DAR ES SALAAM: THE Tanzania Peoples Defence Forces (TPDF) 60th anniversary celebrations reached its climax on 1st September last week with a befitting grand military parade at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam.
The ceremony marked the end of almost one-month long programme comprising of various activities including a major joint Field Training Exercise (FTX) as part of the anniversary celebrations.
The ceremony at the National Stadium, graced by Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan, the President and Commander In Chief of the Armed Forces, was marked by a colorful parade mounted by members of the Tanzania Airforce, Navy, Land forces, National Service and the Reserve Forces (militia).
The grand parade was in two parts, the ceremonial formations (guards) in colorful ceremonial dresses stationed in the stadium and inspected by the President, and the other was mounted by the march past troops in camouflaged combat uniforms.
There was also an entertaining marching brass bands an ensemble of different bands from the TPDF commands.
There was also an impressive display of some of the military ground hardware and aerial rotary and fixed wings assets. Indeed, it was a solid, disciplined and impressive display by the TPDF, showcasing its prowess and underlining its readiness to safeguard the national vital and core interests.
The inclusion of the members of the Reserve Forces in the TPDF parade ranks gave a rare and good glimpse of the size and depth of the national defence structure. During the ceremony, the brave men and women from different commands of the TPDF also showcased their command’s colors (flags), a focus of unit’s pride, and reaffirmed their unwavering allegiance to their Commander In Chief, President Samia Suluhu Hassan.
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In her speech, President Samia, praised the TPDF for remaining a truly people’s defence force and for steadfastly fulfilling its core objectives and maintaining peace, freedom and unity. She also used the occasion to remind the TPDF of its pivotal role of defending our nation and not to be an aggressive force.
In her remarks, Dr Stergomena Lawrence Tax, Minister for Defence strongly lauded the President’s sincere efforts to modernize the TPDF to become a more formidable force. She further reaffirmed the Ministry’s resolve to steadfastly implementing the government directives to improve the TPDF.
As was very well highlighted by the President, the last sixty years have been very successful ones for the TPDF.
The force has participated in the liberation struggle by providing logistical support to the freedom fighters, training combatants and deploying troops in the war areas. In addition, in 1978, only 14 years after its inception, TPDF fought perfectly well and comprehensively defeated the invading Idi Amini forces which committed a grave mistake of invading and annexing some part of our country.
The invading forces were taught a stern lesson. This war was a major TPDF test of its capacity to safeguard the country’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.
TPDF has also been able to promptly respond to disasters and emergence situations by initiating and carrying out search and recovery missions and other critical operations. It has also been an active participant in important national building and development programs.
Furthermore, during this time, TPDF has undertaken several important peacekeeping missions in and outside the continent. In short, by and large, the last 60 years was a good period which has registered tremendous contributions and achievements for the TPDF and the country at large.
A pertinent question at this point is, after these 60 years of excellent service to the nation, what is next for the TPDF? whither TPDF? A clue to what now lies ahead of the TPDF was provided by the C In C when in her speech, among other very important things, she also provided a good assessment of the regional and global security situation and made a good threat analysis.
The President said that though the situation in our country is peaceful and calm, the government is still committed to building a strong defence, capable of dealing with any eventualities.
She further added that the government will continue to enhance the defence force capability to keep pace with new technological advancements.
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Speaking at the same occasion, General Jacob John Mkunda, The Chief of Defence Forces paid a glowing tribute to the government and the general citizenry for being with the TPDF during all this time pointing out particularly how major investments by the government have strengthened the TPDF.
He was very much optimistic with the direction and future of the defence forces. Deducing from the President’s threat analysis and her thoughtful directives, during the next phase of 60 years, we are likely to see TPDF steadily keeping pace with the rapid changes in technology, firmly mainstreaming and adapting 4IR strategies in its training and fighting techniques and methods to be able to counter any new types of internal and external threats, real or perceived threats.
And with the government already showing strong commitment, this appears to be something achievable and very much within sights.
In the next 60 years we are also likely to see a defence force which is becoming more and more deeply people oriented, a stronger people’s army, that continues to be a trailblazer in adherence to military discipline, standards, ethics and traditions, a force well developed in defence industries, a first responder or a force of last resort depending on the situation. We are also very likely to continue seeing TPDF putting boots on the ground as Blue Helmets as part of the UN and other regional bodies’ peacekeeping operations to near and far places.
But also, more heartening is to see a defence force proudly and firmly part of the country’s development agenda, aligning itself with the new development vision. Indeed, TPDF is marching forward and its future together with that of the country, looks brighter and promising.
