As digital platforms continue to shape the contours of public opinion, the political discourse surrounding African governance often risks being filtered through the lens of social media trends emotive, polarized, and sometimes superficial.
However, the real test of leadership is not what goes viral online but what tangibly transforms the daily lives of citizens.
In Tanzania, that transformation is being led by President Samia Suluhu Hassan. Despite inheriting a divided political environment and global economic headwinds, her administration has delivered notable progress across multiple sectors in implementing the 2020–2025 Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party manifesto what may be better termed, for global readers, as her election mandate.
In the health sector, President Samia’s record stands out. Under her leadership, nine new referral hospitals have been constructed across regions including Mbeya, Geita, and Mtwara facilities equipped with MRI and CT scanners, once a rarity outside Dar es Salaam.
Over 2,000 health centers have been built, and more than 3,000 health professionals have been added to the national workforce.
According to regional rankings, Tanzania now sits 9th in Africa for healthcare quality and first in East and Central Africa.
Cross-border medical tourism has grown, with over 2,150 patients from neighboring countries seeking treatment in Tanzania. These are not aspirational targets they are measurable outcomes.
Agricultural investment has grown exponentially. The sector’s national budget rose from TZS 200 billion in 2020 to TZS 1.2 trillion in 2025.
Fertilizer prices have been cut in half, from TZS 140,000 to TZS 70,000 per bag. The government has introduced 10,000 tractors and broadened seed subsidies for cotton, wheat, and palm oil, increasing productivity in regions known for rice (Morogoro) and mangoes (Tanga).
Additionally, cooperative banks have been retooled to offer more farmer-friendly lending models marking a shift away from rigid commercial banking structures.
In a lesser-known but symbolic linkage, sugar and wine industries reflect broader economic reforms. The expansion of Kilombero and Mkurazi sugar factories, alongside a new plant in Bagamoyo, has eased domestic supply issues.
A revised Sugar Act empowered the Sugar Board and Sugar Fund to directly purchase sugar, stabilizing price volatility.
Meanwhile, wine production has surged, supporting local agribusiness and driving down consumer costs—an unlikely but telling economic indicator.
On energy, the results are equally bold. The Mwalimu Nyerere Hydropower Project, which stood at 30% completion in 2020, is now 100% finished. A new 400MW solar power initiative in Kahama adds to President Samia’s commitment to clean energy.
Through the Rural Energy Agency (REA), over 12,000 villages have been electrified. Even a major gold mine in Geita once off-grid due to insufficient national supply now runs on Tanzanian power.
On transportation, the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), linking Dar es Salaam to Dodoma, has gone from 30% to 99% completion, ushering in modern, efficient rail travel.
Key infrastructure such as the Judiciary HQ in Dodoma and the Magufuli Bridge over Lake Victoria (to open in June 2025) further reflects a hands-on approach to national development.
Vehicle prices have skyrocketed often viewed as an indicator of inflation but so has vehicle ownership, particularly in the luxury and mid-tier segments.
A Toyota Land Cruiser, once seen as exclusive to government elites, is now increasingly common among private citizens.
Anecdotal, yes, but indicative of rising purchasing power. In Dar es Salaam and across the country, new car dealerships are thriving, suggesting a growing middle class.
In places of worship and public spaces alike, the presence of high-end vehicles speaks to broader wealth accumulation. This isn’t trickle-down rhetoric it reflects real, tangible economic mobility.
President Samia has been notably effective in clearing teacher debts and expanding employment opportunities.
Technical and vocational education remains a key pillar in national skills development. Meanwhile, the adoption of digital systems such as the Gott-Hommies software at Tumbi Hospital, which increased revenue collection from TZS 15 million to TZS 366 million signals meaningful progress in e-governance.
On international affairs, President Samia has reoriented Tanzania’s diplomatic engagement after a period of relative isolation.
While domestic audiences may show political fatigue or growing apathy, foreign investors and bilateral partners are re-engaging.
This foreign policy reset less dramatic but no less strategic reflects a vision of Tanzania as a credible, stable actor in East Africa.
Critics will argue as they should that democratic backsliding, civic space restrictions, or institutional opacity remain concerns.
But these challenges exist alongside meaningful progress. Tanzanians are witnessing what one might call pragmatic delivery over performative politics. In short, while social media may amplify dissent, the data speaks a different language.
Realpolitik is rarely poetic. It’s defined not by hashtags or headlines but by hospitals built, farms mechanized, and lights switched on in rural homes. In that regard, President Samia has not only inherited a mandate she has delivered on it.