List of heads of state of Tanzania

This is a list of the heads of state of Tanzania, from the independence of Tanganyika in 1961 to the present day.

From 1961 to 1962 the head of state under the Tanganyika Independence Act 1961 was the Queen of Tanganyika, Elizabeth II, who was also the Monarch of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms. The Monarch was represented in Tanganyika by a Governor-General. Tanganyika became a republic under the Constitution of 1962 and the Monarch and Governor-General were replaced by an executive President. After the Zanzibar Revolution in 1964, the People's Republic of Zanzibar and Pemba united with mainland Tanganyika to form the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar, which was later renamed to the United Republic of Tanzania.

Monarch (1961–1962)

The succession to the throne was the same as the succession to the British throne.

№	Monarch (Birth–Death)	Portrait	Reign		Royal House	Prime Minister(s)
			Reign start	Reign end
1	Queen Elizabeth II (1926–)		9 December 1961	9 December 1962	Windsor	Nyerere Kawawa

Governor-General

The Governor-General was the representative of the Monarch in Tanganyika and exercised most of the powers of the Monarch. The Governor-General was appointed for an indefinite term, serving at the pleasure of the Monarch. After the passage of the Statute of Westminster 1931, the Governor-General was appointed solely on the advice of the Cabinet of Tanganyika without the involvement of the British government. In the event of a vacancy the Chief Justice served as Officer Administering the Government.

Status

  Denotes Chief Justice acting as Officer Administering the Government

№	Governor-General (Birth–Death)	Portrait	Tenure		Monarch	Prime Minister(s)
			Took office	Left office
1	Sir Richard Turnbull (1909–1998)		9 December 1961	9 December 1962	Elizabeth II	Nyerere Kawawa

President of Tanganyika

Under the 1962 Constitution, the first constitution of the Republic of Tanganyika, the President replaced the Monarch as executive head of state. In the event of a vacancy the Speaker of the National Assembly served as Acting President.

Status

  Denotes Speaker of the National Assembly acting as President

№	President (Birth–Death)	Portrait	Tenure		Elected	Political affiliation (at time of appointment)
			Took office	Left office
1	Julius Nyerere (1922–1999)		9 December 1962	29 October 1964	1962		Tanganyika African National Union

President of Tanzania

Under the 1964 and 1977 Constitutions, the first constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania, the President replaced the President of Tanganyika and the President of Zanzibar as executive head of state. The President was elected by the National Assembly for a five-year term. In the event of a vacancy the Vice-President served as Acting President.

Status

  Denotes Vice-President acting as President

№	President (Birth–Death)	Portrait	Tenure		Elected	Political affiliation (at time of appointment)		Prime Minister(s)
			Took office	Left office
1	Julius Nyerere (1922–1999)		1 November 1964	5 November 1985	1965, 1970, 1975		Tanganyika African National Union	Kawawa
					1980		Chama Cha Mapinduzi [1]	Kawawa Sokoine Msuya Sokoine Salim
2	Ali Hassan Mwinyi (1925–)		5 November 1985	23 November 1995	1985, 1990		Chama Cha Mapinduzi	Warioba Malecela Msuya
3	Benjamin Mkapa (1938–)		23 November 1995	21 December 2005	1995, 2000		Chama Cha Mapinduzi	Msuya Sumaye
4	Jakaya Kikwete (1950–)		21 December 2005	5 November 2015	2005, 2010		Chama Cha Mapinduzi	Sumaye Lowassa Pinda
5	John Magufuli (1959–)		5 November 2015		2015		Chama Cha Mapinduzi	Majaliwa

Standards

• 

  Governor-General's Standard

• 

  Presidential Standard

Living former heads of state

There are four living former Tanzanian Heads of State:

Image	Name	Term/Reign	Office	Date of birth
	Elizabeth II	1961–1962	Queen of Tanganyika	21 April 1926
	Ali Hassan Mwinyi	1985–1995	President of Tanzania	8 May 1925
	Benjamin Mkapa	1995–2005	President of Tanzania	12 November 1938
	Jakaya Kikwete	2005–2015	President of Tanzania	7 October 1950

External links

1. Founded in 1977

• World Statesmen – Tanzania
• Rulers.org – Tanzania