PM demands action on water security

DAR ES SALAAM: PRIME Minister Mwigulu Nchemba has directed security agencies to strengthen coordination in protecting Tanzania’s waters, ordering them to deploy officers to the National Joint Operations Centre (NJOC) within two weeks.

The directive is aimed at ensuring newly acquired high-speed patrol boats are used for coordinated real-time maritime security operations instead of operating separately under individual institutions.

Mr Nchemba issued the order yesterday in Dar es Salaam during the handover ceremony of new patrol boats acquired to strengthen efforts against maritime crimes along Tanzania’s coastline and major lakes.

He said secure waters are essential for expanding the country’s Blue Economy, protecting natural resources and maintaining reliable trade routes for Tanzania and neighbouring East African Community (EAC) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries.

To ensure the vessels remain operational, the Premier directed government ministries to allocate specific funds for fuel and maintenance of the boats in the 2026/27 budget.

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“We cannot achieve our development goals if our waters are not safe. These patrol boats are a real solution to security challenges. They will protect fishermen, safeguard our natural resources and prevent criminals from operating in our waters,” he said.

Dr Nchemba warned against acquiring modern equipment without ensuring its continued operation, saying lack of fuel and maintenance should not hinder the effectiveness of the new fleet.

“We should not have modern boats sitting idle just because there is no fuel. Every department must ensure these vessels are always ready to respond to emergencies,” he said.

He added that protecting Tanzania’s coastline would also safeguard the Port of Dar es Salaam, which serves as a key trade gateway for several landlinked countries in the region.

Giving details of the project, Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (Policy, Parliament, Coordination and Persons with Disabilities), Prof Palamagamba Kabudi, said the initiative was funded by Japan through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

He said the 2.21-million-US-dollar project, titled Enhancing Maritime Surveillance in Tanzania’s Coastal Waters Amid the Red Sea Crisis, was implemented between March 2025 and March 2026 to address emerging maritime security threats.

Prof Kabudi said the project was partly a response to global maritime disruptions, including attacks by Houthi militants in the Red Sea that affected international shipping routes and increased transport costs.

He said the two newly acquired Japanese-built vessels, PB Selfish 2 and PB Selfish 3, had undergone technical tests in Japan and at the Dar es Salaam Port before joining PB Selfish 1, which was commissioned last year.

Beyond security operations, Prof Kabudi said the project has supported coastal communities through livelihood programmes, including construction of a modern seaweed drying facility in Mkinga District, Tanga Region, installation of processing equipment and training of seaweed farmers.

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Meanwhile, Institute of Rural Development Planning (IRDP) Vice-Chancellor Prof Provident Dimoso, whose institution acted as the procuring entity on behalf of UNDP, said the two patrol boats were purchased at a cost of 1.6 million US dollars through a transparent procurement process.

“Each vessel can carry up to 12 personnel, travel at speeds exceeding 50 knots (about 92.6km/h) and is equipped with advanced navigation, communication and rescue equipment,” Prof Dimoso said.

He added that experts from Japanese manufacturer Yamaha had trained local technicians on operating, maintaining and managing the vessels to ensure long-term sustainability.