Tanzania’s vice president steps down

Tanzania's vice president has resigned less than a year into the job ​and President Samia Suluhu Hassan has accepted ‌the resignation, a government spokesperson said, without citing a reason.

Emmanuel John Nchimbi will leave office on September 4, having ​served since November last year, the spokesperson ​added in Tuesday's statement on X.

"Constitutional procedures to ⁠appoint another vice president of the United Republic ​of Tanzania will be undertaken," it said.

Nchimbi was ​earlier the secretary general of the president's ruling party, Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM).

He drew criticism from some in the party for ​remarks last month they considered unnecessary, when he ​told an event hosted by a rights group that he ‌would ⁠urge Tanzanians to fight for a new constitution.

"A constitution that leads us toward development, not just material and economic development, but the development of dignity ​and the ​human worth ⁠of every person living in Tanzania," Nchimbi said in the commercial capital of ​Dar es Salaam.

Hassan emerged the winner of last ​year's ⁠presidential election, securing nearly 98% in a vote marred by deadly violence.

A government-appointed inquiry panel said at ⁠least ​518 people were killed in ​the unrest, spurred by the exclusion of leading opposition candidates from ​the elections.

-Reuters