Tanzania steps up exercise to compensate Kagera War veterans

DODOMA: PRIME Minister Mwigulu Nchemba has announced that payments to veterans who fought in the 1978–79 Kagera War would begin within the current financial year,as the government moves to complete the remaining steps for their compensation.

The Premier made the announcement to law makers in Dodoma on Thursday stating that funds for the payments had already been allocated in the budget, and directed the Ministry of Finance, in collaboration with the Ministry of Defence and National Service, to speed up the process to ensure the payments are made within the year.

He was responding to a question from Nkasi North MP Bazilio Mbwilo, who sought clarification on when the Kagera War veterans would begin receiving their payments.

Moreover, the Prime Minister thanked President Samia Suluhu Hassan for recognising the importance of compensating the veterans who participated in the war, saying there had previously been no arrangement to make such payments.

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“The government had to amend relevant legislation to formally recognise the veterans before establishing a framework for their payments,” he said.

Additionally, Dr Nchemba said delays had also been caused by difficulties in properly identifying some of the veterans in official systems, owing to circumstances surrounding the 1978–79 war.

“Payments can begin within this financial year after the ongoing important steps are completed because the budget has already been allocated,” he said.