly, Mr Sitta beat his only opponent in the race, Mr Hashim Rungwe Spunda, who managed only 69 votes.
Samia, who is also the Minister of State in Vice-President's Office responsible for Union Affairs for four years now, holds a Masters Degree in Social Development Economics and Member of Parliament for Makunduchi on CCM ticket.
"I have a 14 years' experience in serving both the Union Parliament and Zanzibar House of Representatives; 10 years in the House of Reps and four years in the Union Parliament," said Samia as she asked for votes from fellow members.
She said she has managed to reduce the challenges of the Union from 13 to one, noting that she has learnt how to be serious and endure pressure in chairing House sessions from the Interim Chair, Mr Pandu Ameir Kificho.
Samia was responding to questions after giving her brief pre-poll resume from Esther Bulaya and Vincent Mzena. Ms Bulaya had tasked her to explain what she had done to strengthen the Union between Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar.
Mr Mzena, a member representing people with physical disabilities, challenged her to explain what she had learnt from Mr Kificho, who has been chairing the assembly without guiding rules and standing orders. Samia's opponent, Ms Amour, holds a Masters degree in Business Administration (MBA) in Finance and a Diploma in Law. She is also Special Seats MP (CUF). She has worked at the National Bank of Commerce (NBC) for 23 years.
In her vote of thanks, Samia expressed her appreciation to all women CA members and all other members in general for their unwavering support in the whole exercise.
She also expressed her admiration to her opponent for making the competition worthwhile and exciting, noting that she had no opponent until yesterday morning when she decided to pick the forms.
Meanwhile, Mr Kificho told the assembly on Thursday that President Jakaya Kikwete will swear-in the Clerk and Deputy Clerk of the House in the morning.
In the same development, he said members of the CA will start taking their oaths this afternoon, starting with the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson.
