Parliament faults TPDF recruitment criteria

DODOMA: SPEAKER of the National Assembly, Dr Tulia Ackson, has faulted the recent recruitment criteria issued by the Tanzania People’s Defence Forces (TPDF), saying it contradicts a standing resolution of the Parliament.

Dr Tulia was responding to a point of order raised by Mbozi Legislator George Mwenisongole (CCM) who sought clarification on whether a government agency’s failure to adhere to a Parliamentary resolution constitutes a violation of that resolution.

The Speaker recalled that early last year, the National Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution following the emergency motion from Mr Mwenisongole which called for the removal of compulsory National Service (JKT) training as a requirement for employment in defence and security institutions.

However, in its job announcement dated April 30, 2025, the TPDF listed JKT training either through voluntary contract or mandatory service as a key qualification for applicants, contrary to the House resolution.

“It is not every young Tanzanian who gets the opportunity to attend JKT. This criterion creates unfair playing field for youth seeking to join defence forces,” said Dr Tulia.

She stressed that if a particular institution wishes to send its recruits to JKT, it should do so after recruitment, rather than making JKT a prerequisite for selection.

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Earlier, Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (Policy, Coordination and Parliament), Mr William Lukuvi clarified that the parliamentary resolution targeted specific defence and security organs such as the police, fire and rescue, immigration and prisons services and did not explicitly mention the Tanzania People’s Defence Forces.

However, upon Speaker Tulia’s directive, Mr Lukuvi agreed to revisit the Hansard (Parliament’s official record) to determine whether JKT which is part of the TPDF was implicitly covered in the resolution.

Responding, Dr Tulia asserted that even though there may not have been a direct mention of the TPDF, the spirit of the resolution was clear and inclusive of all state security organs.

“There were times when youths did not go through JKT, but the army still recruited them,” she observed.

“When Parliament passes a resolution, it implies that the government is also bound to act accordingly,” she stressed, urging Mr Lukuvi to liaise with the relevant military authorities to revise the recruitment criteria in line with the legislative directive.