Who was the fifth president of Tanzania?

John Pombe Joseph Magufuli, president from 5 November 2015 until his death in office on 17 March 2021.

When did President Magufuli die?

On 17 March 2021, in Dar es Salaam, aged 61. The government gave the cause as atrial fibrillation, a heart condition. He was buried at Chato, his home town.

Why was Magufuli called the Bulldozer?

For his drive to build roads during his years as minister of works, between 2000 and 2015.

Who succeeded John Magufuli?

His vice-president, Samia Suluhu Hassan, who was sworn in as president on 19 March 2021.

John Magufuli

A chemistry teacher from Chato who spent twenty years as a minister, most of them building roads, and earned the nickname "the Bulldozer". He was elected president in 2015 and died in office in March 2021.

Edited by Kabeer Dalvi · Updated 13 October 2026

Born: 29 October 1959, Chato
President: 5 November 2015 – 17 March 2021
Order: Fifth president
Party: CCM
Died: 17 March 2021, in office

01Government

Early life and education

John Pombe Joseph Magufuli was born on 29 October 1959 at Chato, near Lake Victoria in today's Geita Region.

He taught at Sengerema Secondary School in 1982–83, took a degree in chemistry and mathematics at the University of Dar es Salaam in 1988, and worked as an industrial chemist at the Nyanza Cooperative Union from 1989 to 1995. He went on to a master's degree in 1994 and a doctorate in chemistry in 2009.

02Government

Twenty years a minister

Magufuli was elected member of parliament for Chato in November 1995 and joined the government at once as deputy minister of works. He was minister of works from 2000 to 2005, minister of lands and human settlement from 2006 to 2008, minister of livestock and fisheries from 2008 to 2010, and minister of works again from 2010 to 2015.

His drive for building roads in those years gave him his nickname, the Bulldozer.

03Government

As president

Magufuli was elected in October 2015 and sworn in on 5 November 2015, under the slogan Hapa Kazi Tu, "just work here". He was re-elected in 2020.

His government ordered the ministries to move to Dodoma in 2016 and began two of the country's largest projects: the Standard Gauge Railway and the Julius Nyerere Hydropower Project. Those are described on the multi-party era.

John Magufuli and Narendra Modi at the ceremonial welcome at State House, Dar es Salaam — President Magufuli, left, welcomes India's prime minister, Narendra Modi, to State House in Dar es Salaam on 10 July 2016.

President Magufuli with Dr Salem Al Ismaily of Oman, April 2018.

A viaduct of the standard gauge railway at Gerezani, Dar es Salaam.

04Government

Death in office

Magufuli died in Dar es Salaam on 17 March 2021, aged 61. The government gave the cause as a heart condition, atrial fibrillation. He was buried at Chato on 26 March 2021.

His vice-president, Samia Suluhu Hassan, was sworn in as president two days after his death.

Common questions

Who was the fifth president of Tanzania?: John Pombe Joseph Magufuli, president from 5 November 2015 until his death in office on 17 March 2021.
When did President Magufuli die?: On 17 March 2021, in Dar es Salaam, aged 61. The government gave the cause as atrial fibrillation, a heart condition. He was buried at Chato, his home town.
Why was Magufuli called the Bulldozer?: For his drive to build roads during his years as minister of works, between 2000 and 2015.
Who succeeded John Magufuli?: His vice-president, Samia Suluhu Hassan, who was sworn in as president on 19 March 2021.