Why Suluhu's despotic disposition is bad for democracy in Tanzania

Tanzania President Samia Suluhu Hassan. [Photo/AFP]

History reminds us of Wu Zetian, the second wife of Emperor Gaozong of the Tang dynasty, who later became the only female Empress in China's history.

When Gaozong died in December 683 AD, Zetian schemed her way to the throne in defiance of tradition. She inveigled herself into a position of influence and by 690 AD, had appropriated powers of the monarch, consequent to which she carried out a wave of atrocities against the Chinese people.