Dar es Salaam-The Tanzanian Vice President, Emmanuel Nchimbi, tendered his resignation today, August 25, 2026, announcing the news through his dormant Instagram account. In the announcement, which the Chief Secretary has confirmed President Samia has accepted, Nchimbi said he was retiring from politics and public service.
“Today, 25 August 2026, I have written a letter to the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Her Excellency Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, informing her that I have decided to retire from politics and public service,” Nchimbi wrote. “I will therefore resign from the position of Vice President of the United Republic of Tanzania, pursuant to Article 50(2)(c) read together with Article 149(2) of the Constitution, effective from 4 September 2026.”
Nchimbi’s resignation comes amid reports that he was summoned before the party’s ethics committee during the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held in Zanzibar on July 29, 2026. He was referred to the ethics committee following a proposal by a NEC member who is also a Cabinet minister. While reports of a rift between the two top leaders had already been circulating in various corridors, Nchimbi’s speech on July 24, 2026, in which he rallied the public to “fight for the new constitution” , was reported to be one of the triggers that escalated tensions already brewing, which had been playing out through proxies, including in parliament.
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“On 27 August 2025, I promised Her Excellency President Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan that I would assist her and our country to the best of my ability and with loyalty,” Nchimbi wrote in his letter. “I also assured her that on any day she felt she needed a different Vice President, I would step aside from this position. I am now fully convinced, without doubt, that Her Excellency the President desires change, and so I have decided to fulfill my promise.”
Nchimbi’s morning announcement through his dormant Instagram account came as a surprise to many, as he had last used the account in 2023 and had never used it to share major milestones or official news, including his appointment as party secretary general, his selection as running mate, campaign materials, or official communications as Vice President.
Several analyst have underscored that it might be Nchimbi have decided to face what is coming on his term, to avoid issues such as expulsion and other nuisances. Speaking about the development, political analyst and lawyer William Maduhu contextualized the circumstances under which the office of Vice President can remain vacant, including analyzing the specific case of Vice President Nchimbi.
“If you read Article 47 of our Constitution, it talks about the qualifications for a person to become Vice President. One of the qualifications is that the person must be a member of a political party,” Maduhu explained. “Therefore, if the party that sponsored him for that position expels him from membership through its lawful party organs, automatically, the position of Vice President becomes vacant. That is a political route.”
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Speaking with Clouds TV on August 19, 2026, the ruling party spokesperson Kenan Kihongosi, when asked whether the Vice President had been summoned to appear before the party’s ethics committee, he elusively responded that in the party there is no recognition of individuals by their titles, but only recognition of individuals as members. He emphasized: “The one who was summoned is not the Vice President, but if it happen, then it would have been a summon like any other member.”
He maintained that if the Vice President had been summoned, he would not be in a position to know, as it would have been a matter between the Vice President and the committee. Many observers view the issue of the ‘ethics committee’ as one of the pressure points that forced Nchimbi to make the final decision.
Moreover, Nchimbi’s announcement came just a day before Parliament officially resumes its meetings. During the last parliamentary session, Nchimbi was conspicuously made the centre of discussion after one member of parliament said there was a “Judas the betrayer” in government, alluding to cues, including a phrase from Nchimbi’s speech, which led many to conclude it was a direct attack on the Vice President.
Following the remarks, there was pushback in parliament that somehow extended to the issue of the Zanzibar-Tanganyika union. Other observers have considered, parliament as another pressure point. Speaking about other ways the office of Vice President could become vacant, Maduhu explained that it could happen through Parliament.
“If the Vice President is subjected to a vote of no confidence by Parliament, his position becomes vacant, pursuant to Article 50(1) together with Article 50(2),” explained Maduhu.
“It can also happen that the President of the country submits a certificate to Parliament, in other words, this is the procedure through which the President can bring a case against the Vice President before Parliament,” he added.
The main source of the rift, as well as the attacks on Nchimbi, is mainly linked to his 2030 presidential prospects, as well as disagreement in political direction, with some of his critics arguing that he is trying to build his popularity.
The constitution provides that if the office of Vice-President becomes vacant, the President shall, as soon as possible and in any case within a period not exceeding fourteen days after the Vice-President has ceased to hold office, appoint a person to be Vice-President, and such appointment shall be confirmed by the National Assembly by a majority vote of the Members of Parliament.
The ruling party, CCM, is expected to hold an emergency National Executive Committee meeting where, among other things, the name of the next Vice President will be revealed and approved for presentation to Parliament.
