Othman Masoud Sharif

Othan Masoud Othman Sharif
First Vice President of Zanzibar
Incumbent
Assumed office
2 March 2021
PresidentHussein Mwinyi
Preceded bySeif Sharif Hamad
Personal details
BornPemba
NationalityTanzanian
Political partyAlliance for Change and Transparency
SpouseZainab Shaib Kombo
ChildrenImran Othman Masoud, Rauhiyyah Othman Masoud , Asya Othman Masoud ,Shaymaa Othman Masoud, Rubina Othman Masoud, Masoud Othman Masoud, Khalil Othman Masoud ,Tajmeel Othman Masoud
Alma materUDSM, University of London, University of Turin
ProfessionLawyer

Othman Masoud Othman (born 7 February 1963) is a Tanzanian lawyer and politician serving as the First Vice President of Zanzibar. He is also the national party chairman[1] of ACT Wazalendo .[2][3][4][5]

A trained lawyer, a diligent public servant, and an astute politician,[6] Othman Masoud has indicated that he will be vying for president in the 2025 general election in Zanzibar.[7][8]

Othman Masoud has worked in the Tanzanian public service since 1989, when he was a State Attorney (1989-1993).[9] Between 1993 and 2002, he served in the joint role of principal secretary in the ministries responsible for justice, legal and constitutional affairs, and deputy Attorney General.

In 2002, he was appointed the first Director of Public Prosecutions in Zanzibar and was charged with setting up the Directorate and developing the capacity to make it operational and efficient. He served as Director of Public Prosecutions for a decade (2002-2011).

In 2011, he was appointed the Attorney General of Zanzibar and served in the Zanzibar Cabinet and House of Representatives as an ex-officio member. During that period Othman also served as a commissioner in the Zanzibar Planning Commission.

Since 2015, Othman Masoud has been active in politics in Zanzibar as a key revolutionary partner of Seif Sharif Hamad,[10] while running his law firm, Othman Sharif and Associates, where he serves as the managing partner.

He is married to Zainab Shaib Kombo and has eight children.

  1. ^ "ACT-Wazalendo elects new leadership". The Citizen. 6 March 2024. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
  2. ^ "ACT-Wazalendo prepares for next elections without Zitto at the helm". The East African. 9 March 2024. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
  3. ^ Masoud Othman new first Vice President
  4. ^ President Mwinyi appoints Othman Masoud Othman as new first Vice President
  5. ^ "African Network of Constitutional Lawyers Profile".
  6. ^ Kibwana, Thomas Joel (31 December 2023). "My Top Ten Politicians of 2023". The Chanzo. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
  7. ^ "Zanzibar's First Vice President hosts US delegation, advocates for clean politics and democratic values". The Citizen. 17 July 2024. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
  8. ^ FURAHA YETU TV (2 June 2024). MAKAMO WA KWANZA WA RAIS OTHMAN MASOUD 2025 TUNA ENDA IKULU WAZANZIBAR WAME AMKA SASA. Retrieved 26 July 2024 – via YouTube.
  9. ^ "Mjue Othman Massoud, Makamu wa Kwanza wa Rais wa Zanzibar". Mwananchi. 1 March 2021. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
  10. ^ Kabendera, Erick (8 December 2023). "Zanzibar: Bungling the fragile coalition raises the stakes in the 2025 elections". African Arguments. Retrieved 26 July 2024.