Dr. Latifa Mohammed Khamis, Deputy Permanent Secretary, VP’s Office
Dr. Latifa Mohammed Khamis has been appointed Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Vice President’s Office responsible for Union Affairs as
Dr. Latifa Mohammed Khamis has been appointed Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Vice President’s Office responsible for Union Affairs as part of a senior government reshuffle announced by Chief Secretary Moses Kusiluka on 22 July 2026. The appointment was made by President Samia Suluhu Hassan.
Dr. Khamis joins the Vice President’s Office from the Tanzania Trade Development Authority (TanTrade), where she served as Director General. During her tenure, she led trade promotion, marketing and investment initiatives aimed at strengthening Tanzania’s commercial profile domestically and internationally. She also championed the “Made in Tanzania” brand, supported exporters through market intelligence and trade missions, and represented the country at major international events, including Expo 2020 Dubai. She further oversaw preparations for landmark trade events such as the Golden Jubilee of the Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair (Saba Saba).
Before becoming Director General, Dr. Khamis served as TanTrade’s Zonal Manager for Zanzibar before rising to Acting Director General and later assuming the substantive role. She began her public service career at the Ministry of Trade and Industry in the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar, where she worked between 2003 and 2009. Her responsibilities included heading the Export Trade Section and the Trade Information Centre, organising trade promotion events, disseminating market information and coordinating with the then Board of External Trade.
Born in Zanzibar on 12 October 1974, Dr. Khamis holds an Advanced Diploma in Business Administration (Marketing) from the College of Business Education, a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Studies and an MBA in Marketing from the Open University of Tanzania. In July 2025, she received an Honorary Doctorate of Business and Economics from the London Institute of Skills Development and Oxford Club in recognition of her contributions to trade promotion and economic diplomacy.