TPDF pledges 200m/- for Mkunda school

KONGWA: THE Tanzania People’s Defence Force (TPDF) has pledged 200m/- to support the construction of Jacob Mkunda Secondary School at Machenje Village in Ugogoni Ward, Kongwa District.

Speaking during the foundation-stone laying ceremony over the weekend, Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), General Jacob Mkunda, thanked the government for prioritising social services, particularly education, through the construction of new schools and the rehabilitation of existing ones.

General Mkunda said Tanzanians remain the rightful owners of the national defence force, adding that an educated society is better positioned to understand, value and defend its nation.

“We appreciate the government’s continued investment in education infrastructure, which widens learning opportunities and empowers communities,” he said.

He added: “It is easier for the army to defend a wellinformed nation. Contributing to education is therefore contributing to the strength and security of our country.”

He commended parents and community members for initiating the establishment of the school, noting that it will provide young people with a strong foundation to improve their economic wellbeing after completing their studies.

Kongwa District Commissioner, Ms Mayeka Simon, said the district continues to excel in education, ranking second regionally in the 2024 Standard Seven examinations and first in the Standard Four results.

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She added that over the past five years under President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s administration, the district has constructed 13 new secondary schools, bringing the total number of public secondary schools in Kongwa to 39.

Kongwa District Council Chairperson, Mr White Zuberi, said the district has a rich military history, recalling that the first training base for freedom fighters was located in Kongwa.

He thanked the government for reinstating a TPDF unit in the district, noting that the community is already benefiting from the army’s support, including its contribution to the construction of the new secondary school.

The Jacob Mkunda Secondary School is expected to ease the burden for students from Machenje Village and neighbouring areas who currently travel long distances to White Zuberi Secondary School.