World News for Students of English

24-03-2021 15:00

Tanzania’s Vice President, Samia Suluhu Hassan, was sworn in last week, becoming the first female head of state in the east African country since independence from Britain in 1961.

Following the death of Tanzania’s former president, John Magufuli, Hassan is also the country’s first president from the semi-autonomous Zanzibar archipelago. Tanzanian politics has traditionally been dominated by politicians from the mainland, and Hassan’s leadership style is seen as a potential contrast to brash populist Magufuli. He was a vocal coronavirus skeptic and the country became polarized during his six-year rule.

Hassan will have to face the economic consequences of the coronavirus pandemic, as well as the health impact of COVID-19 that her predecessor long denied, including whether to get the vaccines.

Difficult words: swear in (to go into office officially in a ceremony when a person makes a formal promise to be honest and loyal in his job), archipelago (a group of islands or an area of sea where there are many islands), populist (a government official who does things that the people want), skeptic (a person who questions or doubts the truth or value of an idea).

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