Army to undertake major projects

MARC NKWAME in Arusha

 

IN order to ensure speedier and proper implementation of infrastructural projects such as roads construction, bridge building and erecting major public buildings, Tanzania will start issuing contracts to tenders to the military.

Speaking in Monduli during the winding up of the ‘Onyesha Uwezo Military’ exercise for Brigade 303 in Monduli, President John Magufuli pointed out that, it is only the army which guarantees integrity, honest and proper utilisation of resources when it comes to major construction projects.

“Even the artisans employed to help in such works, under the army supervision will be scared to steal or mishandle tools and material, thus guaranteeing effective performance,” he said.

The Head of State, who is currently on a three-day tour of Arusha, also added that as observed in a number of projects executed by the National Service (JKT), the army does a rather good job in construction of houses and public premises while members of the Tanzania People’s Defence Forces are remarkable in building bridges, roads and attending rescue services during disasters.

Dr Magufuli said the move to deploy the military in construction projects will enable the government to save a lot in terms of revenue and can be assured of quality products, as well as being at peace that security matters have been well taken care of. The president donated four bulls to the army so that those who partook the operations should celebrate with a feast.

On his part, the Minister for Defence and National Service, Dr Hussein Ally Mwinyi, stated that, as technology advances, there is the need for the army to adopt new environment so as to meet ever-changing security challenges.

“The cost of building a modern army can be high, but the cost of maintaining weaker armed forces are even higher,” stated Dr Mwinyi. “Our army has recorded great achievements in the last five decades, but as time goes by new security challenges seem to emerge. These include terrorism, piracy and cyber-crime. This calls for a new approach and fresh methods of operation,” stated the minister.

l Meanwhile, HAZLA OMAR reports from Monduli that the Commander-in-Chief of Tanzania Armed Forces, President John Magufuli has advised the Ministry of Defence and National Service to establish local military equipment making factories.

Dr Magufuli, who was presiding over a special military training operation dubbed ‘Onyesha Uwezo Medani 2016,’ for the 303 Brigade in the ‘Mbuni’ wilderness of Monduli District in Arusha Region, pointed out that, the country is capable of producing its own supplies of military boots, shorts, jackets, T-shirts, socks, hats, cargo bags as well as Navy pea-coats.

“We have many talented Tanzanians and even the National Service have proved to be very capable of manufacturing durable and reliable military and civilian gear for outdoor usage,” stated Dr Magufuli.

He directed, Dr Hussein Ally Mwinyi the Minister for Defence and National Service to see to that. According to the Head of State there is no need of continuing to import things that Tanzanians themselves are capable of producing and this should help save costs as well as create employment to ordinary citizens.

He also called upon tapping into small arms making talents from a number of villagers who have been discovered to be able to make home-made guns (Gobole) so that they can be trained further to supply the army with such improvised small arms.

Earlier, the Defence Minister, Dr Mwinyi, revealed that the ‘Onyesha Uwezo Medani 2016,’ training involved nearly 1,000 members of Tanzania Peoples Defence Forces (TPDF), Reserve Troops, and the National Service (JKT).

During the marking of the Tanzanian Army’s 50th Anniversary back in 2014 the immediate former President, Mr Jakaya Kikwete, had floated plans to establish various defence academies including the planned School of Military Police, the School of Special Forces and a Marine Training Centre.

Before he retired last year, Mr Kikwete had already completed construction and establishment of the Duluti based, Commander Staff College located on the shores of Lake Duluti in the Tengeru section of Meru District in Arusha.

TPDF was formed after an aborted mutiny in 1964, when the former Tanganyika Rifles was disbanded and fresh recruits were sought within the Tanganyika African National Union (TANU) youth wing as a source.

For the first few years of the TPDF, the army starting with 1,000 youngsters was even smaller than the 2,000 strong Tanganyika Rifles. The air force was minuscule and no navy had yet been formed. However the army was four battalions strong by 1967.