Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan has appointed former Finance Minister Mwigulu Nchemba as the country’s new Prime Minister following a disputed general election marred by violence and accusations of vote-rigging.

Parliament confirmed Nchemba’s appointment in Dodoma on Thursday, with 369 MPs voting in favour and only two votes declared invalid. The decision came two weeks after Hassan was declared the winner of the October 29 election, which opposition parties have rejected, alleging exclusion and intimidation of rival candidates.

Nchemba, 50, hails from the Singida region and has been a member of parliament since 2010. He has previously served in several key cabinet roles, including as Minister of Agriculture, Home Affairs, and Finance. His appointment extends his long service in the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) government, where he is seen as a trusted loyalist of President Hassan.

In his first address to parliament, Nchemba promised to prioritise job creation and strengthen discipline in the public service.

“I understand the size of the task ahead of us,” he said. “All Tanzanians will be listened to in public offices. Without peace, none of our goals can be achieved.”

He pledged to help deliver the country’s Vision 2050 plan, which targets the creation of nearly eight million jobs for young people. He also warned government employees against corruption and inefficiency, saying, “I am coming with a broom and a rake.”

Mixed reactions follow

Nchemba’s appointment has drawn mixed reactions. Some lawmakers praised his resilience and long record in government.

“We know the patience Nchemba has shown through many challenges, yet he never gave up,” veteran MP William Lukuvi said.

Others, however, questioned whether his leadership would bring real change, noting that he has been part of the same ruling establishment for over a decade.

The United Nations Human Rights Office recently said it had received credible information indicating that hundreds of people were killed during post-election protests. Opposition groups claim the death toll could be more than 1,000. The government has dismissed those figures as exaggerated but has not released its own tally.

Nchemba’s journey to the top has been widely discussed in Tanzania. Raised in a humble family, he once herded cattle as a boy before pursuing education up to PhD level at the University of Dar es Salaam.

He now becomes Tanzania’s 12th Prime Minister, succeeding Kassim Majaliwa, who served from 2015. Nchemba joins a line of leaders stretching back to the country’s founding father, Julius Nyerere.