Dr Philip Mpango becomes the new Tanzania Vice President after MPs approval

Tanzania legislature collectively approved Dr Philip Mpango as the country’s new Vice President.

His name was given to parliament for approval on Tuesday after Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan nominated him.

“Under the constitution, the new Vice president has to be supported by at least 50 per cent of the Members of Parliament,” The Citizen newspaper reported.

Dr Mpango becomes the second in command, a post which fell vacant after Mrs Samia Suluhu Hassan was sworn in as President following the death of Dr John Pombe Magufuli.

Before being the VP, he had been working as the Minister for Finance and Planning since November 2015.

He earlier worked as Acting Commissioner General of the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA); Executive Secretary in the President’s Office (Planning Commission); Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs as well as Personal Assistant to the President (Economic Affairs).