Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa and Kenya’s President William Ruto have congratulated Tanzanian leader Samia Suluhu Hassan on her re-election, joining Burundi’s Évariste Ndayishimiye among the first regional heads of state to publicly endorse her victory in a contentious poll marred by opposition allegations of fraud and violence.
In a two-page letter dated November 2, President Mnangagwa praised President Suluhu’s win as a reflection of “the trust and confidence that the people of the United Republic of Tanzania have in your visionary leadership and the policies of the party you lead, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM).”
He reaffirmed Zimbabwe’s commitment to strengthening “the strong bonds of friendship and solidarity” between Harare and Dodoma, pledging continued cooperation in regional and multilateral platforms.
From Nairobi, President Ruto also extended his congratulations in a statement issued on November 3, commending what he described as a successful election held on October 29. He emphasized the “deep historical ties and common aspirations for prosperity and stability” shared by Kenya and Tanzania.
However, Ruto urged Tanzanians to uphold peace and the rule of law, calling on political actors “to embrace dialogue and tolerance as they seek to resolve any issues at hand.”
The statements highlight a cautious regional response to Suluhu’s re-election, which several international observers and civil society organizations have criticized as heavily tilted in favor of the ruling CCM. While Harare’s message underscored solidarity among liberation movements such as ZANU-PF and CCM, Nairobi’s tone emphasized democratic governance and regional stability within the East African Community (EAC).
Both Mnangagwa and Ruto reaffirmed their readiness to collaborate with Tanzania on shared continental priorities, including economic growth, infrastructure development, and peacekeeping initiatives under the African Union framework.
